Why the medieval town of Burford is the perfect day trip

Burford is a medieval town once named among the UK's most picturesque locations and among the best places to live for 2024.

In a list created by Muddy Stilettos, the lifestyle website created a list of the 'best places to live' every year, and it has expanded its number of entrants from 260 to 300 with London, Yorkshire and Cheshire being added to its regions.

Discussing the list, Hero Brown, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Muddy Stilettos said: “When people decide to move, they’re searching for more than just a house - they want a home, a lifestyle that works for them and their family, and if they’re strategic, a long-term investment too."

@pocketwanderings 10 things to do in Burford 🇬🇧 Save for later! 1. Browse the cute shops on the high street 🛍️ 2. Stop for lunch at Lynwood & Co 🥪 3. Visit St John the Baptist Church o 4. Go for a walk in The Cotswolds countryside 🍃 5. Have afternoon tea at Huffkins 🫖 6. Explore the Tolsey Museum 📜 7. Head to Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens 🐅 8. Have a pint in one of the many pubs 🍺 9. See the grounds at nearby Asthall Manor 🌸 10. Eat dinner at The Lamb Inn 🍴 Save for later if you’re planning to visit The Cotswolds or tag who you’d like to go with 🥰 ——— #burford #cotswolds #thecotswolds #visitengland #uktravel #cottagecore ♬ Walking up with You - Omar Enfedaque

The full list of the 300 places to live for 2025 can be found on the Muddy Stilettos website here.

Burford is just one and a half hours by car from Watford, but will still make you feel like you are a million miles away from the busy town.

The medieval town of Burford is perfect for a day trip

Burford is most famous for its High Street that goes downhill and towards the River Windrush.

Ancient houses and shops fill the streets while the three-arched medieval bridge offers views of the river and the church.

Alongside that, visitors can explore its alleyways and side streets which are next to a set of medieval almshouses and St Johns Church.

Visit Burford adds: "This fine church is a real gem with many interesting memorials charting some of Burford's great families including one to Henry VIII’s barber-surgeon, which includes one of the earliest depictions of Native Americans and the ostentatious Tanfield tomb."

Burford is well praised for its high street. (Image: Getty)

Fans of shopping can explore plenty of shops including the Cotswold Cheese Company, Slate Clothing, Amanda Hanley By Design, The Madhatter Bookshop and more.

You can also enjoy a bite at a local restaurant, pub or teashop, like The Lamb Inn of The Bay Tree Hotel.

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One of the most popular and well-rated restaurants in Burford is The Angel with a 4.5/5 rating on Google with one guest sharing: "Had dinner here. It had a lovely cosy atmosphere, and the two guys working in front of the house were very pleasant. 

"The service was excellent along with the food, which was hot and plentiful."

Alongside the shops and restaurants, you can explore the Tolsey Museum, set in the 16th-century Tolsey building that shows the town's social and industrial past.