Wiltshire - historic towns and villages

Ashton Keynes is a picturesque village in the Cotswold Water Park south of Cirencester. The village grew up in the 7th century and was once a royal estate owned by Alfred the Great. Historical highlights include the 12th-century church of Holy Cross, and beside it, the 12th-century remains of Hall Close, a ringwork enclosure.
Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, England

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Heritage Highlight: 12th-century Holy Cross church

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Avebury is a delightful village in Wiltshire, built partly within a Neolithic henge and stone circle. A mile away is Silbury Hill, the largest manmade mound in Europe. Then there is the Tudor mansion of Avebury Manor, and the Saxon church of St James. Avebury is sublime.
A4361, Avebury, Wiltshire, England

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Heritage Highlight: At the heart of the Avebury World Heritage Site

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A lovely historic market town straddling the River Avon. Bradford boasts a medieval town bridge, a Saxon church, one of the most stunning medieval tithe barns in the country, and a 14th-century packhorse bridge. In addition, there are numerous medieval and Jacobean buildings, including the largely 15th-century parish church of Holy Trinity. The old shopping street called The Shambles still maintains its medieval layout. A real treat for visitors, Bradford-on-Avon deserves a lengthy stay.
Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England

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One of Wiltshire's true beauty spots, the delightful village of Castle Combe has been called 'The prettiest village in England', and it remains a haven for artists, who come to paint the attractive cottages and peaceful riverside views. Castle Combe was the setting for the original Dr Doolittle film.
Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England

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Hinton Parva, Wiltshire is a lovely little village just east of Swindon. It is blessed with several picturesque thatched cottages and a Saxon church. On the edge of the village is the National Trust's 'The Coombes', where medieval strip lynchets are preserved in a steep-sided valley.
Hinton Parva, Wiltshire, England

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Heritage Highlight: The parish church of St Swithun dates to the 11th century

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The 'ghost village' of Imber lies in the middle of Salisbury Plain. The villagers were required to leave in 1943 so the village could be used to train troops for the D-Day landings. The military kept the village after WWII ended, and it is open to visitors for six weeks each year.
Imber, Wiltshire, England

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Lacock is a village untouched by time, the site of historic Lacock Abbey, which was used in the popular Harry Potter films. The entire village of Lacock is owned by the National Trust so that it can be preserved as a time-capsule of traditional England. You will find no satellite dishes here, nor any other signs of encroaching 'civilisation'. Lacock is a picture-postcard version of an idyllic English village centuries ago. At one end of the village is Lacock Abbey, home of Henry Fox-Talbot, photographic pioneer. A small museum just outside the Abbey gates tells the story of Talbot's discoveries.
Lacock, Wiltshire, England

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Malmesbury is the oldest borough in England, a status granted by Alfred the Great in AD 880. Long before Alfred, there was a 7th-century castle and monastery here on a hill overlooking the River Avon. The Saxon abbey became a famous centre of scholarship and learning. Alfred the Great's grandson, Athelstan, was buried in the abbey church, as was Aldhelm, an 8th-century bishop. The early medieval historian, Wiliam of Malmesbury, was born here in 1090 and was educated at the abbey school. Malmesbury Abbey was dissolved in the Reformation, but part of the magnificent abbey church survives as the local parish church.
Malmesbury, West Country, Wiltshire, England

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Marlborough is a pretty market town on the River Kennet, known for its wide High Street and beautiful 17th-century buildings. There are two medieval churches, one at each end of High Street, and the Merchant's House, a beautifully-restored 17th-century townhouse built after the Great Fire of 1653.
A4, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England

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Heritage Highlight: 1653 Merchant's House on High Street

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Pewsey is an attractive village on the River Avon, south of Marlborough. The village was once owned by Alfred the Great, who proclaimed a holy day from the church doorway in thanks for his victory over the Danes. Explore the story of Pewsey in the Heritage Centre and see the Alfred Window in the medieval parish church.
A345, Pewsey, Wiltshire, England

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Heritage Highlight: Links to Alfred the Great

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