Tucked away in a picturesque corner of Wiltshire County, with the stunning Cotswolds Area of Natural Beauty on its doorstep, and a rich history which goes back to the Roman times, Chippenham is one of the great market towns of the South West, and a wonderful place to visit. Nearby our Chippenham hotel, you can make your way to England’s prettiest village, follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter and walk the cloisters of Hogwarts, or visit one of Capability Brown’s greatest gardens. Then, when you’ve built up an appetite, tick off some of our favourite restaurants, which range from Irish breakfasts to subterranean fine dining.
Things to do in Chippenham
Activities
Lose yourself in the heritage of Wiltshire with our pick of days out around Chippenham. Here we’ve gathered the likes of Castle Combe – the prettiest village in England – as well as National Trust properties, Capability Brown gardens, and thrown in a cinema and go karting for good measure too.
Lacock Abbey
There are any number of reasons for visiting Lacock Abbey, Chippenham’s top attraction. It’s the former home of one of the great pioneers of photography, and houses a museum dedicated to him. Its grounds and gardens are absolutely stunning. And it’s a 13th-century nunnery that’s hosted Harry Potter and Mr Darcy.
Nightlife
When it comes to the best bars and pubs in Chippenham, they all seem to offer something different. Take a look and see whether you’re after live music, comedy nights, excellent eating, cracking cocktails, late night dancing or a seven-day-a-week carvery courtesy of a popular local brewery.
Shopping
If you fancy a shopping spree then you may be better off catching the train to either Bath or Bristol. However, that’s not to say you can’t indulge in a little retail therapy in Chippenham. Your shopping route should take in the High Street, as well as Emery Gate and Borough Parade – the town’s two shopping centres. On Fridays and Saturdays, the town’s vibrant street markets take over the Market Place. There’s also good shopping options on The Bridge and The Causeway.
Getting Around
As Chippenham sits just four miles south of the M4 motorway, it’s easy to reach this pretty part of Wiltshire by road, especially if you’re travelling from London. Travel by coach and you’ll arrive at Chippenham Bus Station, just south of the town centre. Or, by rail, you’ll get into Chippenham Railway Station on the Great Western Main Line. From here you can catch eastbound services to London Paddington, or westbound to Bristol, Bath, Devon and South Wales. If you need a lift during your stay, there’s Uber, as well as plenty of local Chippenham taxi companies to choose from, Swift Taxis, and V Cars being a couple of the most popular.
Chippenham shopping
