Best Things To Do in Burford, Cotswolds: A Complete Travel Guide

Burford’s High Street tips downhill in one long, golden-stone sweep, ending at a medieval bridge over the River Windrush. It’s the view most people come for, and on a busy weekend you’ll be sharing it with a fair few coach parties.

Unlike most Cotswolds villages, Burford has scale – charming antique shops, a real spread of restaurants, and hotels to suit almost any trip. That popularity is exactly why it’s worth knowing which parts of town reward a slower look, and which times of day are worth avoiding.

This guide covers all of it: the best things to do, where to stay, where to eat, and the practical details for planning your visit.

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At a glance

10 best things to do in Burford

1. Walk the surrounding countryside 🥾

Burford is a good base for walking. The Villages of Windrush Valley walk is a gentle four-mile route taking in Norman churches and manors, passing ancient burial mounds along the way.

The Great Barrington to Burford walk is another favourite of mine, following the gentler stretches of the Windrush Valley.

2. Browse the antique shops and boutiques 🛍️

Burford is renowned for antiques, but the High Street has plenty more worth a wander, including several specialist and luxury shops.

My own favourites include The Cotswolds Cheese Company (look out for the Stinking Bishop or whisky-smoked cheddar), The Sweet Shop for traditional British treats, Three French Hens for its eclectic finds, and The Madhatter Bookshop.

If you’re heading home afterwards, the garden centre on Church Lane is also worth a stop.

3. Get photos on Burford Hill 📷

Burford Hill’s row of picturesque golden-stone cottages is one of the best spots in town for photos, and a good example of exactly why people fall for Cotswolds villages.

Beyond that, simply meandering the alleyways around the Windrush tends to turn up the best shots.

4. Visit St John the Baptist Church ⛪

A Grade I listed building with around 1,000 years of history, St John the Baptist is worth visiting for its architecture alone – among the finest of any church in the Cotswolds.

Look closely and you may spot where one of Cromwell’s imprisoned soldiers carved his name into the stone before his execution, along with a bullet hole in the wall from the same period.

5. Join a ghost tour 👻

Bill Spectre, once known for his Oxford ghost tours, now brings his theatrical storytelling to Burford. 

Expect full costume, dark tales and a good dose of illusion – a fun way to see a different side of this otherwise sleepy town.

6. Visit The Tolsey Museum 🏛️

Housed in a half-timbered building where wool merchants once traded, The Tolsey tells the story of Burford’s local trades, from the expected (brewing, leatherworking) to the more surprising (clarinet-making, bell-founding).

It’s only open in summer, Tuesday to Sunday, so plan accordingly.

7. Experience Levellers Day ✊

Every May, Burford marks Levellers Day with a parade, debates and pop-up stalls, commemorating the Levellers movement and its executed soldiers.

Each year has a different theme; recent editions have included poetry, storytelling and live music alongside the main parade.

8. Visit Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens 🦒

A five-minute drive from Burford, this is a good option if you’re travelling with family, though it’s engaging for anyone. 

Expect giraffes, rhinos roaming manor house lawns, and a resident troop of mischievous lemurs.

9. Wander Asthall Manor’s gardens 🌳

On Burford’s outskirts, Asthall Manor is a Jacobean house set among gardens, meadows and woodland.

It remains a private home, but the grounds are regularly open to visitors and now host a biennial sculpture exhibition, giving it the feel of a genuine discovery rather than a typical attraction.

10. Browse Burford Garden Centre 🌷

A family-owned haven for plants, homeware and furniture, with its own art gallery attached. 

It’s one of my favourite spots for a slow meander in Burford. Finish with a cuppa at the Glasshouse Café, which uses produce from its own kitchen and herb gardens.

Map of Burford

Use my map below to see exactly where everything in this guide sits, from the antique shops on the High Street to the free car park at the bottom of town.

Why visit Burford

Burford sits on the north-east edge of the Cotswolds, within easy reach of Oxford. That makes it a natural entry point if you’re arriving from London.

Bourton-on-the-Water is just 15 minutes away, Oxford around 30 minutes, and both Upper and Lower Slaughter about 20 minutes. It works just as well as a base for exploring further as it does a destination in its own right.

What sets Burford apart from the smaller Cotswolds villages is scale. There’s more here: more shops (particularly for antiques), more restaurants, and a proper maze of alleyways and side streets worth getting lost in.

It’s also one of the more accessible Cotswolds towns if you don’t have a car – more on that below.

Best time to visit

Burford is popular enough that it’s worth visiting out of season, or outside of weekends, if you’d like to enjoy the High Street without the crowds.

One exception is worth planning around rather than avoiding. Levellers Day, held every May, brings a parade, debates and pop-up stalls to the town in celebration of human rights and freedom of speech – a different side of Burford if your visit coincides with it.

How to get there

Burford’s location on the A40 makes it one of the easier Cotswolds towns to reach by car – around two hours from London, with Oxford closer still. Having a car also makes it far easier to combine Burford with the wider Cotswolds.

Unusually for the Cotswolds, Burford is also reachable by public transport. The 233 bus connects the town with Witney, where you can pick up a connection to and from Oxford.

How to get around and parking

Burford is one of the easier Cotswolds towns to park in. There’s a large, free car park at the lower end of town, reached via a turning by Mrs Bumbles deli.

Take care here, as the road narrows to a single car’s width as it passes the church. Free, clean public toilets are on site at the car park too.

Once you’re parked, Burford is entirely walkable, with the High Street forming the spine of the town and its alleyways branching off to either side.

Where to stay in Burford

Burford has more hotel choice than most Cotswolds towns, with a mix of romantic boutique stays, design-led statements, family-friendly inns and dog-friendly options.

Quick picks

1. The Highway Inn

Right on the High Street, The Highway Inn balances original character with modern, luxurious touches. Each of its boutique bedrooms is individually decorated, and the cosy atmosphere throughout makes it one of my favourite romantic bases in Burford.

Its restaurant is currently the highest-rated in town, and its location makes it an easy base for exploring on foot.

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2. The Lamb Inn

The Lamb Inn is exactly what you’d hope for from a stylish, Old English inn – warm service, thoughtful touches, and a restaurant that remains one of the most popular in Burford.

A pre-dinner drink in the courtyard and walled garden is one of my favourite ways to start an evening here.

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3. The Bull at Burford

The Bull is a striking five-year restoration of a 15th-century coaching inn, led by Matthew Freud.

Each of its 18 rooms is different, decorated in earthy, cave-like tones with Moroccan rugs and eclectic artwork – one even has a deliberately tilted floor.

It’s unlike anywhere else in the Cotswolds, built around communal dining rather than quiet seclusion. 

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4. The Bay Tree Hotel

21 individually designed rooms fill this higgledy-piggledy hotel, with exposed beams and stone walls adding to its classic Cotswolds character.

Dogs are welcome here, and the landscaped gardens – complete with a lawn for croquet in fair weather – make it a lovely spot for a slower-paced stay.

Its kitchen serves refined British dishes with a twist, plus a well-regarded Sunday roast and afternoon tea in the garden.

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5. The Angel at Burford

A 16th-century coaching inn with spacious rooms and a welcoming atmosphere for guests of all ages. Its AA-rosette restaurant is well regarded in its own right, and it’s a particularly good spot for a family brunch.

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Other options

Beyond these five, Burford also has a number of characterful B&Bs and holiday lets, better suited to longer stays or anyone who’d prefer a self-catered base with its own kitchen and living space.

You may also want to browse luxury hotels across the Cotswolds more broadly.

Where to eat

Burford punches well above its size when it comes to food. Rather than list everything on offer, here I’ve listed the places worth planning a meal around.

Quick picks

1. The Highway Inn

Beyond its rooms, The Highway Inn is currently Burford’s highest-rated restaurant.

The menu mixes traditional British and modern European dishes. Lamb shank with rosemary jus and pan-seared sea bass are highlights, alongside classic puddings like sticky toffee.

2. The Royal Oak

A family-run pub just off the High Street, The Royal Oak serves honest, home-cooked food alongside a good range of real ales.

It’s particularly strong on dietary options, with an extensive gluten-free menu alongside the usual pub classics.

3. Spice Lounge

A reliably excellent choice for organic curry on the High Street, with fragrant biryanis, creamy kormas and spicy vindaloos, all prepared with minimal oil.

4. The Angel at Burford

Chef Mike Burkert’s AA-rosette kitchen at The Angel turns out well-presented, seasonal dishes blending classic British and contemporary European cooking. Pan-fried duck breast and grilled sea bream are standouts.

5. Horn & Hiro at The Bull

The Bull’s dining concepts are unlike anything else in Burford: Horn is an intimate, family-style dining room, while Hiro is a Japanese omakase counter led by a former Nobu head chef.

Book ahead, and go in with an appetite for something more theatrical than a typical Cotswolds dinner.

6. Lynwood & Co

A local favourite for in-house cakes, sandwiches and salads – and, in my honestly held opinion, some life-changing toasties!

Suggested itinerary for Burford

If you only have a morning: park at the free car park, wander the High Street and its side alleys, visit St John the Baptist Church, and finish with coffee and a toastie at Lynwood & Co.

If you have a full day: follow the same start, then walk part of the Windrush Valley route or drive out to Cotswold Wildlife Park if you’re travelling with family. Have lunch at The Royal Oak, then spend the afternoon browsing the antique shops and Burford Garden Centre.

If you’re staying overnight: add dinner at The Angel or, for something different, Horn & Hiro at The Bull. If your visit lines up with a summer Tuesday to Sunday, save an hour for The Tolsey Museum too.

Insider tips

FAQs

Is Burford worth visiting?

Yes – it’s one of the larger, more accessible Cotswolds towns, with a good mix of antique shopping, historic sights and places to eat. It works well both as a destination and as a base for exploring further.

How long do you need in Burford?

Half a day covers the High Street comfortably, a full day lets you add a walk or the Wildlife Park, and an overnight stay is worth considering if you want to make the most of the restaurants.

Is there parking in Burford?

Yes – there’s a large, free car park at the lower end of the High Street, with free public toilets on site.

How do you get to Burford without a car?

The 233 bus connects Burford with Witney, where you can pick up a connection to and from Oxford.

Are there dog-friendly hotels in Burford?

Yes – The Bay Tree Hotel is a particularly good option for travelling with dogs.

Where can you get afternoon tea in Burford?

Both The Bay Tree Hotel and The Angel at Burford serve a good afternoon tea. Huffkins, the local bakery on the High Street, is also worth knowing about if you’d prefer a more casual cream tea.

When is Levellers Day in Burford?

Every May, with a parade, debates and pop-up stalls. The exact date and theme vary year to year, so it’s worth checking ahead if you’d like to time your visit around it.

Where else to visit

Burford’s location makes it a natural base for exploring further into the Cotswolds. Bourton-on-the-Water is just 15 minutes away, Oxford around 30 minutes, and both Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter about 20 minutes.

For more of the region’s most iconic villages, take a look at my guides to Castle Combe, Bibury, Cirencester and Stow-on-the-Wold.

Continue planning your trip

Burford earns its reputation as one of the Cotswolds’ most popular towns – for its antique shops, its food, and its usefulness as a base for exploring further afield.

For more on the wider region, take a look at my Cotswolds travel guide, or browse the best villages to visit and the best things to do across the region. My guides to afternoon tea, brunch and luxury hotels in the Cotswolds are all good next stops too.