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Burlington, Connecticut: West Britain's Woodlands and a Pink Tavern

Burlington, Connecticut

Pictures from Burlington

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Elton Tavern Sessions Woods Tree I.D. Trail Farmington River Trail, Burlington

Burlington's land was Tunxis territory before Hartford residents negotiated a purchase from the tribe in 1640, and the area became part of Farmington when that town incorporated in 1645. Its remote western forestlands stayed undeveloped until 1721, when Farmington's proprietors divided the land into lots; the first known settler, a man named Strong, arrived in 1740. In 1774 residents petitioned for ecclesiastical independence rather than keep traveling to Farmington for worship, and the General Assembly incorporated the Parish of West Britain that October. Burlington was set off from the parish and established as an independent town on June 16, 1806, its new name chosen by the General Assembly to honor England's third Earl of Burlington. Small water-powered mills once made cider brandy, flintlock muskets, mantel clocks and carriages, but Burlington was never as heavily industrialized as its neighbors and keeps its rural character today.

  1. A DEEP education center with interpretive trails.

  2. Connecticut's oldest fish hatchery, established 1923.

  3. An 1810 tavern with a barrel-vaulted ballroom ceiling.

  4. State forest for hiking and letterboxing.

  5. Seasonal tavern fare with an on-site ice cream shop.

  6. Grass-fed burgers and halal chicken.

  7. Thai cooking led by Chef Phop.

  8. A family-owned coffee roastery and cafe.

  9. A working cider mill with a taproom and mini golf.

A 1810 tavern and Connecticut's oldest hatchery

Elton Tavern, built in 1810 by merchant Giles Griswold, was first taxed as "a house with seven fireplaces — more than any other in town." Its Federal-style building has a barrel-vaulted second-floor ballroom ceiling spanning the full width of the facade and a Palladian-style entry window; it served as private home, public house and inn across 164 years before the town of Burlington purchased it in 1974, and the Burlington Historical Society now runs it as a museum with a full calendar of events. The Burlington State Fish Hatchery, established in 1923, is Connecticut's oldest fish hatchery — fed by artesian wells that keep it, DEEP says, "the State of Connecticut's most cost effective facility" — and runs a Brown Trout Survivor Program that returns wild-broodstock offspring to the West Branch Farmington River.

Getting there

Burlington is a car-trip town in the Farmington River hills, reached on Route 4 (Spielman Highway), the primary corridor through its central business district, or Route 69 (Milford Street) running north-south. US Route 6 passes about three miles south of the Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area. There is no rail station and no bus terminal; the former New Haven and Northampton Railroad branch through town was abandoned in 1968 after the nearby Collins Company factory closed, and the corridor is now a multi-use paved rail trail. The nearest CTrail Hartford Line stations are Hartford Union Station and Berlin.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Burlington?
By car — Route 4 (Spielman Highway) runs through the town center, and Route 69 crosses north-south. There is no rail station or bus terminal in Burlington; the nearest CTrail Hartford Line stops are Hartford Union Station and Berlin.
Is there a train to Burlington?
No. The former railroad through town was abandoned in 1968 and is now a rail trail. The nearest Hartford Line stations are Hartford Union Station and Berlin.
What is Elton Tavern?
An 1810 Federal-style tavern on George Washington Turnpike, run today by the Burlington Historical Society, with a barrel-vaulted ballroom ceiling and a full calendar of tours and events. The Society publishes no standing hours; visits outside event days should be arranged in advance.
Can I visit the Burlington State Fish Hatchery?
Yes — Connecticut's oldest fish hatchery, established 1923, is open for self-guided visits 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week, or by reserved tour. Phone (860) 673-2340.
Is there a hotel in Burlington?
No hotel, inn or B&B could be verified inside Burlington. The nearest options are in Bristol, south on Route 4, and Farmington to the east.

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