That is a famous viewpoint of the annual event, but the first time I have seen an open top bus.

Thank you - may be today's Telegraph but the article is dated 20th August 2025?  Having read it, much of the story (and the other stuff around that's churning out) is the same as it was last year.  The article reports 28 old Routemaster buses out of 40 buses in total on the service and I'll be interested to learn the 2026 equivalent stats.

Today's Telegraph.

I've 'gifted' the article - only valid for 30 days I think:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/6f3aedcfccbf548c

Today's Telegraph.

Thanks for posting, chipbury (another Chris )

I'm digging around for some previous suggestions on how to add images to posts. This topic may help, but I'll see whether I can find some more definitive guidance - I'm sure we have discussed this before on the Coffee Shop forum.

CfN. 

Can someone point me in the direction of an image attaching 'how to' for the forum please?

A "Thumping" good day out  !!

The Hastings DMU returns to Warminster, from Westbury, to load up for the return trip to Tonbridge.

One can only hope that there are no crew shortages, and that there are not more buses than usual requiring repairs at the same time.

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Warminster has become Roarminster, with a dinosaur takeover.

Warminster Town Council and the Warminster Business Network (WBN) has created a fun dinosaur trail, transforming the town with six dinosaur models installed at five locations until Saturday 5th September.

Visitors and residents will be encouraged to explore the town, find and learn about the different dinosaurs, enter a prize draw and take part in fun activities with a full programme of dinosaur events planned throughout the summer holidays.

Westbury White Horse is always a good place to go. Great views (of trains too !), ....

Westbury White Horse is always a good place to go. Great views (of trains too !), White Horse & Bratton Camp to explore, watch the suicidal hang-gliding people throwing themselves off the escarpment, lots of birds of prey, plenty of free parking, you sometimes see RAF A400Ms flying by - BELOW you ! .............and there is usually an ice cream van in attendance.

I believe the area behind the car park is a free running area for dogs unlike the White Horse and Camp area where there are often sheep.

Does anyone fancy choosing / recommending anywhere that might be slightly quieter even on this day?

Public houses will also be available at Warminster, Market Lavington and West Lavington, along with the reopened Kings Head at Chitterne.
...
Morris Dancing at Imber (1000-1100), Market Lavington Museum & The Green Man (1200-1400) and Tilshead (1500-1600).

Imber Church open for viewing and refreshments from 10am to 6pm;

The refurbished Market Lavington Museum will be open again in the Old School House next to the village church and serving cream teas until 5pm;

Light refreshments also available at the village halls in Tilshead and Chitterne, at St.Arbucks Community Coffee House in Market Lavington and also in Warminster at the Beans & Bits Cafe at Warminster Station and at the Chapel of St. Lawrence on the High Street.

Public houses will also be available at Warminster, Market Lavington and West Lavington, along with the reopened Kings Head at Chitterne.

A small transport sales stall will be available inside Tilshead village hall.

Exhibition of Imber and Imberbus related cartoons at Warminster Library and a Dinosaur trail around the town for families to follow.

Performances by the Bratton Silver Band, plus displays by the London Transport Museum and the Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust.

Morris Dancing at Imber (1000-1100), Market Lavington Museum & The Green Man (1200-1400) and Tilshead (1500-1600).

Thank you for posting that very timely reminder here, rogerw.

This time, I have every intention of actually attending that event: am I likely to meet any other Coffee Shop forum members - and indeed guest readers - there?

CfN. 

Thank you for posting that very timely reminder here, rogerw.

This time, I have every intention of actually attending that event: am I likely to meet any other Coffee Shop forum members - and indeed guest readers - there?

CfN. 

Local residents will also be able to to travel to Imber from Chitterne, Tilshead and the Lavingtons by paying the conductor in cash on the bus.

T15 HERITAGE WEEKEND (Sat 28th Feb / Sun 01 March)

SATURDAY

Buses operating upto every 15 minutes between Trafalgar Square & Tower Hill from 10:00 to 20:00hrs with standard fares & day tickets being charged - to include guest buses RTL453, RMC1513, RM1933 & evening guest appearance of MagicBus London RM2681.

SUNDAY

Charity day with buses operating upto every 10 minutes between Westminster Stn / Parliament Square & Tower Hill with over 15 buses already scheduled. First buses 09:25 from Parliament Sq & 10:00 from Tower Hill, with last buses around 17:00.

Donations being collected by the Worshipful Company of Carmen.

My understanding is that one can do this in your own vehicle on any other open day at Imber other than the Imber Bus day

Legendary 1960s London Routemaster Buses Go Under The Hammer!

Wilsons Auctions is set to deliver a rare and historic opportunity as five authentic 1960s AEC ...

Posted on 1 January 2026
We are pleased to start 2026 by announcing that this year, we are planning to run the Imberbus service on

Saturday 15th August 2026

when several vintage former London Transport Routemaster double deckers (plus a few newer ones) along with some visiting buses from other areas, will again provide a bus service from Warminster Station to Imber and other isolated locations on the Salisbury Plain between 10am and 6pm.

Once again our event will be a Car Free Day, with the only access to Imber on 15th August being on the buses operating the Imberbus service. These special arrangements help to keep traffic congestion around Imber village to a minimum, but they do mean that there are some restrictions on what you can and cannot do when you get there, details of which will be confirmed during the summer.

IMG_1116-001 (1568 x 1045)The timetable for this year’s service will also be published during the summer and is expected to be very similar to the one used in 2025.

Please Note:  We only accept Cash for purchases in St Giles.  There are no facilities for Card Payments.

On church open days there is a wide range of Imber-related merchandise on sale, from local honey, fridge magnets, key-rings, post-cards, mugs and shopping bags. 

Please Note:  There are no bus services to Imber on normal Open Days or for any events.  Buses only run on Imberbus Day

PLEASE NOTE
We have been made aware of other web sites posting the Open Days and Events for St Giles Church and getting dates and timings wrong.  We are the only ones who negotiate directly with the Ministry of Defence to arrange Open Days and other events.  The Dates shown here are the only ones that should be regarded as Definitive.
https://www.imberchurch.org.uk/

I want that bus's numberplate.

My initials and my day of birth.

"Liked" that by accident, 'cos, sorry to see this. If either of you get the terrible sore throat, specifically Strepsils orange with vitamin 'C'. They're not an antiviral so, they shouldn't be expected to help with this, but there's science behind their effectiveness regarding the sore throat symptom.

Mark

Love to see any other members who make Imber next Saturday (16.8.2025) - I'll be catching the bus at 09:25 from home, change onto the 2, X2, 3A or 3C in Devizes and joining the 23A at one of the Lavingtons or Gore Cross Bus Station.

I have been a couple of time before and it is a worthwhile trip, but I fear it will be too hot for me tomorrow.

Buses to run to the abandoned village of Imber



Nearly 40 routemaster buses will be travelling around Salisbury Plain on Saturday, taking people to the abandoned village of Imber.

Owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the village is only opened on certain days of the year as it is a training area.

Last year, about 4,000 people took the Imberbus trip, which raised £35,000 for charity.

The village is now abandoned after residents were evicted in 1943 to allow the military to use it for training in World War Two. It has remained empty since.

The annual Imberbus day has been going since 2009, when it started with four buses. It now includes vintage and modern red routemaster buses which are donated by companies for the day. Crews from all over the country also donate their time.

While the Imberbus will only run on Saturday, Imber village has other open days during the year where visitors have to find their own way there.

Michael Meilton is one of those overseeing the operation and said buses will start at 9:30 BST from Warminster, but also go to some nearby villages.

There will be buses leaving Warminster Station every 10 to 15 minutes and returning from Imber until 17:30 BST.

Imber will have its church open to see as well as the scenery.



Buses also going to Tilshead, Chitterne, New Zealand Farm Camp, West Lavington, Market Lavington and Brazen Bottom are on at least twice an hour too, with alternative parking at Chitterne.

Tea and cake is available in most of the villages, with historical displays in a couple too and an exhibition on at The Athenaeum in Warminster. Mr Meilton said some travel to multiple villages to test all the refreshments.

There are no in advance tickets - people need to turn up and pay on the day, with cash being the best option. Card payments are only available at Warminster Station. It will cost £10 for adults and £2 for children.

"What's so special is seeing the faces of people who have taken their son or grandson for a ride on the bus to Imber," added Mr Meilton.

Our event attracts hundreds of people and can overload the car parks in Warminster town centre if everyone tries to park there. Fortunately Warminster is well served by buses and trains from the surrounding towns, as well as cities such as Cardiff, Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth and so we strongly recommend that you use these if at all possible.

The date is set for Imberbus 2025 !
Posted on 25 January 2025
We are pleased to announce that this year, we are planning to run the Imberbus service on

Saturday 16th August 2025

when several vintage former London Transport Routemaster buses (plus a few newer ones) will again provide a bus service from Warminster Station to Imber and other isolated locations on the Salisbury Plain between 10am and 6pm.

To complete the story here of yesterday ...........

Question that's bugging me. One of the Imberbus destinations is Tilshead. How is that pronounced? is it "Tils head" or "Til Shed" 

Heard both today.

Tilshead (/ˈtɪlshɛd/)

There are a small handful of cancellations on the Bristol-Salisbury stoppers in the morning/early afternoon.

I've decided to take the train from Taunton to Warminster tomorrow. Not driving means I can have a beer or two in one of the village pubs along the Imberbus route.

Without Finn as it's forecast warm and he'll struggle with a long day out. He's an OAG now! He'll keep Mumsy company instead.

Errr....Tonbridge - Guildford - Waterloo anyone?

Tonbridge - Waterloo - Warminster. It's good to see the railways taking advantage of that little-used spur from Waterloo East and across the concourse.

The "unadvertised express" is a fully booked charter using the preserved Hastings unit

I shall be going. Driving to Wiltshire from Taunton.

I haven't yet decided where to park and travel from. Suggestions...

Who else from the forum is attending?

*snip* ...and there is an extra "unadvertised express" at 09:55 too that starts back at Tonbridge.

A day for which the participants particularly need Warminster's direct trains Bristol - Waterl***Thwack!!***

Mark