Burton upon Trent travel guide

Burton upon Trent, United Kingdom

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Burton upon Trent

Introduction

Burton upon Trent, often shortened to Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a market town in East Staffordshire, close to the Derbyshire border. It sits on the River Trent, within reach of Derby to the north-east and the Peak District National Park further north, making it a practical base for exploring this part of the Midlands and the southern edge of the Pennines.

The town's identity is bound up with its brewing heritage, and residents are known as Burtonians. Use the town as a starting point for the surrounding countryside, or settle in to explore its industrial past and its position on the Trent.

Before you go

Burton upon Trent is a town shaped by brewing, and knowing that before you arrive will help you read the place. It is home to eight breweries, from the large Coors operation (formerly Bass) and Marston's to small microbreweries such as Tower Brewery, housed in the old Salts Water Tower of Walsitch Maltings, Burton Bridge Brewery on Bridge Street, Old Cottage Brewery on Hawkins Lane, Black Hole Brewery at the Imex Centre and Gates Brewery on Reservoir Road. If beer is part of why you are coming, plan your time around the breweries and their tied pubs rather than treating them as an afterthought.

The source gives little practical detail beyond the brewing scene, so keep your expectations focused: this is a town to explore through its beer heritage and the pubs that go with it. Check the arrangements for any brewery visit directly before you travel, since the information here does not cover access or timing.

Getting there

Burton-upon-Trent sits on the A5121, with the A38 bypassing the town and linking it toward Derby and Lichfield. If you're arriving by rail, the station is on Borough Road and is served by East Midlands Railway.

National Express also lists Burton as a destination, so coach travel is an option for reaching the town.

Getting around

Burton upon Trent is a compact, walkable market town, and much of the centre is easy to explore on foot — the River Trent, the abbey grounds and the old streets around High Street, including New Street and Horninglow Street, sit close together, and walking is a practical way to get between the town centre, the river and the station area. There is no metro or tram network, so plan around trains, buses, taxis and your own two feet.

The town is served by Burton-on-Trent railway station on Borough Road, with services operated by East Midlands Railway — use the hyphenated station name when searching timetables or journey planners. Local buses run within the town and connect it with surrounding areas, and National Express lists Burton as a destination for longer coach journeys; check timetables and ticket options in advance, since services and fares vary by operator and route. Taxis are available, and the station on Borough Road is the most practical place to pick one up on arrival; ride-hailing apps may work but availability can be more limited than in larger cities, so have a taxi number or a backup plan. The old South Staffordshire Line no longer runs, so don't expect direct rail connections to Lichfield, Walsall, Dudley or Stourbridge. If you're arriving by air, there is no airport of your own to rely on — expect to connect via East Midlands Railway services or a coach, and buy tickets in advance.

Where to stay

Burton upon Trent has a small choice of places to stay, so it pays to book ahead if you are visiting at a busy time. The Holiday Inn Express on 2nd Avenue Parkway offers a familiar, no-frills chain option with straightforward rooms, while the Three Queens Hotel & Lodge on Bridge Street is a more traditional choice with standard singles among its rooms.

Food & drink

Burton upon Trent is a beer town, and the local drinking culture follows from that. Drink a pint of ale while you are here: Marston's Pedigree is brewed in the town and is the only UK beer still made using the Burton Union System, which recirculates the yeast during fermentation. Marston's also produce draught Bass, a beer with a long association with Burton — note that bottled Bass is brewed elsewhere.

What to see and do

Burton's brewing heritage is the thread running through its sights. The National Brewery Centre on Horninglow Street is the town's biggest attraction, and the bronze Burton Cooper in Coopers Square Shopping Centre celebrates the same trade: James Walter Butler's sculpture, commissioned in 1977, shows a local craftsman making a barrel. For something different, head out to Claymills Victorian Pumping Station on Meadow Lane in Stretton, a restored Victorian sewage pumping station sitting next to the modern sewage works.

For active days, Meadowside Leisure Centre on High Street and Shobnall Leisure Complex on Shobnall Road both offer indoor facilities. Outdoors, take the Stapenhill Woodland Walk off Stapenhill Road, or visit Branston Water Park on Lichfield Road in Branston.

Three days in Burton upon Trent

Day one: Start in Burton itself, getting your bearings along the River Trent and the streets at the town's heart, including High Street, New Street and Horninglow Street. As the town's brewing heritage is what defines it, spend time around the old industrial fabric tied to Bass, Marston and Coors, and look out for landmarks such as Salts Water Tower and Walsitch Maltings. Round off the day with a visit to one of the town's small breweries, among them Burton Bridge Brewery on Bridge Street, Old Cottage Brewery on Hawkins Lane, Black Hole Brewery at the Imex Centre, Gates Brewery on Reservoir Road and Tower Brewery.

Day two: Use Burton as your base for exploring the wider area of East Staffordshire and neighbouring Derbyshire. Head out towards the Peak District National Park, where the landscape of the Pennines gives you a complete change of scene from the town's brewing quarter, then return via Derby if you want a larger urban stop. Local buses and taxis can cover the shorter hops, while East Midlands Railway and National Express connect Burton with places further afield such as Lichfield.

Day three: Spend a final day in Burton tying together the threads of its brewing story, revisiting the streets around Borough Road and the sites linked to the town's historic breweries. If you have time, check out the South Staffordshire Line and the town's rail connections before you leave. Burtonians are used to visitors coming for the beer, so ask locally for the best way to finish your stay.

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