Top Wiltshire hotels
Longleat Safari Park Warminster
9 Reviews Longleat is a great day out for all the family. I went with my boyfriend about a week after my mum and nan went - me and my bf got round the whole park in plenty of time but mum & nan didn't but the...
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Centre Park Warminster
10 Reviews C P is a real Mecca for kids and families who love biking and outdoor activities! Bikes can be rented for ..........5 pounds a day ..........8 pounds for midweek term ..........12 pounds for the...
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Longleat Other Attractions Warminster
7 Reviews Longleat house operate a 'passport' system, whereby you can visit each of the attractions on the estate once - and you can do it on any day you like in a season. You can also by individual entry to...
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Longleat Gardens Warminster
2 Reviews The gardens are very clearly the work of 'Capability' Brown. Now that is what I call a nickname. Good job he didn't carry the moniker of 'mixed abilty' Brown! As with all Capability Browns efforts,...
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We spent about 2 hours exploring Castle Combe. There is a free car park as one enters Upper Castle Combe. On the road down to the village, a large house on the right is known as the Dower House and it was used for the filming of Doctor Doolittle with Rex Harrison and Tony Newley. This Market Cross and historic monument is the centerpiece of the village and dates back to the 1300's.
I first visited Lacock near Chippenham about 17 years ago. Not much had changed when I was there in July, 2005. It's a nice village and a popular tourist destination because of Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum. The village has been the location for film and TV productions - Prie and Prejudice, Moll Flanders and Emma. There are umpteen restaurants/pubs to have a meal in and some nice craft shops are also there.
Stonehenge is a famous stone circle listed as World Heritage Site. It dates from between 3000 BC and 1600 BC and it's not clear what exactly had been the purpose of this. But of course there are many theories, legends and myths. And several excarvations are made in the sourrounding area to get some more insight. What is known is that the stones are aligned with the rising and setting of the sun at the solstices. So it seems that this place was from a sun culture with midsummer festivals. In any case I still wonder how the people in these times were able to carry the stones and build this, the stones are really large and look massive!You already can see Stonehenge from the A303 and it's located directly at the A344. I have to admit that seeing all the tourists marching around that stone circle discouraged me to have a closer look (although there are probably busier times!). So we just...
The Fovant Badges are regimental badges, carved into the chalk hills near the village of Fovant. They date from the times of World War I, when there was a military camp there. The badges were carved into the hill by soldiers to remember the people that had died. There used to be more of these badges, but over the years the decayed and not all could be restored. You can read more on the history and restauration work on the Fovant Badge website (see below).
Old Wardour Castle is the middle of nowhere. At least that was the impression that we had when driving through the labyrinth of narrow streets! Although we followed the signs we felt like driving in a circle. But it was worth it, the castle is very nice, located on a little hill next to a lake. It was built in the 14th century as a fortified luxurious residence, but was destroyed later so it's in ruins now. Neverthless it's interesting to visit and still lots is left. There are several floors that are still accessible and you have a nice view on the lake and the are. You can get a free audioguide (in English) which is well done, with narratives from the view of different people like the builder or employees of the castle. Open daily from 10am to 4pm (5pm April-June + Sep; 6 pm July + Aug)Admission: 3,60 £ adults, 1,80 £ children. Free as English Heritage member or with Oversea Visitors...
Owned by English Heritage the Stones are not normally accessible to the public but on the 20/21st June, the gates are opened ... for free.... for 12 hours and visitors/Druids and anyone who just fancies staying up all night to see the sunrise (or not as is more usually the case)... can touch the stones.. hug the stones... dance naked round the stones... kiss the stones... get off their faces on the stones.... absolutely anything you feel necessary to celebrate the Summer Solstice and English Heritage and the police will more or less turn a blind eye provided you don't actually damage the stones. Just remember to use the bin bag you have been provided with to clear up your rubbish when you leave.Buses leave Salisbury Station around 7 or 8pm on the 20th and take about 20 minutes to get to the stones. Then there is a 2km walk across fields. After sunrise the following morning, the first...
A 14th century castle, built for Lord Lovel at a time when comfort and 'fashion-victim' status was becoming as important as fortification. Consequently, though it was very much a stronghold, Wardour Castle was sited by a lake. Modified in the 16th century besieged by both sides in the Civil War, Wardour sustained considerable damage - as early as the 18th century it was incorporated into the grounds of New Wardour House by Lord Arundel as a 'romantic ruin' - fashionable as they were at this time within landscaped gardens. The main frontage of the keep remains standing moreorless in full - but behind. the structure has collapsed, leaving the entire back exposed. But with its grounds, lake etc it's worth a couple of hours exploration.Old Wardour Castle is managed by English HeritageOpen 7 days a week, April - November (10am - 4pm - later during June/July/August). Open weekends only,...
Old Sarum, on the edge of Salisbury, is an evocative site, reliant more on the imagination than what's actually there - the giant earthworks dating from 500 BC and remnants/foundations of Roman, Saxon and Norman settlements remain (although the site was first settled 5000 years ago). It was here that William the Conqueror, with a new town and palace, chose to hold the Oath of Allegiance ceremony from his barons. A new cathedral was built, but only 5 days after its consecration, it was badly damaged in a storm in 1092. It was rebuilt, but internal strife resulted in the bishop and his clergy upping sticks and building a new cathedral 2 miles away in what was to become Salisbury. It spelt the decline of Old Sarum, with the castle being demolished in 1514 for building materials.It was in 1915 that excavations took place to reveal the foundations that are on display today.
Built in record time (1220-1258), the Cathedral has a long list of 'most amounts', 'biggest', 'tallest', 'first' to its name - including having Britain's tallest spire (404 feet/123 metres - although this wasn't added until 1310-33), Europe's oldest working clock (1386), the largest cathedral close in Britain (80 acres), the first cathedral girls' choir (although not until 1991!!). The cathedral recently underwent a major facelift - necessary as it attracts 500,000+ visitors a year
Estimated to have built in 3100 BC, built in three stages, with the larger Mahirs (stones) having been possibly bought from South Wales, a couple hundred kms away. Its reason for existence and use are still opne to debate - ranging from human sacrifice through to astronomy.Whatever the reason, it is one of the most visited spots in the UK today, attracts Summer and Winter solstice visitors from the UK and around the world, and, such is the interest of these visitors, you can sadly no longer walk among the stones themselves (except on special occasions). Nowadays a perimeter fence some distance from the stones allows a full circumference walk, but without getting close. The site is now administered by English Heritage Opening times:Stonehenge is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (24/25 December) 16 Mar - 31 May: 09.30am-6pm, 1 June - 31 Aug: 09.00am-7pm, 1...
Cricket Field House Hotel Salisbury
1 Review and 82 Opinions The virtue of major hotel chains is their conistency. If you travel in business this simplifies...
The New Inn Avebury Avebury
1 Review and 33 Opinions The New Inn in Winterbourne Monkton, a mile or so from the Village of Avebury, is a quaint country...
De Vere Swindon Swindon
1 Review and 178 Opinions Very nice hotel situated on West Swindon, 10 minutes by taxi from Bus and train station. Very...
Reviews and photos of Wiltshire attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Wiltshire sightseeing.
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Q: I have been trying to find a route that shows some or all of the White Horses in the Wiltshire and surrounding areas. If anyone...
A: Hi Amanda, The following website provides pictures & maps of the area where the white horses are : www.whitehorsewalking.co.uk/whitehorsetrail.htm Have a nice time,...
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