Abandoned Imber village to open to public this weekend

The historic village of Imber was acquired by the War Office in the early 20 th century and has been empty since around 150 residents were told to leave in 1943 to allow military training to take place.

Imber is still part of the Ministry of Defence’s military training estate and the village is only accessible on designated open days.

The latest of these open days will take place on Saturday, August 15, when visitors will only be able to travel to the village on the annual Imberbus service.

Around 40 old and new Routemaster buses and guest vehicles will run from Warminster to Imber and other points on Salisbury Plain.

Passengers will be able to explore the village and other parts of Salisbury Plain between 10am and 6pm.

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Buses will pick up passengers at Warminster station and run direct to Imber on military roads rarely open to the public, before continuing on across Salisbury Plain to Gore Cross, Chitterne, Tilshead and the Lavingtons.

These buses to Imber will depart from 9.30am and organisers say they will be so frequent that no timetable is needed.

Those serving Tilshead, Chitterne, New Zealand Farm Camp, West Lavington, Market Lavington and Brazen Bottom will run at least twice an hour throughout most of the day.

No advance booking or seat reservations are necessary.

Adult all-day tickets cost £10 and children’s tickets £2. 

These tickets will allow unlimited travel on all the Imberbuses.

Those travelling to Warminster are encouraged to use public transport but parking will be available in the western car park at the Civic Centre, at Warminster School, with an overflow at the top of Sack Hill, and parking on the sports field at Chitterne, signposted off the B390.

There is no parking available at Tilshead or Gore Cross.

Last year, thousands of people rode the buses to the abandoned village, raising £37,000 for charities in the process.

David Lee-Kong, commercial director of Go-Ahead South Coast, said: “For the seventeenth year we are welcoming passengers aboard one of the quirkiest bus services in the country – to see and visit places they can’t normally access from the luxury of buses old and new (including some open-top double deckers), at the bargain all-day fare of £10 adult and £2 child; all benefitting charity.

“Everyone’s welcome; my friends and I are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, August 15.”