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Glastonbury Tor
About: Glastonbury the pop festival is actually home in neighbouring Pilton, so in fact, Glastonbury is most famous for its iconic Tor, a steep hill, seen for miles with a tower atop, both of which have been mythically linked to King Arthur. The views from the top are totally worth the breathless climb, so go on a clear day.
Address: Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, BA6 8BG
Longleat
About: Longleat has so much more than just its Lions! A short drive from Bath the house and grounds at the Longleat Estate offer a full day out, maybe more! Walk the grounds, view Lord Bath’s home, take the drive-through safari, and more.
Address: Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7JS
Price: Various ranging from free - £35.00
Stonehenge
About: Stonehenge is so important it’s looked after by English Heritage, so much so that an entire road has been re-routed away from it to protect it! Stonehenge is a prehistoric ring of standing stones each weighing circa 25 tons and of significant cultural and historical importance. They are also a thing of beauty and wonder and should be on every sightseer's must-see list. A Unesco World Heritage Site, like Bath itself.
Address: Stonehenge, Salisbury, SP4 7DE
Avebury
About: The west doesn’t have just one ancient stone circle of some fame, it has two. Visit Avebury in Wiltshire looked after by the National Trust and which includes a museum and manor house to make sure that the short trip to Wiltshire is packed out. And check in on beautiful Marlborough too. This market town was a must stop-off on the old London to Bath Road and just a ‘stone’s throw’ away.
Address: Avebury, Marlborough, SN8 1RE
The Cotswolds
About: The Cotswolds are a range of rolling hills and delightful villages famed for its beauty, so much so it’s deemed an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Stretching from as far away as Stratford-on-Avon all the way to Bath (roughly 25 miles) this area covers several counties with Cirencester in Gloucestershire at the epi-centre. Head to the Cotswolds for biking, walking, sight-seeing, and for some serious house envy.
Cotswold Locations: Cirencester, Tetbury, Malmesbury, Witney, North Leach, Chipping Camden, and many more.
Things to do: Cotswold Guided Tours, South Cerney Outdoor, Rambling, Clay Pidgeon Shooting, Cotswold Wildlife Park
Clifton Village – Suspension Bridge
About: Stonehenge is a pretty hard act to follow but such is the wealth of attractions here in the West that next up is the equally recognisable Clifton Suspension Bridge, a feat of engineering by the famous Isambard Kingdom Brunel which opened in 1864 and which in fact Brunel didn’t get to see finished.
Bridging the Avon Gorge from the cool village of Clifton to the leafy Leigh Woods, this toll bridge looks every inch perfection and its design is synonymous with Bristol.
Address: Bridge Rd, Leigh Woods, Bristol, BS8 3PA
Salisbury
About: The west boasts another medieval city, in Salisbury a short distance from Stonehenge. Salisbury Cathedral, a 13th-century Cathedral has a famously wonky spire of 123 metres although even more celebrated is it’s original copies of four Magna Carter manuscripts from 1214ad. Salisbury is also reputed to have the most pubs per square mile if that interests you…
Address: Salisbury, SP1 2EJ
Top things to do: Visit Salisbury Catherdral, The Salisbury Museum, National Trust - Mompesson House
Castle Combe
About: Sleepy beautiful Castle Combe is truly a place stopped in time. So untouched is this chocolate-box Wiltshire village it’s played stage-set to numerous films across the years, including Steven Spielberg’s WarHorse and later appeared in several series of Downton Abbey.
Address: Castle Combe, Wiltshire, SN14 7NG
Things to do: Castle Combe Race Circuit, The Pounds Art Centre
Stourhead
About: The National Trust house and gardens at Stourhead makes for a great day out with something for every family member. With over 1000 hectares this mansion house and grounds is home to a famous Palladium bridge, celebrated gardens, home to a Pantheon and monuments as well as housing renowned art-collections.
Address: Stourton, Warminster, BA12 6QF
Things to do: The Hoare Family Home, World-Famous Stourhead Garden
Lacock
About: Lacock is just a short trip from Bath, a tiny village with so much to see and do. It’s entirely owned by the National Trust, meaning that it has a totally unspoilt appearance. Lacock is the address of the home of Henry Fox Talbot’s who is considered the pioneer of photography and who is the museum’s namesake. Adjoined Lacock Abbey is a visitor attraction too because of its historical importance as much as its appearance in the Harry Potter films. In fact, Potter aficionados will have plenty of fun spotting the film's backdrops throughout the village.
Address: Lacock, Chippenham, SN15 2LG
Things to do: Lacock Abbey, Bowood House & Gardens, Harry Potter Tour