Dozens of passengers boarded a fleet of 40 vintage red buses for an annual one-day journey to Imber, an abandoned village located within a military training ground on Salisbury Plain.
The Imberbus event, which began in 2009, allows classic London Transport Routemasters and some newer buses to travel on roads typically off-limits to the public. The service operates only once a year, taking passengers from Warminster railway station through Ministry of Defence land to Imber and other remote parts of Salisbury Plain.
Imber has been largely deserted since its residents were evacuated during World War II in 1943, with the land designated for military training. The village was used to prepare soldiers for D-Day. While residents were promised they could return after the war, the Ministry of Defence has occupied the site for over 80 years. Public access to the village and surrounding areas remains heavily restricted, with access granted only on a few days each year.
The Imberbus event, which started as a fulfillment of ambition by bus industry professionals, proved popular and became an annual fixture. Services were later extended to other rarely visited parts of the Salisbury Plain.
This year's event saw 40 buses participate, forming a convoy as they traversed the military roads. Unlike a typical tour, Imberbus operates as a standard bus service, with passengers accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis without advance bookings. Tickets were priced at £10 for adults and £2 for children, payable to conductors on board or purchased from sellers at Warminster station.
The event also serves as a fundraiser for charitable causes, including the Friends of St Giles' Church in Imber and the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, along with other charities supported by Imberbus organizations.
Within Imber, visitors can see the preserved structures of St Giles' Church and the former pub. Some original cottages have deteriorated, while others were demolished due to damage from military exercises. The village and its surrounding landscape continue to be used by the military, including for training Ukrainian soldiers. Visitors can observe relics of past training exercises, including mock houses built for drills, and signs warning of potential dangers such as unexploded ordnance.
Custodians, like 77-year-old Neil Skelton from Wilton, Wiltshire, note the consistent high number of visitors to St Giles' Church each year. The church is open daily from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM during the 12 days the Ministry of Defence permits public access.
