EmWiltshire is a beautiful county in the south west of England. There are so many things to do in Wiltshire. Despite that, it often doesn’t get the same attention as neighbouring Somerset! As a resident of Wiltshire, I’m here to make sure you get the most out of your visit to this beautiful county.
It’s easy to get to Wiltshire, via car or train. Trains run into stations including Westbury from London Paddington, Bath and Bristol. Trains also run into Salisbury from London Waterloo and the south coast, as well as Bristol. The nearest airport is Bristol.
Heading to Wiltshire from Bath? Check out my article on Top Things to do in Bath to make the most of your stay in this historic city.
Where to stay in Wiltshire?
Wiltshire has many beautiful accommodation options. Depending on your plans, you might choose to stay in one of the cities or towns. For example if you are visiting Stonehenge it is best to stay in Salisbury.
There are also a plethora of options out in the countryside, if a more remote feel is your vibe.
The best things to do in Wiltshire:
1. Stonehenge – the top thing to do in Wiltshire
Stonehenge shouldn’t just be top of your list of things to do in Wiltshire, it should be one of your top things to do in the United Kingdom and the world. Built around 3000 BCE, the enormous monument had a few iterations, including a wooden henge before the current stones. Historians continue to find out more and more about how ancient people used this magnificent monument, and how it tied into the countryside around it. It’s truly one of the most stunning monuments in the world.
Visiting Stonehenge is fairly easy. Tickets cost £25 for adults if you book in advance, or £30 on the door.
Situated outside Salisbury, you can drive and park in the car park run by English Heritage (be aware that these are considered notoriously expensive in England).
There is also a regular bus that runs direct to the site from outside Salisbury Station. This goes every hour during peak months. The bus stop is easy to find and tickets cost £19.50 return for just the bus. You can also buy a combo ticket with your Stonehenge entry included. The bus has Audio commentary is provided on the bus so that you find out about Stonehenge before your visit. During peak season (summer and school holidays) I would suggest booking in advance.
The site is maintained by English Heritage, who provide toilets and other facilities, as well as the ubiquitous gift shop.
2. Salisbury
While you’re heading to Stonehenge, make sure you take the time to stop off at Salisbury, the nearest city. Visting Salisbury is definitely one of the most interesting things to do in Wiltshire. Founded in 1220, Salisbury retains its historic, mediaeval appearance, with many buildings dating from the middle ages.
Salisbury is a lovely town to walk around, with winding alleys, excellent shopping and lots of cafes and restaurants.
There’s also plenty to do and the main attractions include:
- Salisbury Cathedral – dating from 1220, the soaring Salisbury Cathedral is a magnificent example of Early English Gothic architecture. Step inside to be transported back in time. It also houses one of the few surviving copies of the Magna Carta, the document which codified democracy in England in 1215. It took power away from the King and ensured Parliament had more say in governing the country. This makes it one of the most important documents in English history.
- Salisbury Museum – located just across from the cathedral, the small Salisbury museum houses an impressive amount of local archaeological information. This includes the Amesbury Archer. This is one of the oldest bodies found in England, who is thought to be connected to Stonehenge. The museum also offers occasional ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours, which I’ve been lucky enough to attend in the past. They give you a chance to get up close and personal with artefacts including holding arrowheads and axeheads that are over 40,000 years old. Its well worth looking to see if your visit coincides with one of these tours.
- Visit Salisbury’s ancient pubs – no trip to Salisbury would be complete without visiting one of the city’s old pubs. The oldest is the Haunch of Venison, which dates from 1320 . Stepping inside is like going back in time – the tiny, winding space retains so much of its historic character. It also famously has a Hand of Glory (now a replica after the original was stolen), a rare magical artefact which was believed to aid burglary. The Horsebox area of the pub at the front is also where Churchill and Eisenhower planned the D-Day landings.
- Other exceptionally old pubs in Salisbury include The New Inn (not particularly new as it dates to the 16th century) and The Chapter House.
3. Longleat – the best thing to do in Wiltshire for families
North of Salisbury and just outside Warminster, Longleat is one of the most exciting animal parks in the UK. It’s a haven of conservation, offering safari access to the bigger animals and more up close access to the smaller ones. The safari includes lions, wolves, rhinos, tigers and cheetahs. There is also a specific Monkey Mayhem area. eed the signs as you make your decision whether to enter or not! The monkeys are free to climb all over your car and are highly likely to cause damage!
Animals you can see as part of the walking area include my favourite Koalas, red pandas, a variety of reptiles and otters.
Longleat also offers a short boat ride, where you can see gorillas. There is also a small train aimed at children, as well as an extensive adventure playground. Finally, you can also visit the incredible Longleat House, one of England’s stately homes, originally a home for a single family.
If you are in Wiltshire in December, you can also visit Longleat for their Christmas lights. These have a different theme each year and are an enchanting way to see the property. Just make sure to book ahead as it’s very popular.
Adult tickets to Longleat currently cost £42.95 and it’s well worth booking in advance. There are good facilities at the park including a variety of restaurants and cafes. Plan a whole day at Longleat – you will definitely need it!
4. Avebury – one of the best things to do in Wiltshire if you’re spiritual
Avebury is the lesser-known sister-site to Stonehenge, but it’s still one of the best things to do in Wiltshire. Historians describe a henge as a wood or stone circle, and Avebury is the biggest in the UK. Sprawling over multiple fields, it’s an awe-inspiring sight, very different to Stonehenge.
It is easiest to visit Avebury by car. The henge straddles a picture-perfect village, where you can find cafes, a bookshop, a local store and a good few shops selling crystals and other spiritual items.
The site is free to enter but maintained by English Heritage, and there is a hefty parking fee that makes up for the free entry. English Heritage also has facilities such as toilets on site.
Spend a delightful couple of hours strolling around the henge and the village itself, before heading on to Marlborough.
5. Marlborough
Nestled in an official area of natural beauty, Marlborough is a historic market town that has become a thriving modern village. It’s also home to one of England’s most famous public (i.e. fee paying) schools, Marlborough College. The most famous alumni is Princess Catherine of Wales. It’s easily reachable from Avebury. You could combine the two as a day trip, making this one of the best things to do in Wiltshire.
Founded following the Norman conquest in 1066, many of the buildings in Marlborough are mediaeval. The thriving town centre offers a large number of cafes and restaurants, as well as higher end shops and independent stores. It’s a lovely place to spend a few hours, especially on a Saturday when there is a busy market. There are also a few places to have afternoon tea on the high street, including my recommendation, The Polly Tea Rooms.
6. Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is the little sister of Bath. It’s a smaller version of the famous city, featuring the same architecture and Bridgerton vibes, and it’s one of my favourite places to spend time in Wiltshire. As with Wiltshire, it’s a bustling town full of independent shops and restaurants, with the Avon flowing through the centre.
Founded sometime between 652 and 1001, the majority of the town dates from the Georgian period, with elegant townhouses filling many of the streets. However, if you’re in search of older history, you can visit the tiny Saxon church, which dates from around the 8th century. You can easily find the Saxon Church via street signs.
You should also take time to walk along the river to the mediaeval Tithe Barn. This was where the nuns from the local convent collected the tithe (10%) of produce they were entitled to. The enormous size of the barn highlights how wealthy this made them. There are a couple of pretty cafes next to the Tithe Barn. If you head opposite from it and down a short path, you’ll also find a beautiful set of independent shops and workshops.
I have a couple of favourite places in Bradford that I always visit, and top of the list is the Bridge Tea Rooms. This building dates from the 15th century, and the tea rooms inside recreate the experience of a Victorian tea room, offering delicious food and a variety of afternoon teas. It’s worth booking ahead as it can get busy.
Bradford on Avon is easily reached by train from Bath and Bristol, and from other stations in Wiltshire including Westbury (which also connects to London).
7. Bluestone Vineyard (and Lilleys)
The amount of vineyards in England is steadily increasing and Wiltshire is proud to have its own vineyard in the south of the county, near Salisbury.
Bluestone was founded in 2016 and has grown ever since. Like many English vineyards, they specialise in sparkling white and rose wine, made with similar methods to champagne. While I haven’t visited the vineyard, I have tried the wine and I can confirm it’s delicious.
Tours start from £6 for a self guided tour, £20 for a tasting or £30 for a guided tour of the vineyard. You can add lunch to these options.
While it’s not technically in Wiltshire (just across the border in Somerset), if you like cider you can also easily visit the Lilley’s property just outside of Frome. Lilley’s is one of the most famous ciders in the UK, and a trip to their store offers you a chance to taste all their blends before you buy.
8. Walk along the Avon – one of the best nature things to do in Wiltshire
If you want to get out of Wiltshire’s pretty towns and into nature, one of the best things to do in Wiltshire is to take a walk down the Avon. This beautiful river passes through some of the county’s most beautiful countryside, and there are a number of walks starting from points across the county.
One of the best is the walk to/from Bradford on Avon. You can start your walk in Bradford, or take the train a couple of stops down the line to the gorgeous Freshford. There is a circular walk between Bradford and Avoncliff (c.4.5miles) or between Freshford and Bradford (c.8 miles).
The path along the river is well signposted. There are pubs near Bradford, and one at Avoncliff, so whichever route you take, you’ll be sure of refreshments at the end.
There are also walks from Salisbury, with a well maintained 34 mile route starting at Salisbury Cathedral. These take you into the water meadows behind the cathedral, and onwards for as long as you want to walk!
9. Imber – one of the best things to do in Wiltshire that’s off the beaten track
This recommendation is a bit more tricky than my other top things to do in Wiltshire, because there are only around 5 days a year when you can visit Imber. But if your trip coincides with one of those days, it’s well worth making the journey out to Salisbury plain to visit this interesting site.
Salisbury Plain is one of the biggest military sites in the UK. In 1943, the Ministry of Defence reached out to residents of Imber, a tiny town in the middle of the plan. Due to the second world war, the military needed the land, and the residents had to pack up their stuff and leave. They are adamant that they were told they could return, but it never happened. Imber remains military land to this day.
There’s not much of the town left, but the listed Church, dating from the 13th century, remains. Visiting Imber is a fascinating glimpse into the past, and a rare opportunity to see one of Britain’s ghost towns. It’s also interesting to see the buildings the military has built to use as target practice, as well as the canons discarded across the land.
I visited as part of ImberBus, an annual August event where convoys of London buses take visitors out to the site. It was an incredible experience, but extremely busy, with long queues for buses. There are facilities at Imber on the day, including portaloos and tea, coffee and cake in the Church.
Imber is also open to the public on a few other days a year – a couple of bank holidays and once for a carol concert before Christmas. On these days, you need to drive out to the site. Full details can be found here.
10. Stourhead – one of the best things to do for Bridgerton fans
Stourhead is a stunning stately home found in one of Wiltshire’s area’s of natural beauty. Built from 1714 onwards, it was originally described as a ‘living work of art’. It was owned by the Hoare banking dynasty, who changed the original manor into the current Palladian masterpiece. It’s now famous for its stunning garden, as well as the house itself.
Stourhead regularly hosts events, including their Christmas light trail. There is also a range of restaurants and shops to enjoy. Tickets start from £20 for an adult. If you like visiting stately homes, this is one of the most interesting things to do in Wiltshire.
11. Relax on a Spa day – one of the best things to do in Wiltshire if you want to relax
After all that jaunting around the countryside, you’ll be ready for a rest. Head to Bishopstrow Hotel for a fabulous spa day, as well as their delicious restaurant. Just outside of Warminster, and only a few minutes drive from Longleat, the spa is well located to help you relax.
The spa offers an indoor and outdoor pool, and a steam room, sauna and monsoon shower. You’ll also have the chance to relax within their beautiful grounds, if the weather is good enough. There are spa packages available and lots of treatments on offer. Once your spa package is over, you can head to the restaurant for afternoon tea with a view. This is one of the best things to do in Wiltshire if you want to relax!
12. Visit alpacas
If you’re not feeling up to a full day of animal spotting at Longleat, you could try a much less intense animal experience in Wiltshire. Visit Downswood Alpacas to spend an hour walking their lovely furry alpacas, and learn all about these fluffy creatures.
There are various different walks available, including some suitable for little ones. The alpacas are friendly and the family who run the farm extremely knowledgeable about their care. This is a unique way to spend a couple of hours and one of the best things to do in Wiltshire for families.
