Brimming with independent businesses and cosy tearooms down its iconic high street, this charming Cotswold town rivals the likes of nearby villages, Castle Combe and Bibury
Burford in Oxfordshire is famed for its sloping High Street(Image: Getty Images)
A beautiful Cotswold town with a timeless and storybook feel easily outshines some of its neighbouring villages, at least in my books.
The Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), characterised by its honey-stone cottages, rolling hills, cobbled streets and its abundance of picturesque villages and towns. Castle Combe and Bibury have often been deemed the most beautiful settlements found in the Cotswolds, while Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold are strong favourites among tourists.
While they all offer that quintessential English charm and picture-perfect settings that feel as though you’ve stepped into a storybook, I found that Burford is, if anything, even more beautiful. While the medieval market town in Oxfordshire is well known and still attracts hundreds of visitors, its scenic setting, famous high street and status as the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’ make it stand out from the rest.
During a weekend trip to parts of the Cotswolds, I was delighted by what I discovered in Burford, conveniently positioned just 40 minutes from Oxford and 30 minutes from Cheltenham. Renowned for its sweeping, steep high street, it immediately caught my attention and was a haven to spend a Saturday afternoon exploring.
Burford has one of the most picturesque roads I’ve encountered. The Hill is lined with beautiful honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages with arched doorways and medieval windows, decorated in purple wisteria and perfectly trimmed hedges. A walk from The Hill and down through the High Street towards the winding River Windrush was enough to transport me into a fairy tale scene.
The High Street is filled with treats in the from of independent businesses and traditional tearooms. Even on a chilly May day, locals were sat outside under a blanket with a slice of the day’s bake. I spent time browsing its array of independent shops and was delighted to find such a selection.
There was an abundance of stores, from homeware and gifts at Ma Maison Belle, in addition to No 31 Burford and Three French Hens, which was filled to the brim with coasters, signs, and everything you’d need for your adobe. I even stumbled across The Oxford Brush Company store, dedicated to selling every type of brush you could ever imagine. There’s also a traditional sweet shop with a charming green facade that felt as though I had stepped back in time, evoking pure nostalgia.
Elsewhere in the Tudor-style half-timbered buildings on the iconic High Street were Antiques at The George and a quaint, traditional red post office that still displayed postcards and decorated flags around its doorframe.
One of the highlights on the High Street has to be The Madhatter Bookshop.
With a noticeable nod to Alice in Wonderland, the bookshop is packed with novels, suitable for all ages, and a doorframe lined with books that leads into a reader’s oasis. Nestled at the back of the store is a vibrant area adorned with shelves brimming with your next read, quirky lights, picture frames, and a snug seating area, where visitors are actively encouraged to take their time.
After time spent browsing its shops, I stumbled across the Davenford tea room for a coffee and cake stop, and it was a delight. Opting for the Hummingbird carrot cake and lavender, orange and Earl Grey cake – it was a match made in heaven!
The town’s coffee and cake offerings are certainly a favourite in the area, with ample charming tea rooms to choose from. Other notable highlights include Huffkins and The Priory, while there’s also the Bakery on the Hill, Burford Pantry and the butchers, W J Castle Burford, where you can pick up a warm sausage roll or a pork bap to go – I went for the latter!
There are also traditional pubs tucked down the side streets of Burford, including the Angel and the Royal Oak, while others, including the Mermaid, take centre stage on the famed high street. Their local supermarket, Your Coop Food, can also be found along the main road, and in a nod to the town’s quintessential charm, it is where you can purchase a wicker basket, I mean, it’s the Cotswolds after all.
For those eager to explore this timeless town, there’s parking down the main high street, but on weekends it can be hard to secure a space, as I found out. Luckily, there’s a free car park just around the corner with plenty of space, though be warned that the access road is rather narrow and can be busy during peak times.
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