Stonehenge Salisbury and Avebury, Wiltshire Road Trip Guidebook

Often described as one of England’s prettiest villages, Castle Combe is a timeless Cotswold settlement of honey-coloured stone cottages, a medieval market cross and the elegant St Andrew’s Church. With no modern streetlights or visible wires, the village feels unchanged for centuries, making it a perfect introduction to Wiltshire’s historic landscapes.

Lacock is a beautifully preserved medieval village centred on atmospheric Lacock Abbey. Its stone streets and timber-framed houses have appeared in many films and TV productions, including Harry Potter. The abbey’s cloisters and gardens reveal centuries of monastic history and photographic heritage.

Bradford-on-Avon is a picturesque riverside town where medieval bridges, Saxon churches and honey-coloured stone buildings line the Avon. Its historic streets, canal paths and welcoming cafés make it an atmospheric stop, blending architectural heritage with gentle countryside scenery.

Corsham is an elegant Wiltshire market town known for its historic high street, peacocks roaming the park and nearby Corsham Court. Its preserved streets have also appeared in film and television, including Poldark.

Caen Hill Locks near Devizes form one of Britain’s most impressive canal engineering achievements, where a dramatic staircase of locks climbs the hillside along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Marlborough is a lively market town set along one of England’s widest high streets, surrounded by chalk downland and historic coaching routes, with independent shops, cafés and strong connections to nearby Avebury.

Avebury is one of Europe’s largest prehistoric stone circles, where enormous standing stones surround the village itself. Walking among the stones is optional, but the scale of the ancient landscape is unforgettable.

Often called Britain’s oldest road, The Ridgeway follows ancient chalk ridges used for thousands of years. Today it offers wide views, prehistoric sites and a sense of travelling through deep history.

The Cherhill White Horse stands high on the Wiltshire hillside near Calne, a striking chalk figure overlooking farmland and the Lansdowne Monument, continuing the county’s long tradition of hillside carvings.

Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, where massive standing stones rise from Salisbury Plain. Entry is around £25–£30 per adult, with a visitor centre explaining the site’s ancient origins.

Salisbury is a graceful cathedral city of medieval streets and water meadows. Its magnificent cathedral, home to the tallest spire in Britain and a Magna Carta copy, dominates the skyline. Salisbury Cathedral rises above the city with Britain’s tallest church spire and beautiful cloisters. Entry is around £10–£12 per adult (suggested donation, not included), with access to the cathedral and Magna Carta display.