At a Glance
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Population
- Approximately 1,400
- Nearest Station
- Charlbury (15 minutes by car)
- London Journey Time
- Around 80-90 minutes to Paddington
- Average Property Price
- £££££
- Our Rating
- ★★★★☆
Best For
- Commuters
- Second-home buyers
- Food lovers
- Buyers who want prestige
Why We Love Burford
Burford's high street falls steeply from the downs to a medieval bridge over the Windrush, and it is one of the great views in England.
The Tolsey, the almshouses, the church with its medieval merchants' tombs - Burford was built on wool money, and it shows in every facade.
It is the most southerly of our locations and the first taste of the Cotswolds for many visitors, which keeps the high street lively with galleries, delis and excellent places to eat.
For London buyers it has a genuine advantage: Charlbury station is fifteen minutes away, with one of the fastest rail runs to Paddington in the region.
The Village Atmosphere
Burford feels grand, historic and polished. You'll find:
- The famous sloping high street
- The Tolsey and medieval almshouses
- The Windrush running along the bottom of town
- Galleries, delis and antiques shops
- St John the Baptist church, vast for its size
- Visitors and locals sharing the same pavements
It is busier than the northern villages, but Burford wears its tourism with confidence.
Transport & Connectivity
Rail
Burford's commuters use:
- Charlbury (15 minutes by car, around 80 minutes to London Paddington)
- Combe (20 minutes, also on the Oxford line)
The Charlbury line is one of the fastest routes from the Cotswolds to London.
Road
Driving Times:
- Oxford30 mins
- Witney10 mins
- Stow-on-the-Wold20 mins
- Chipping Norton20 mins
- Central Londonapprox. 2 hours
Food & Drink
The Angel at Burford
A handsome hotel and restaurant on the high street, reliable for both Sunday lunch and a weeknight dinner.
The Bay Tree
A quiet courtyard restaurant with a loyal following, tucked just off the main street.
Burford Garden Company
Part garden centre, part design shop, part café - and a destination in its own right.
Schools
State
- Burford School (secondary with sixth form, in the town)
- Burford Primary School
Independent
- Tudor Hall
- Cheltenham Colleges
- Windlesham House catchment leavers
Having a good secondary school in the town itself is a rarity in the Cotswolds, and families value it highly.
Things To Do
Burford sits where the downs meet the river. Popular routes include:
- Burford to Swinbrook
- Burford to Fulbrook
- The Oxfordshire Way
- Burford to Minster Lovell
The riverside path to Swinbrook, past old stone cottages, is the classic.
Nearby Attractions
- Cotswold Wildlife Park
- Minster Lovell ruins
- Swinbrook
- Oxford
- Blenheim Palace
- The Cotswold Woollen Weavers, Filkins
The Property Market
Burford property is dominated by period houses along the high street and the lanes rising from it - Cotswold stone cottages, merchant houses and a handful of Georgian gems.
Buyers here tend to be seeking:
- High-street period houses
- Cottages off the main road
- Homes with views down the hill
- Houses with parking, the town's rarest commodity
Prices are among the highest in Oxfordshire, and the best houses trade quietly off-market.
Pros
- ✅One of the most beautiful high streets in England
- ✅Fast rail access to London via Charlbury
- ✅Good secondary school in the town
- ✅Excellent food, galleries and shops
- ✅Strong long-term value and prestige
Cons
- ❌Extremely busy with tourists in season
- ❌The most expensive prices in the region
- ❌Parking is difficult in the centre
- ❌Traffic on the A36 and through town
Our Verdict
Burford is for buyers who want a prestigious address with history on every corner and London within ninety minutes.
You accept crowds in summer and premium prices in exchange for one of England's great streets.
For second homes and prestige purchases, it is the obvious choice in the south of our patch.
| Beauty | 10/10 |
| Community | 7/10 |
| Commuting | 9/10 |
| Schools | 9/10 |
| Food & Drink | 9/10 |
| Value for Money | 5/10 |
| Overall | 8.6/10 |
