Wiltshire Accommodation Guide
Wiltshire (often abbreviated to Wilts) is a large landlocked county in the south west of England. The county is characterised by a landscape of chalk hills and gentle valleys. With 40% of the county falling within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Wiltshire attracts over 19 million visitors every year.
With so much to see and explore, it is no surprise therefore that Wiltshire is one of the most visited counties in south western England. In this guide, we will exhibit some of Dorset’s best accommodation choices and also explore some of the region’s finest attractions.
Above all else, Wiltshire is famous for its many prehistoric monuments and there are more located here than in any other English county. Both the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles can be found in Wiltshire (which combine to form a UNESCO Cultural and World Heritage site).
Given Wiltshire’s expansive chalk hills, the county also exhibits many geoglyphs or ‘hill figures’ that have been carved into steep hillsides to reveal the white chalk underneath. The Westbury White Horse can be found carved into chalk grassland below Bratton Camp Iron Age hillfort.
Wiltshire is also famous for its many so called ‘chocolate box’ English villages such as Castle Coombe, Tisbury and Lacock. The county also has a number of larger market towns which ooze charm and historical pedigree in equal measure. These towns include Devizes and Malmesbury. The Cotswolds also transcend across into Wiltshire.
Larger still, the city of Salisbury is notable for its medieval buildings and in particular its cathedral. The current cathedral (built between 1220 and 1320) houses the finest of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta. The original cathedral was built in 1092 and located at Old Sarum. The historic foundations of the original cathedral can still be seen today.
Being landlocked, Wiltshire shares a land border with the Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south east, Dorset to the south and Somerset to the west.
Key Facts Of Wiltshire / Tourist Information
- County Town: Trowbridge
- Land Area: 3,255 km2 (1,257 square miles)
- Population: 500,024 (2019)
- Population Density: 153/km2 (400/square miles)
- Average Temperature: (Summer 21 °C)
- Days Of Rain: Dry for 162 days a year
Best Attractions Wiltshire
Stonehenge: Stonehenge is a large prehistoric monument (constructed between 3000 to 2000 BC) that is located two miles west of the town of Amesbury. This incredible engineering feat consists of an outer ring of vertical Sarsen standing stones; each one weighs around 25 tons and is around 13 feet high and seven feet wide! The large stones were then topped by connecting horizontal lintel stones. There is also an inside circle of smaller bluestones and inside these some free standing trilithons and two more large vertical Sarsens, again joined by a lintel.
Salisbury Cathedral: Salisbury Cathedral is one of England’s most famous cathedrals and its spire (at 404 feet / 123 metres), is the UK’s tallest church spire. The spire’s ancient wooden scaffolding can still be seen today on the organised ‘Tower Tour’. The cathedral has the largest cloister and the largest cathedral close in Britain and it also contains one of the oldest working clocks in the world.
Longleat: Longleat House is not only a stately house and home to the 7th Marquess of Bath, it is also a famous safari park. Opened to the public in 1949, visitors to the house can join one of the many organised tours or simply walk around the house at their own pace. The safari park was opened in 1966 and it was the first ‘drive-through’ safari park outside of Africa.
Best Accommodation Wiltshire
Kings-Cottage (Salisbury): Spread over three floors, Kings Cottage (South) offers truly exceptional accommodation in the highly sought after Chalke Valley. Sleeping 8 people across 4 bedrooms, this incredible holiday home is in very high demand. You can also book it with the cottage next door (Kings Cottage – North) thereby boosting the capacity to 10 guests.
The Little Paddock (Malmesbury): Situated near the lovely market town of Malmesbury, Little Paddock is a luxury holiday home offering accommodation for 8 people. It is also superby situated for exploring the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Guests can enjoy the amazing sun room and also a large outdoor area complete with patio heaters.
Cosy Cot (Stapleford): Cosy Cot is a beautiful thatched cottage located in the historic village of Stapleford. Packed with character and lovingly restored, this amazing holiday home sleeps 6 people across 3 bedrooms. The communal living space here is perfect for an intimate group of friends of family with the centrepiece being the cottage’s inglenook fireplace.
Stay In Britain is the ultimate guide to places to stay and things to do in Great Britain. Whether you are looking for a luxury self-catering cottage, a cheap B&B for a weekend stay, a short break in a caravan park or a business-friendly hotel in the Wiltshire area, we have everything you need. Enjoy your stay in Britain!
