Dozens of passengers boarded a fleet of 40 vintage red buses on Salisbury Plain for the annual Imberbus journey to the ghost village of Imber in Wiltshire on August 15, 2026.
The one-day public transport service carried visitors from Warminster railway station across restricted Ministry of Defence training land that remains strictly off limits to the public for most of the year.
Striking images showed passengers waving from open windows as the long convoy of vehicles made its way through the restricted military landscape of Salisbury Plain, a broad chalk plateau in Wiltshire long used for army exercises.
The annual event features classic red London Transport Routemaster double-decker buses, which were first introduced to London streets in the 1950s, operating alongside a small fleet of newer vehicles.
Annual transport service across military land
Imberbus operates as an ordinary public bus service rather than a formal sightseeing tour, with seats allocated on a first-come, first-served basis without advance reservations.
Tickets for this year's trip cost £10 for adults and £2 for children, with passengers paying a conductor on board or buying tickets from sellers standing outside Warminster station.
Buses passed concrete mock houses built specifically for military combat training inside the abandoned settlement, while visitors walked along rural roads surrounded by army infrastructure.
The event was established in 2009 when a group of bus industry professionals fulfilled a long-held ambition to run vintage buses from Warminster into the restricted settlement.
After proving exceptionally popular, the service became an annual fixture and was extended across Salisbury Plain to reach remote parts of Wiltshire rarely served by public transport.
This year, 40 buses formed an eye-catching convoy across the military roads before departing Imber at the end of the day.
Fares collected during the journey raise money for charitable causes, including the Friends of St Giles' Church in Imber, the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, and charities supported by participating transport organizations.
Wartime evacuation and military training site
History enthusiasts used the event to explore the village of Imber, which was evacuated in 1943 to allow the British Army to prepare soldiers for D-Day and the Allied invasion of Europe.
Around 150 residents were forced out of their homes and given 47 days to evacuate after being promised they would be allowed to return following the Second World War.
More than 80 years later, the village remains under the control of the Ministry of Defence, with public access granted on just 12 days each year.
Visitors gathered in the graveyard of the Grade I-listed St Giles' Church, surrounded by military rubble, warning signs, and concrete training structures.
Historical photographs were put on display inside the village to show daily life in Imber before the military evacuation in 1943.
Warning signs alerting visitors to fire risks and unexploded ordnance remain posted throughout the abandoned settlement, reflecting its active role in army training.
Modern military role and visitor access
Although many original village cottages crumbled over time or were demolished after suffering severe damage during military exercises, the Grade I-listed St Giles' Church and the former pub remain standing.
The village and surrounding countryside continue to play a vital military role for the Ministry of Defence, including recent exercises to train Ukrainian soldiers following Russia's invasion under Vladimir Putin.
Members of the public are permitted inside the restricted zone on specially allocated days, allowing visitors to walk among historic ruins and training artifacts.
Neil Skelton, 77, the custodian of St Giles' Church from Wilton, Wiltshire, said the church attracts a huge number of visitors every year.
The historic church opens from 11:00am to 4:00pm daily on each of the 12 public access days granted by defense officials.
