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Market town in Wiltshire, England
Photo: Chris Downer, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Warminster is a delightful market town with a friendly population of around 18,000 (2011). The town has many interesting buildings, nearly all of which owe their existence to Warminster's great fame as a successful corn market for several centuries. It has for many years been a holiday haunt, providing visitors and tourists with beautiful countryside, ancient archaeological monuments, excellent recreational activities including walking and cycling and horse riding, plus shopping and plenty of enjoyable attractions large and small.
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Restored between 1887 and 1889. Outside the main door stands a venerable yew tree which is often quoted as being a thousand years old, although a study suggests it dates back to the 14th century.
At Boreham Road, designed by G.E. Street and built in 1865. It glows magnificently in the sunshine. The walls inside are illiustrated with mosaics of scriptural scenes designed by Ponting and made by J. Powell of Whitefriars. They were unveiled in 1912. Another was added to mark the 2000 Millenium.
The Chapel of St. Lawrence, at High Street, is a "Peculiar", existing outside direct Church of England control and held in trust by feofees since 1575, when they purchased the chapel for the town for £38 6s. 6d. A clock which has no face is installed in the tower and sounds the hours and the quarters. The chapel is open daily for prayer and evensong is held on the third Sunday of every month. The patronal service is held in August. A flower festival is usually presented inside the Chapel during the Christmas period, with donations being given to charity. The Friends of St. Lawrence Chapel organise many events and concerts at the Chapel.
"The greatest treasure house in the West Country" is on Warminster's doorstep, and, who knows, while visiting you might bump into the 7th Marquess of Bath, famous for his murals and his memoirs, and known locally, like his late father, for being a generous benefactor to Warminster. On the site of an Augustine priory, work commenced on the building of Longleat House in 1567.
Stourton. Within easy reach of Warminster is Stourhead, a National Trust property with its magnificent 18th-century pleasure garden landscaped around a lake and complete with temples, grottos, statues and monuments such as the old Bristol High Cross. It is particularly famous for colourful foliage in autumn.
Longleat Park, landscaped by Capability Brown, has animal neighbours: lions, tigers, wolves, gorillas, giraffes, rhino and an elephant.
Pound Street. Believed to be the last still-operating traditional malthouse in the county. Open to the public for guided tours, by appointment with the maltster Robin Appel.
The Athenaeum on the north side of the High Street was built in 1858 as a lecture hall and among its early speakers was Oscar Wilde who gave a talk on The House Beautiful. The present auditorium was built in 1879 as the Charles Bleeck Memorial Hall. From 1912 to 1964 it was the Palace Cinema and was also the venue for amateur operatics and drama. Eric Sykes, of television fame, was a regular cast member in a touring company which performed here in the 1940s. From 1969 onwards the building was used as an Arts Centre, with many famous names gracing the stage. Following a pause in proceedings in the 1990s, the Athenaeum re-opened in 2000 and is now held in trust as a registered charity by and for the people of Warminster. It is being promoted as a vibrant centre for the community. This fine Victorian theatre (complete with balcony), seating 220 persons, is certainly an intimate venue for all types of entertainment. Users have good backstage facilities, in-house lighting and dressing rooms. The Athenaeum plays host to the Warminster and District Film Society which offer once-a-month screenings. Tickets can be bought in advance or on the day the film is shown. Early booking is advised, as many of the films sell out quickly.
Established by Warminster Civic Trust. This reflects Warminster's varied blend of architecture which covers several centuries of development. Plaques giving historical information have been placed on 20 buildings. Brochure, including further information, photographs and map, £2 from Warminster Information Centre, Central Car Park, Warminster.
Conceived by Warminster Civic Trust. Just inside the main entrance to the Lake Pleasure Gardens at Weymouth Street is the Warminster Civic Trust Garden, where hardy plants, trickling water, a pergola and wooden seats and tables offer an oasis for relaxation. It was opened in 1996. The garden occupies the site of the former Warminster Open-Air Swimming Paths and the cost was met by several kind individuals, businesses and trusts.
The Wylye Valley Shooting Ground, at Fisherton Delamere, off the A36 and the A303, ten miles east of Warminster, is the place for clay pigeon shooting, locally, on a regular basis, with cash prizes when charity events are held.
Clean and safe farmyard with animals, pets and old agricultural implements, providing fun and learning for children and adults alike. Picnic area and refreshments. Good value in all weathers.
Every September. Organised by Warminster Civic Trust. Among the buildings opened up specially for guided tours to the public for this event in past years have been the Old Town Hall, the Masonic Lodge, Dents Gloving Museum, Warminster Maltings, the Athenaeum, and the Chapel of St. Lawrence. Advance booking always required.
A comprehensive collection of small arms tracing their development from the 16th Century to the present day. Exhibits include pistols, sub-machine guns, rifles, light and medium machine guns, light and medium mortars and anti-armour weapons. The collection also contains a fine reference library of specialist books and documents covering small arms trials from 1853 to 1939. The collection is very much military orientated for those with a special interest in small arms rather than the casual visitor and is unsuitable for young children. The maximum group size is 20 and visitors are escorted at all times. Car parking and toilet facilities.
Maintained by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, at Smallbrook. Paths lead out of the eastern end of the Lake Pleasure Grounds into Smalbrook Meadows, a designated Local Nature Reserve managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. It is also within the boundary of a Special Landscape Area (SLA). Situated next to the Were stream, measuring 13 hectares and divided into six small meadows, the reserve also features a large pond and some smaller ones. The diversity of habitat provides suitable conditions for many birds including kingfishers, sandpipers and dippers, and mammals such as the water vole. Avens, marigolds and flags are among the flora and at certain times the air is alive with orange tip butterflies, damsels and dragonflies. A small car park is situated adjacent the Henford Marsh road below Sandy Hollow. From here the path into the reserve has a hard surface and is wheelchair friendly. Free admission.
Warminster Art Society welcomes everyone from beginners to experts. During the winter months they hold workshops and lectures, and in the summer all-day outdoor painting sessions are held. Twice a year, usually in May and November, an exhibition of members' paintings and drawings is held in Warminster Library. Occasional exhibitions are held at the Athenaeum.
Central Car Park. The first port of call for visitors. Volunteer staff advise on where to stay, local attractions, transport links, and holiday activities. Wide range of leaflets (nearly all are free), maps, and souvenirs also on sale. Booking agents for local theatres and National Express coaches.
Woodcock Rd. The Sports Centre is much used by the community. It is the venue for many club activities including five-a-side football, Taekwon-do, karate, kick boxing, badminton and fencing. There is an air-conditioned gym, two glass-back squash courts, an aerobics studio and a 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool.
Held on a Sunday every October, with buses running in and out of the Central Car Park. Free to ride on all buses.
A Festival of Cycling held in the Warminster Lake Pleasure Grounds one weekend every July. Cycle rides, time trials, displays, cycle repairs, stalls and attractions. Free admission.
Elm Hill. The West Wilts Golf Club have an 18-hole course on top of 650 feet high Arn Hill, which began as a 9-hole course in November 1891. It was designed by J.H. Taylor. On chalk subsoil the greens and fairways are nearly always dry and fit for play. Practice facilities (out and indoor) are available. The course is of a links character and gives players of all standards a fair test.
Held bi-annually during the summer, giving locals and visitors the opportunity to visit talented artists, painters, sculptors, furniture makers, potters, glass blowers, gilders and jewellers, in their own homes and studios, as well as schools and barns, in Warminster and the surrounding villages, either to view their creations or commission or purchase works that will inspire, amuse, or prove a worthwhile investment.
Authentic Indian Cuisine, Indian Takeaway. Open seven days a week including Bank Holidays, 5:30PM to 10:30PM.
Fish and chips.
Pizzas.
Kebabs and pizzas.
Cafe and snack bar.
Local friendly authentic Chinese takeaway, specialising in authentic Peking, Szechuan and Cantonese cuisine.
Take-away traditional Italian food.
Cafe, tea and coffee.
Fish and Chips.
Pizzas and kebabs.
A range of dishes to suit all tastes, from pub classics to à la carte evenings. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners. Cream teas, coffee, cake. Sunday lunches. Fully licensed. Pre-theatre meal bookings available. Tuesday night is Pie and Pint night. Get a tasty homemade pie and chips or potatoes plus a pint of beer for just £8.95.
Fish and chips. Also Chinese food to take away.
Delicious home-cooked food and drinks. Booking advisable, especially at weekends.
Pizzas and kebabs.
Fish and Chips. Recession beater prices. Discounts available for groups, functions, parties, and social gatherings. Gluten-free available every fourth Monday of the month. Southern Fried Chicken now on the menu. Open seven days a week. M-Sa 11:45AM to 1:45PM and 4:45PM-9PM; Su 4PM-8PM.
The Subway Lunch £3, available all day. Choose from ten 6" subs and a drink. Free cookie with the purchase of a £1.40 bean to cup coffee. Open early to late seven days a week.
Traditional Cornish Pasties. Homemade cakes.
Warm and friendly village pub. Good selection of local ales. Menu changes daily. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with a choice of roasts on Sundays. Also has exquisitely designed accommodation suites.
Reopened in May 2014 after extensive refurbishment by J.D. Wetherspoon.
17th-century building in village location. Real log fires in winter. Garden in summer.
Country pub.
Real ales and cider. Function room and skittle alley.
Cask ales, spirits, wines and traditional pub fare.
Hotel and public house. Function room. Chimes Bar. Courtyard. Quiz Nights on Wednesdays.
Real Ales, Cask-Marque, Fine wines. Skittle alley. No jukebox. Listed in 'The Good Beer Guide'.
Public house. Live music on Saturday nights, from 9PM onwards, featuring local bands and musicians from further afield.
Real ales, fine wines, home-cooked locally sourced produce.
Upscale hotel and spa in a Georgian mansion. In extensive grounds, wedding photos can't resist the Doric temple but tend to pass by the Neolithic burial mound.
Bed and breakfast.
Caravans and camping.
Beautifully renovated historic 1860 3-storey holiday cottage.
Bed and breakfast.
Country pub.
Public house.
Bed and breakfast.
Caravans and camping.
Self-catering.
Bed and breakfast.
Public house.
Bed and breakfast.
Self-catering.
Self catering.
Bed and breakfast.
Single from £48, double from £55 per night. Closed at Christmas.
Charming village pub made over into a hotel and restaurant.
Cycle shop offering sales, service and repairs.
Established 1989, dealing in 17th-20th century English furniture, decorative items and pictures. A regular exhibitor at the January, April and October Decorative Antiques Fair, Battersea, London. Regularly updated stock online.
Book publishers (local history) and booksellers.
Boyton.
Music, CDs, vinyl records.
Family butcher.
Gifts.
Fishing tackle and bait.
China, ceramics, furniture, 19th century, 20th century and contemporary.
Trading Estate, Sutton Veny. Traditional smokers of fish, meat and game.
By bus
Buses and express coaches: scheduled service buses operate between Bath, Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster provided by First Bus route numbers 264 and 265, running twice hourly…
By cycle
By train
There are also a few direct trains to Brighton, Worcester and Cheltenham also operated by First Great Western.
By plane
Airports close to Warminster are Bristol (BRS), distant, Southampton (SOU) (Eastleigh), and Bournemouth (BOH), .
By boat
The nearest cross-channel ports are Portsmouth and Poole. Brittany Ferries provide vehicle and foot passenger services to and from northern Spain, the Normandy ports of Caen and Cherbourg, and St.
Warminster Town Centre is served by two car parks. The Central Car Park (accessed by vehicles from Station Road) serves the Market Place and Three Horseshoes Walk.
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Bristol · International · BRS
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