Characterised by its sweeping downloads, plains, and mysterious ancient landmarks — Stonehenge being the star — Wiltshire is also a county of grand cathedrals, stately homes, and some of the most picturesque towns in England: Castle Combe and Lacock and Teffont Evias, for starters. Some of the best places to stay in Wiltshire are in these pretty pockets, some are in the historic centres of Salisbury, Bradford upon Avon, Chippenham and Devizes, and some of the best places to stay in Wiltshire are old coaching inns, or converted country estates in the middle of rural-idyll-nowhere.
Some of our Wiltshire Collections:
If you’re looking for romantic getaways, or London weekend mini-breaks, these old country estates will definitely be some of the best places to stay in Wiltshire for you. Complete with all the bells and whistles spa facilities, golf courses, clay pigeon shooting, equestrian centres, and Michelin-starred restaurants, these old manors of the well-to-do now welcome everyone into their luxurious interiors. Not all of Wiltshire’s stately homes have been converted into hotels, many of the grandest are now owned by the National Trust. They open Lacock to the public, and much of its village; Stourhead and gardens; Wilton House; Great Chalfield Manor and its Arts and Crafts garden; and Westwood Manor, for starters. The National Trust also run Avebury, both the manor house and the little stone circle sister of Stonehenge.
Wiltshire also has more henges, long barrows and mounds than any other county, so the best places to stay in Wiltshire are a shoo-in for anyone with an interest in history or archaeology. It has some wonderful matching museums too. If you’re in Wiltshire with kids, Longleat House and Safari Park will be a certain crowd pleaser, and there are a number of local steam railways too, as well as some fascinating military museums. Walkers visiting Wiltshire are spoilt for choice too. The chalk downlands roll into grazing land and the Salisbury Plain, and to the north start the Cotswolds, and to the south the New Forest.