Known as the gateway to the Cotswolds this gorgeous town is one of the most beautiful in Oxfordshire – and it’s also home to one of the most romantic hotels in the UK. Famed for its long sweeping high street mediaeval church and cosy tearooms, Burford is a gorgeous place for a staycation any time of year.
If you’re travelling with a partner then you can visit what the Times recently voted the most romantic hotel in the UK – The Bull. According to the Times the pub was bought and restored by Matthew Freud – famed psychoanalyst Sigmund’s great-grandson.
The Times reports: “It should be no surprise that the dazzling end result easily demonstrates his ancestor’s assertion that beauty has no obvious use … but civilisation could not do without it. Since opening in 2023 on Burford’s high street, Bull has become a star of the Cotswolds scene, with two standout restaurants, a swanky cocktail bar, world-class art, 18 ultra-modern rooms and plenty of good old-fashioned hospitality, including complimentary cocktails and a help-yourself pantry.”
From the hotel, you’re perfectly placed to explore the town of Burford and its incredible medieval history and architecture. According to the Domesday Book, there were 200 people living in the town as early as 1086.
The town is named for its three arched bridge that crosses the river Windrush, taken from the old English burh which means fortified town and ford which means river crossing.
The charming stone cottages lining the street make for a great photo opportunity and the Grade I listed Church of St John The Baptist is well worth a look too.
It’s one of the top ten most visited churches in the county according to Explore the Cotswolds, and with its beautiful medieval stained glass and towering spire it’s easy to see why it’s so beloved.
The high street is packed with antique stores and independent homeware retailers perfect for finding cute keepsakes of your holiday and once you’ve worked up an appetite with some retail therapy, you can dip into one of the scores of tearooms and pubs that have made the area so popular for tourists.
One of the things Burfiord is famed for is lardy cakes – delicious treats similar to Chelsea buns made with spices, currants and sultanas and one of the best places to try one is Huffkins. This family-run bakery was founded in 1890 and now has multiple branches serving tea, cakes and other heartier fare like jacket potatoes and afternoon tea.