Burford without a car

A proper visit to The Cotswolds needs a car. Busses are infrequent and are time consumers.

Have not been to Burford by enjoyed my AirBnB stay in Winchcombe. Was there for Christmas at Sudeley Castle and Gardens. The AirBnB was close enough that I could walk to the Castle grounds.

If you aren’t comfortable driving then stay in Morton-in-Marsh. Easy and comfortable train ride from London.

Have you seen these websites about getting around the Cotswolds without a car? It can be dione, b ut you need to spend time with the bus timetables as buses maynot be that frequent and if you miss your bus back there may not be one until the following day!

https://explorethecotswolds.com/cotswolds-by-public-transport/

https://www.aladyinlondon.com/2019/06/cotswolds-without-car.html

This website gives information about bus routes from Burford.

https://www.geopunk.co.uk/timetables/town/burford

I love Burford, and when on the A40 towards Cheltenham from Oxford usually make my turn there and often stop in for a break. Great Wool church, fab bridge, lovely hill with nice shops and food.

But I'm always in a car. I can't really imagine using Burford as a base without a car. Others will have done it but it escapes me.

Thank you for the response, and the website references.... I will be sure to check those out! I'm travelling solo, so really not comfortable driving alone on the other side of the road in an area I don't know. Hence, why I'm relying on public transportation. I may have to consider just basing myself in Moreton-in-Marsh instead if bus options are few in Burford.

Hi all,

I am in the same boat with Joanna. I want to plan a 3 nights in the Cotswolds in October without a car too. I understand busses are unreliable but are cabs readily available in the towns?

taxis can be booked by phone, or called by phone. There will not be taxis which can be flagged down.

Hi All,
I'd like to add to this, Can i get to Burford without a car, spend a day and return to London the same day? My last name is Burford so i figured no trip to UK would be complete without visiting it.

Gretchen

Jonna,
We are non-drivers who were just there, based in Chipping Campden. We had planned to use a mix of buses and taxis but ended up using cabs exclusively. That, plus bus #11 (get it? stick legs). *Note that Diamond company just bought out the former Johnson-Excel outfit and the result at least when we were there back in May-June, was pure chaos. Changed routes and cancellations plus poor communications hampered locals and tourists alike. Desperate parents arranged for taxis to take their teens up to Stratford to write their crucial final exams, rather than gamble on the knuckleheads who so egregiously fumbled the bus line takeover.

We twice witnessed local residents questioning Diamond bus drivers who'd finally pulled up, then stomping off in disgust after being disappointed with the answers they got then.
There are 2 or 3 competing bus companies but as has been hinted at above, travelers must plan and will be taking risks if they trust them.
Ian 'Cookie' Cook is one reliable taxi driver whom we recommend.
Hope your trip goes well.
I am done. The end.

This thread was asked and answered in March.

I appreciate the question from the new poster who has woken it up but I can't see the question when I am answering because it is not your post.

So please forgive me when I don't address you by name.

I think that Greg is talking about the Cotswolds as a whole or more specifically Chipping Campden which many miles away from Burford and I don't believe that Burford is or was served by the Johnsons buses.

The short answer is probably Burford could be be visited in a day from London, especially if you get a taxi from Oxford which isn't too far, and have them drop you and agree to return at a certain time in a certain place.

If they drop you at the top of the hill and want you to go back up there you should know it is quite a steep hill.

I'd probably want them to drop me at the top of the hill and collect me from near the bridge or much easier in front of the church.

In future, it works much better for you to start your own thread, then you get notifications when answers come in instead of the original creator of the thread (known as OP or original poster) who has probably in the 5 ensuing months gone on to something else, getting a message every time somebody replies to you.

I hope you have a good journey

Re Johnsons/ Diamond above
The contract Diamond had to run Stratford upon Avon to Moreton in Marsh via Chipping Campden ended at the start of August. Stagecoach now run the service.
Pulhams run a Stratford to Moreton service by a different route