Six bus routes serving Marlborough will be diverted on Thursday 4 June 2026 to accommodate a military parade through the town centre. Swindon’s Bus Company has announced that Marlborough High Street will be closed between 09:00 and 12:00 for the event, requiring passengers to use alternative stops.
The disruption affects bus routes 42, 48, 48A, 80, 217, and X76. During this period, routes 42 and X76 will divert via George Lane and Salisbury Road, looping around the large Tesco store before returning to their normal routes towards Calne and Bath. Route 80 will remain on the main road but is required to drop off and pick up passengers at the ATS Centre. Additionally, services from Swindon on this route must wait at the North View bus stop before continuing toward the town.
The road closure facilitates a Freedom Parade by the 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, which is based at Ward Barracks in Bulford Camp. The battalion was granted the Freedom of Marlborough in 2011, becoming the first military unit to receive the honour since the town was awarded its Royal Charter in 1204. This tradition allows the unit to march through the town with colours flying and bayonets fixed.
As the 4 Military Intelligence Battalion is the largest concentration of Intelligence Corps personnel in the British Army, the event is expected to draw significant attention. Passengers travelling through Marlborough are advised to allow extra time for their journeys due to these unavoidable changes to local bus services.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
