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Museum
The Tolsey Museum
Market house of around 1525, now a local-history museum on the first floor, reached only by stairs.
A mini guide to
Burford
A steep medieval High Street running down to the River Windrush
Photos
1 / 2Welcome to the area
A steep medieval High Street running down to the River Windrush
Burford is a small market town in West Oxfordshire, about 18 miles west of Oxford. Its wide High Street drops steeply to a bridge over the River Windrush and is lined with stone shops, inns and houses.
The Tolsey, built around 1525 as the market house, now holds a local-history museum. St John the Baptist's church has a guild chapel and Kempe stained glass, and its churchyard recalls three Leveller soldiers executed in 1649.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Historic building
The Great Almshouses
Grade II* listed almshouses of the mid-15th century, founded in 1457 and restored in 1828.
Historic building
Burford Methodist Church
Baroque town house of about 1715 to 1730 built for a lawyer, converted to a Methodist chapel in 1849; Grade II* listed.
Church
St James the Great, Fulbrook
Parish church in neighbouring Fulbrook with Norman origins, a 15th-century tower and a Baroque monument to the Thorpe brothers.
Directions Report a problem with St James the Great, Fulbrook
Memorial
Burford War Memorial
Town war memorial on The Hill, at the foot of the High Street.
Church
St John the Baptist's Church
Grade I listed church with Kempe stained glass and a merchants' guild chapel; Levellers held here in 1649 left carvings.
Directions Report a problem with St John the Baptist's Church
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Burford and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Parking is free in the council car park
West Oxfordshire District Council says parking is free in its car parks. The Burford car park is at Guildenford, OX18 4SE, with ten-hour and four-hour bays.
2
Expect a steep street
Burford is built on a hill, and the High Street slopes down to the river. Allow extra time if you find hills hard going.
3
The Tolsey museum is upstairs
The museum is on the first floor and reached only by stairs. The Tolsey says it has no toilets on site.
4
Walk the churchyard
The Levellers plaque and a sarcophagus found near Battle Edge in 1814 are in the churchyard, beside St John the Baptist's church.
Tips from the Britlens editors
The Cotswolds
More areas to explore
9 sights · 11 places to eat
Cirencester
A Roman town turned wool town, with a museum, a landmark church and an amphitheatre
Open the mini guide →
8 sights · 6 places to eat
Chipping Campden
A wool town of stone terraces, a 1627 market hall and the start of the Cotswold Way
Open the mini guide →
8 sights · 6 places to eat
Broadway
A wide High Street of stone houses below Broadway Tower
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Burford (area photo): bongo vongo, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Tolsey Museum: Alex McGregor, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Great Almshouses: wfmillar, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Burford Methodist Church: Jaggery, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St James the Great, Fulbrook: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Burford War Memorial: Jaggery, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St John the Baptist's Church: Dave Hitchborne, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Levellers plaque: Kaihsu Tai, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Burford Priory: Eirian Evans, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Cirencester: Tony Grist, Public domain, source
- Chipping Campden: nick macneill, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Broadway: Jeff Gogarty, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Stow-on-the-Wold: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bourton-on-the-Water: Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Cotswolds