Who knew when we met DCI Barnaby way back in 1997 that Midsomer Murders would not only be one of the highest-rated dramas of the year but would go on to run for over 130 episodes and be screened in more than 200 countries around the world!

Based on the novels of Caroline Graham, the stories unfold around the town of Causton in the fictional Midsomer County. But where exactly does ITV film the picture-postcard scenery that makes up Midsomer?

Jump aboard our 280 and 800/850 bus routes to find out!

280 from Aylesbury 

Setting off from Aylesbury our first stop is at Dinton Castle (we recommend catching the bus from Friarage Road outside Morrisons if arriving by train). As you walk down into Dinton village, which is set back from the main road, you will pass SS Peter and Paul Church – featured as a wedding venue in the episode 'Who Killed Cock Robin?'

Pass The Severn Stars pub, better known as The Hearts of Oak pub in Dead Letters, and continue on to Westlington Village Green. The green is surrounded by thatched cottages and leads on to Wooton Lane, home to Midsomer Barton’s Oak Apply Day celebrations, if you then retrace your steps past the pub you can recatch the bus at New Road to continue the tour.

In Haddenham, alight at Fort End and stroll along the narrow roads of High Street, The Croft, and Gibsons Lane to arrive at St Mary’s Church. Here the Church and Duck Pond have become stars in their own right, appearing in multiple episodes including 'Birds of Prey', 'Judgement Day' and 'A Talent for Life'.  In fact, many properties in the village have been featured in the show, including the episodes 'Vixen’s Run', 'Orchis Fatalis' and 'Midsomer Life'.

If you then continue on the 280 you will reach Thame, one of the most prolific stars of Midsomer with a massive 23 filming locations!  The bus will take you along North Street and through the Cornmarket, whilst travelling make sure to look out for The Black Horse pub. The ‘new’ DCI John Barnaby, visits this local Causton pub in the episode 'Death in the Slow Lane' and can be seen at the bar chatting with one of the regulars.

If you alight the bus at the High Street outside the Co-op you will find yourself directly opposite Thame Town Hall. Causton Town Hall features in the episode 'Shot at Dawn', as well as the Christmas episode 'Days of Misrule' where Joyce sings carols around the tree in front of the building. Causton’s Councillors are clearly patrons of the arts as it also doubled for Causton Arts Centre in the episode 'The Maid in Splendour'.

If you’d like to explore even more then the Town Hall is the start of Thame’s Midsomer Murders walking trail, which will lead you around all 23 filming locations in the town.

Click here to download the map and guide from Thame Town Council’s website.

Or another way to explore Thame, or ‘Causton’ as it’s known in the show,  is to join a guided tour led by a knowledgeable local guide. Tours run at 2 pm every Wednesday from April to October, and take around 75 minutes to complete. Find out more on the Thame Midsomer Tours official website.

800/850 from High Wycombe

Marlow is the first location of interest on the 800/850 route from High Wycombe. 
Alight in Marlow town centre at West Street and walk back down the High Street towards the river, passing the Marlow Library on Institute Road.  Better known as Causton Library, it was here in the episode 'The Black Book' that a rich American bid £400,000 at auction for a rare volume, only to be blackmailed to the sum of £2m to prevent it from being revealed as a forgery!

Further down the High Street, you will come to St Peter’s Street where the Two Brewers Pub and Church Gate feature in the episode 'King’s Crystal' where the son of the first murder victim ends up a victim himself! The pub features again in the episode 'Sauce for the Goose', where a visitor to the Plummer’s Relish factory is crushed to death under a toppling tower of sauce bottles.

Step back on board to head towards Reading and you will pass Danesfield House Hotel where Joyce Barnaby stayed as a member of the judging panel for the Perfect Village Competition in the episode 'Judgement Day'. The Arriva bus stops right outside the Tudor style mansion, which serves Afternoon Tea for non-residents in their Orangery seven days a week.

The next port of call is Mill End for Hambleden Lock and Marina where both the marina and the lock keeper’s cottage have been filming locations. Cross the metal bridge over the weir to follow in the footsteps of DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Ben Jones from the episode 'The Animal Within', where the body of Rex Masters was found floating in mysterious circumstances.

As you then come into Henley on Thames, the bus travels along a street called Thameside with the river quite literally on your left.  During the week of the Henley Royal Regatta, the river bank is lined with blue and white striped tents, undoubtedly the best-known regatta in the world and a highlight of the summer sporting calendar.  It featured in the episode 'Dead in the Water' when Joyce Barnaby’s family picnic at Midsomer Regatta took an unexpected twist as the dead body of the rowing club chairman floated down the river. Sir Steve Redgrave, who won five consecutive Olympic gold medals for rowing, also had a cameo as a rowing coach in this episode.

Rounding the corner onto Hart Street alight and cross the road straight ahead through the marketplace to reach Henley Town Hall.  Charity worker Annie Woodrow stands trial here for the murder of her best friend in the episode 'Last Year’s Model', with the town hall doubling for Causton Courthouse.

Henley Town Hall is also the start of Henley Town Council’s one-hour self-guided Midsomer Murders walking trail, a great way to explore further filming locations as you wander around the town.  

Click here to download the map and guide from Henley Town Council’s website.

Jump aboard our 280 and 800/850 bus routes to explore

With so many different filming locations to explore, why not purchase our ‘Orbit Family Day Saver’

The saver bus tickets offers unlimited travel on our bus network across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and beyond for two adults and up to three children; buy yours now through the Arriva UK Bus App or pay by contactless when you buy from your driver.

And don’t forget, if you’ve turned 66 over the past couple of years you are entitled to a FREE English National Concessionary Bus Pass – click here to check if you’re eligible and to submit your application on the gov.uk website