Today, we’re bringing you the best things to do on holiday in Wiltshire. Commonly known as the ‘Gateway to the West Country’, this county is often driven through on the way south. This week, we’re recommending that you stop and take a holiday here instead! With so much of Wiltshire being an Area of Outstanding Beauty, plus two world heritage sites full of mystery and magic, eight white horses carved into hillsides, the market towns of Marlborough and Bradford on Avon and world class gardens to amble around, it is a rural idyll waiting to be discovered.
Wiltshire Days out
Best for families: Longleat Safari Park
At Longleat, the UK’s original safari park, you’ll see lions, tigers, wolves, elephants, giraffes and many more through an up close drive through safari. If you’re feeling brave, you can even try to make it through the monkey enclosure. Visit the impressive Elizabethan Longleat house with its formal gardens, get lost in the hedge maze or take a jungle cruise on the river to see the Gorilla colony. All of this is set in 900 acres of Capability Brown’s landscaped grounds.
Best for a walk back in time: Lacock village
Lacock village stays frozen in time, looking the same now as it did 200 years ago. The quintessential English village, with traditional stone cottages, a village church, the old lock up and the stunning Tithe Barn have been the backdrop of many TV series and films: from Harry Potter to Downton Abbey. Visit Lacock Abbey, built in 1232, and explore its medieval cloisters, sacristy, chapter house and monastic rooms, all set in traditional Victorian gardens.
Best for garden lovers: Stourhead
You don’t have to be a garden lover to enjoy Stourhead house and world famous Gardens. It’s a perfect day out for everyone, with a show stopping lake, grottoes, classic temples and manicured lawns. The stunning floral displays burst into colour all throughout the seasons. There is over 2,500 acres of countryside to explore and plenty of outdoor activities for children to enjoy all year round. At Christmas, Stourhead is filled with festive lights and lasers, creating a magical wonderland. Stourhead house built, in the Palladian style, was one of the finest villas to be built. Now, it houses a collection of 8000 objects, including paintings, carpets, sculptures, silverware and much much more.
See this
Stonehenge and Avebury
Stonehenge, the prehistoric and mysterious monument on Salisbury plain, is an iconic stone circle and is a masterpiece in engineering. Believed to be a spiritual site, the stones are aligned with the movement of the sun to celebrate Midsummer and Midwinter. Each year, hundreds gather to celebrate these days. Watching both the sunset and sunrise on each solstice. Outside of normal visiting hours, you can book a stone circle experience. This gives you the opportunity to spend time inside the tranquil stone circle, accompanied by an experienced guide.
Avebury Henge has 3 stone circles which encircle some of the village of
Avebury. Built in Neolithic times, one of these is the largest megalithic stone circles in the world, here you can walk around and get close to the stones for free. Similarly to Stonehenge, the circles are believed to have been built for rituals and ceremonies.
Salisbury Cathedral
Home to the tallest spire (404ft), this magnificent Cathedral is a must see when in Wiltshire. It has the oldest working mechanical clock and beautiful stained glass windows. With over 800 years of history and set on 80 acres of land, there is a lot to discover at this stunning location. This includes the 1215 Magna Carta, one of only four surviving copies. Learn all about this extraordinary document in a permanent multimedia exhibition. The city of Salisbury is also worth a visit if you’re in town. Bringing together historic architecture and a relaxed atmosphere. You can also walk from the town centre to Constable’s countryside in 5 mins.
Do this
Walk The White Horse Trail
The White Horse Trail gives views of the eight giant horses that have been cut into the side of the chalk hills. You can download the 151km/44 mile route from the LWDA website for free. This also gives you a small history on the white horses, like the oldest horse at Westbury which dates back to 1778.
Go to the Races
Castle Combe Race Track offers spectacular racing. Its full race calendar includes saloon cars, retro cars, Formula Ford and car shows. For certain events it even hosts guests at its own campsite. If you fancy having a go yourself, they also offer track days with your own car or experiences in one of theirs – and there are plenty to choose from!
Visit a Ghost Town
Just before Christmas in 1943, residents of Imber village on Salisbury Plain were told to pack up their belongings and evacuate their homes in order to provide a training area for troops in WWII. The residents were never allowed back to their homes and the village disappeared from the map. Imber is still there as it was and still used today by the MOD. The village is opened up to visitors for just 50 days of the year. Dates can be found on the Imber church website.
Eat this
Wiltshire Lardy Cake
Lardy Cake is an English traditional tea bread, originating from Wiltshire. It is enriched with lard, sugar, spices and dried fruit. One of the best places to try Lardy Cake is Marshalls Bakery. With locations in Pewsey and Royal Wootton Bassett, they have won many awards with their recipe.
Pack a picnic
Wiltshire has so many beautiful spots for picnics. Whether you venture atop a hill with a view of a white horse, or to a landscaped Victorian garden, or into the largest Cathedral Close at Salisbury Cathedral. Take time to stop, eat and take in this magical county.
Drink this
Enjoy afternoon tea after exploring Lacock
Once you’ve finished exploring the traditionally English streets of Lacock village, relax, rest your feet and enjoy one of the many traditionally English afternoon teas on offer.
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