Wiltshire boasts stunning countryside, gorgeous scenery and plenty of small villages that offer peace and quiet, such as Ramsbury and Lacock. When you stay in a village, you have a laid-back atmosphere and scenic surrounds to relax and unwind with the family or on your own, along with some of the best hidden gems and wonders in all of England. From villages with Neolithic monuments to charming parishes with historic pubs and churches, here are the 10 most picturesque villages in Wiltshire to plan your trip.
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Lacock
Explore the rolling hills of the English countryside
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Lacock is a quintessential English country village and civil parish in Wiltshire that’s renowned for its unspoilt landscape. The village has many exciting historic homes and buildings, such as the Lacock Abbey country home, the Bowood House and Gardens and St Cyriac’s Church. Lacock has several outdoor areas for fun in the sun, such as Spye Park, the Bowood Woodland Gardens and the Stephen Cox Garden Trust. If you have the kids, be sure to visit the Boomerang Family Play Centre for some kid-friendly entertainment.
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Sherston
Stay in the heart of the Cotswolds natural area
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Sherston is a charming village with many small hamlets that reside in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Beauty. The village has numerous historic buildings, such as the Old Swan House, the former Swan Inn and an old courthouse. Many of the churches are historic as well, and the Church of England parish church of the Holy Cross dates from the 13th century. You’ll also find many attractions nearby, such as the Athelstan Museum, a local history museum, and the Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre, a community museum with local artefacts.
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Dinton
Find adventure in the great outdoors
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Dinton is a quaint village and civil parish in Wiltshire with many historic sites and points of interest, including several nature-oriented attractions. You can explore places like the Dinton Park and Philipps House, a spectacular neo-Grecian country home and grounds, or spend your time in the outdoors in Fovant Badges or the Langford Lakes Nature Reserve. If you’re looking for adventure, you can visit Grovely Wood to hike in the forest and see native wildlife. Another popular spot is White Bird Lake, a vast lake for water sports and fishing.
TérképA kép készítője: Ben Bender (CC BY-SA 3.0) módosítva
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Tisbury
Relax in idyllic countryside
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Tisbury is a picturesque village in the Wiltshire countryside with a relaxing atmosphere and a mix of historic, nature-oriented and kid-friendly attractions for your holiday. You’ll have plenty of historic sites to explore, such as the medieval Old Wardour Castle and its surrounding parklands. The New Wardour Castle, a stunning country house done in the Palladian style, is also great to visit. Tisbury has a lot of idyllic outdoor space as well, such as Fonthill Lake, Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Fovant Badges. If you have the kids, be sure to stop at the Bush Farm Bison Centre for a safari ride among wildlife.
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Avebury
See the famous Neolithic monument
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Avebury is a village and civil parish that’s famous for the Avebury prehistoric monument, a henge and stone circles that date back to between 3400 BC and 2625 BC. Many visitors flock to the Avebury to explore the location's other attractions, such as the Avebury Manor and Garden, a manor house and lush garden space, and the Red Lion, a historic farmhouse pub that’s enclosed by a stone circle. Within the pub is a deep village well that’s now covered with glass and serves as a dining table.
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Grittleton
Tour historic estates and churches
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Grittleton is a lovely civil parish and village nestled in the Wiltshire countryside that’s home to small hamlets and has numerous historic sites to explore. You can visit sites such as the Grittleton House, a large Jacobean country home and estate with beautiful architecture and an extensive complex of coach houses, stables and other facilities. Grittleton is also home to 3 parish churches of the Church of England, some that date back as far as the 13th century, and a 19th-century pub on a 17th-century site.
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Broad Chalke
Spend time in nature
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Broad Chalke is a village and civil parish with a picturesque, peaceful landscape featuring 2 chalk streams and verdant valleys for a quiet holiday. The village is within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Chalke Valley. Plenty of heritage-listed churches are within Broad Chalke, such as the 13th-century All Saints and the churches at Alvediston and Bowerchalke. In town, you’ll find a variety of village shops, restaurants and community spots to explore.
TérképA kép készítője: Simon Burchell (CC BY-SA 3.0) módosítva
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Stourton
Learn about Iron Age history
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Stourton is a civil parish with fascinating historic attractions and areas of interest, including the hamlets of Bonham and Gasper and the Stourhead estate, a Palladian country house and garden. Stourton is also home to the Heath Hill Farm, a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Stourhead estate. You could also visit prehistoric sites, such as Park Hill Camp, an Iron Age hillfort, and Kenwalch’s Castle, an Iron Age fortress. Pen Pits, a set of circular pits that served as a quarry during the Iron Age and Roman periods, is also within Stourton.
TérképA kép készítője: Ian Capper (CC BY-SA 2.0) módosítva
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Ramsbury
Walk the Treasure Trail
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Ramsbury is a quaint village filled with thatched cottages and idyllic gardens surrounded by peaceful countryside. One of the best things to do in Ramsbury is to take the Treasure Trail, a scenic trail that begins at the Bell at Ramsbury pub and travels through hidden pathways. On the Treasure Trail, you solve clues to find obscure gems you may miss otherwise, such as points of interest in the churchyard and nature reserve. Another popular activity is the tour of the Ramsbury Brewery and Distillery, which is part of the massive Ramsbury estate.
TérképA kép készítője: Des Blenkinsopp (CC BY-SA 2.0) módosítva
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Wootton Rivers
Enjoy tours of historic buildings
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Wootton Rivers is a small, charming village in the Vale of Pewsey that offers an array of small-town pleasures and fascinating historic sites. The village is home to Church of England parish churches, such as the 14th-century St Andrew, which was designed to commemorate the coronation of George V. You could also visit the Manor House, a 15th-century country home, and the Brimslade Farmhouse, a 16th-century farmstead. Many other buildings are heritage listed, such as the village hall and the Royal Oak pub.
TérképA kép készítője: Adam Jones (CC BY 4.0) módosítva