A fleet of 40 vintage red buses recently transported passengers through restricted Ministry of Defence territory to the abandoned village of Imber . This annual Imberbus event allows the public a rare glimpse into a Wiltshire settlement that has remained under military control since the Second World War.
The 1943 evacuation that left 150 residents displaced
The village of Imber was forcibly emptied in 1943 to facilitate military preparations for the D-Day landings. As reported by the source ,approximately 150 residents were given just 47 days to vacate their homes under the assumption they would return once the war ended.
Eight decades later, the Ministry of Defence continues to occupy the site, keeping the public out for most of the year. While many original cotages have been destroyed by time or training damage, the Grade I-listed St Giles' Church and the old pub remain as skeletal reminders of the community that once existed on the Salisbury Plain.
A £10 ticket to a restricted MoD training zone
The Imberbus event offers a unique, one-day window into this restricted landscape using a convoy of vintage vehicles. These buses,which include classic London Transport Routemasters, travel from Warminster railway station through the Ministry of Defence training grounds to reach the settlement.
Participants pay £10 for adults and £2 for children to experience the journey, which functions as a standard bus service rather than a guided tour. According to the report, the proceeds from these fares support the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal and the Friends of St Giles' Church, helping to maintain the site's few remaining landmarks.
From D-Day preparations to modern Ukrainian soldier training
Modern military requirements have kept the Salisbury Plain vital, even extending to the training of Ukrainian soldiers following the invasion of their country by Russia. The landscape serves a dual purpose as both a historical relic and a high-stakes environment for contemporary combat preparation.
Visitors to the area must navigate a terrain that still contains remnants of past exercises, including rubble and signs warning of unexploded ordnance. this juxtaposition of historical sightseeing and active military utility defines the current state of the Imber region.
The 12-day window for the Grade I-listed St Giles' Church
Access to the village remains strictly controlled, with the public permitted entry on only about 12 days each year.. During these brief windows , the Grade I-listed St Giles' Church opens its doors to visitors, providing a quiet space amidst the surrounding military landscape.
While the event successfully brings crowds to the area, several questions regarding the village's long-term status remain. It is currently unverified whether the Ministry of Defence has any intention of returning the land to civilian use, or how the remaining historical structures will be protected from the ongoing impact of heavy military training exercises.
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