Wiltshire is one of England's most historically rich counties, home to two of the world's most celebrated prehistoric monuments: Stonehenge and Avebury, which together form a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. Managed by Visit Wiltshire, the county's official tourism body, the region draws visitors seeking a genuine escape from city life – whether for heritage, walking, cycling, spa breaks, or simply the wide-open chalk downlands of Salisbury Plain. Barely an hour and a half from London by rail or road, Wiltshire packs extraordinary variety into a compact and accessible destination.
The Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site is the centrepiece of any Wiltshire visit. Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain needs little introduction, but Avebury – where the standing stones actually surround a living village – offers an equally powerful sense of deep prehistory in a more intimate setting. The two sites are roughly 40 minutes apart by road, making it straightforward to visit both in a single day. Beyond the World Heritage Site, Wiltshire is scattered with Iron Age hill forts, ancient ridge-top trackways including the Ridgeway (reputed to be the oldest road in Europe), and the mysterious white horses carved into chalk hillsides.
Wiltshire's landed heritage is remarkable. Longleat, famous as both a stately home and the UK's first safari park, sits in the west of the county. Stourhead's celebrated 18th-century landscape garden is one of the finest in England. Lacock Abbey – a National Trust property dating from the 13th century – has appeared in numerous period dramas and films. Bowood House and its grounds offer a further example of the county's remarkable concentration of historic estates. Salisbury Cathedral, with the tallest spire in England at 123 metres, anchors the county town's rich medieval streetscape.
Nearly half of Wiltshire is designated as National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), covering the North Wessex Downs and Cranborne Chase. Walkers, cyclists and horse riders are well served by hundreds of miles of trails, while the Kennet and Avon Canal offers a gentler pace for boating and towpath walks. The county's market towns – Marlborough, Devizes, Bradford on Avon, Malmesbury – each have their own distinct character, with independent shops, traditional pubs serving local ales, and a thriving programme of festivals and events throughout the year.
Yes. Visit Wiltshire (visitwiltshire.co.uk) continues to operate as the official destination management organisation for the county, providing accommodation listings, event guides, itineraries and visitor information.
Wiltshire is approximately 80–90 miles from central London. By train, Salisbury is around 90 minutes from London Waterloo, and Swindon (in the north of the county) is under an hour from London Paddington. By car the journey is typically 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic.
Yes, both monuments are in Wiltshire. Stonehenge is near Amesbury in the south of the county; Avebury is in the north, close to Marlborough. Together they form a single UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of only a handful of such sites in England.
Wiltshire rewards visitors in all seasons. Spring and early summer bring wildflowers to the chalk downs. The summer solstice at Stonehenge attracts large crowds. Autumn offers quieter visits and atmospheric mist over the ancient monuments. Winter can be the most atmospheric time of all at Avebury, with few other visitors on site.
Wiltshire has a wide range of outdoor activities including walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing, golf, and canoeing on the Kennet and Avon Canal. The North Wessex Downs and Cranborne Chase provide some of the best walking and cycling terrain in the south of England, with clearly waymarked long-distance routes including the Ridgeway National Trail.
Wiltshire has a strong range of family attractions. Longleat Safari Park is one of the most popular family days out in the UK. Stonehenge and Avebury both have extensive visitor centres with interactive exhibitions. Bowood House includes a large adventure playground, and the county's canal network, country parks and farm attractions provide plenty of further options for families.
This visitor guide is part of the Catalink archive and may no longer be available to order. The information above describes Wiltshire Tourism and the official Visit Wiltshire destination. For current details, visit the company's official website.
This brochure is no longer available
The Time For Wiltshire - Escape the Everyday Brochure brochure has been archived — details above are kept for reference. Browse similar live offers available free today.
Browse Live Brochures →