Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Chippenham, Wiltshire

Between the Cotswolds and the Marlborough Downs, Chippenham emerged during Anglo-Saxon times as a notable crossing on the River Avon.

The town center features a well-maintained pedestrianized High Street, highlighted by a prominent town hall constructed in 1834. The town museum offers a comprehensive overview of Chippenham’s historical development and is also home to Yelde Hall, a half-timbered structure that served as a jail and court during the 1400s.

One of the delights of Chippenham is the abundance of captivating sites located in the vicinity.

The charming villages of Lacock and Castle Combe flourished during Medieval times and have been featured in numerous television shows and films, representing quintessential rural England.

Bowood House, Lacock Abbey, and Corsham Court are notable country estates filled with art and historic significance, including landmarks related to the discovery of oxygen and the advent of the first photographic negative.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Chippenham:

1. Bowood House and Gardens

Situated just five miles outside Chippenham, Bowood House is a Georgian mansion that developed throughout the 18th century.

Notable architects Robert Adam and Capability Brown contributed to the house and grounds, respectively.

Unfortunately, much of this once expansive estate was dismantled after its use by the RAF during World War II.

The remaining sections of the house are still considerable in size and house many intriguing artifacts.

One room served as a laboratory for Joseph Priestley, where he discovered oxygen in 1774. Furthermore, visitors may also explore the library, which features a beautifully designed ceiling by Robert Adam.

The Lansdowne family’s collection includes Georgian textiles, jewelry, watercolors, miniatures, and numerous Victorian furnishings along with items acquired from colonial India.

Capability Brown’s landscaped park, which holds a Grade I listing, includes a later Italianate terrace garden, a private walled garden, an arboretum, and a picturesque mile-long lake.

2. Lacock Abbey

Located in the village of Lacock, this remarkable mansion is built from the remnants of an Augustinian nunnery.

During the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, much of the structure was dismantled and sold to the courtier Sir William Sharington.

The subsequent construction is an extraordinary combination of architectural styles from different eras, seamlessly incorporating the monastery’s stunning Gothic cloisters (featured in two Harry Potter films), sacristy, warming house, and basement chapter house.

The upper levels underwent a Gothic Revival renovation in the mid-18th century, and in the 19th century, the mansion became the birthplace of British photography, as will be detailed in the next section.

The Abbey Grounds are exquisite, showcasing a greenhouse, botanical garden, and various activities for energetic children.

3. Fox Talbot Museum

During the 19th century, Lacock Abbey was the residence of William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), who is renowned for his pivotal role in the history of photography.

In 1835, he produced what is widely regarded as the first photographic negative, featuring a view of a mullioned bay window from within the building.

The museum dedicated to Fox Talbot, located on part of the ground floor, chronicles his life, details the significance of the famous negative, explores the chemistry underlying his work, and showcases the experimental “mousetrap” camera he invented.

The Fenton Collection, comprising historic photographs, is kept at Lacock Abbey, while rotating photographic exhibitions are held in a gallery on the upper level.

4. Chippenham Museum

The highlight of attractions in Chippenham is its museum, located in the former magistrates’ court from the 18th century.

The museum illustrates how the river, rail, and road connections contributed to Chippenham’s growth and highlights connections to notable historical figures such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Alfred the Great.

Visitors can envision what Anglo-Saxon Chippenham would have looked like, witness the transformation brought by the Great Western Railway in 1841, explore period street scenes, and view a functional model of a flour mill.

There are interactive elements for children, including costumes and an activity table, while the schedule is rich with temporary exhibitions, guided walks, and discussions led by historians.

5. Corsham Court

Another remarkable country estate is located just five miles southwest of Chippenham in the village of Corsham.

This estate has an ancient heritage, originating from a manor held by Saxon kings, and remained under royal ownership until the reign of Elizabeth I. Following its acquisition by Sir Paul Methuen in 1745, Capability Brown was commissioned to redesign the grounds and expand the residence.

The results of Brown’s work are visible in the picture gallery and state rooms of the east wing, where the long gallery provides a splendid exhibition of 16th and 17th-century Italian Masters, including Salvator Rosa and Carlo Dolci.

The estate remains private, permitting access to only a limited number of rooms; however, the displayed porcelain, paintings, and furnishings are sufficiently engaging.

Visitors can also see the Gothic Revival bathhouse, also crafted by Brown, as well as a folly ruin created by another prominent Georgian architect, John Nash.

6. John Coles Park

On a warm summer weekend, it often seems as if the entire population of Chippenham gathers at John Coles Park, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

During this season, concerts are held at the bandstand every Sunday from 15:00 to 17:00, featuring local woodwind, silver, and brass bands.

The park’s splash pad is particularly popular with toddlers and young children during the summer months.

The expansive lawns provide a serene setting for reading or picnicking beneath mature oak trees, while various sports facilities, including a bowling green, tennis courts, and a multi-use games area, cater to visitors of all ages.

7. Lacock Village

Almost everything you encounter in the picturesque village of Lacock predates the 19th century and is owned by the National Trust.

Visitors might easily feel as though they have traveled back in time while exploring this grid of four streets lined with half-timbered houses and charming stone cottages.

This historic ambiance has made Lacock a favored filming location for numerous productions, including two Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Downton Abbey, and the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

On High Street at no. 2, there’s a shop window display dating back to the early 20th century, and at the intersection of East Street and High Street lies a Medieval tithe barn where goods paid to Lacock Abbey were stored.

Adjacent to this structure is the 18th-century village lock-up for individuals apprehended for intoxication.

8. St Cyriac’s Church

The grandeur of Lacock’s church reflects the wealth of the settlement during Medieval times.

A thriving market once flourished at this significant stop along the droving road connecting Bath and London.

Tax revenues supported the reconstruction of St Cyriac’s Church in the 15th century, while an octagonal tower and an annex known as the Cottage were erected in the 17th century.

The church’s notable features are closely associated with the historic landowning families of Lacock.

Look out for the northeastern Perpendicular Gothic chapel, which showcases exquisite lierne vaulting, remarkable 15th-century stained glass, and a Renaissance monument dedicated to Sir William Sharington, who took over Lacock Abbey in the 16th century.

9. Castle Combe Village

A brief drive into the Cotswolds leads to a village often praised as the prettiest in England.

Nestled along the By Brook, Castle Combe features the region’s distinctive honey-colored limestone, echoing the legacy of a once-booming wool trade.

Within the parish church of St Andrew, visitors can admire the 14th-century font and the effigy of Sir Walter de Dunstanville (d. 1270) located in the Lady Chapel, indicating his participation in the Crusades.

Crossing the bridge at the village’s base grants a picturesque view of the charming terrace of houses along “The Street,” framed by the high valley side.

Where the village’s three main streets intersect, the market cross stands, a nod to Castle Combe being granted the right to host a weekly market in the 14th century.

10. Tractor Ted Little Farm, Bowood

Bowood is not solely dedicated to Georgian elegance and history; it also features an attraction aimed specifically at children.

At the Tractor Ted Little Farm, children can interact with various young farm animals, including lambs, chicks, rabbits, and friendly guinea pigs.

An attentive staff is always available to share informative insights about the animals and their care.

In the Tractor Ted Barn, visitors will find a sow and her piglets, along with an activity area featuring discovery walls, coloring opportunities, and educational DVDs about farming.

Outdoor areas provide the chance for kids to operate mini tractors and mechanical diggers, alongside an impressive adventure playground equipped with a pirate ship and zip-line.

11. The Yelde Hall

While visiting the Chippenham Museum, inquirers can learn about Yelde Hall, a Medieval structure in town.

Constructed in the mid-15th century, this half-timbered edifice originally served as a jail on the ground floor and a courtroom above.

After relocating these functions in the early 19th century, the building has served various roles including a bank, drill hall, regimental headquarters, fire station, and later the town museum until its relocation in 1999. The gable above the side entrance displays Chippenham’s town arms from 1776, inscribed with “J.S.” in honor of the bailiff at that time, John Scott.

The preserved wood-paneled courtroom on the upper floor allows visitors to engage in a lively interactive council debate from 1816, discussing the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the decline of local weaving.

12. Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum

A fulfilling experience for automotive enthusiasts, this museum is located eight miles from Chippenham in Calne.

Meticulously curated, it stands as the only museum of its kind in this region, featuring automobiles, motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles originating from the 1920s onwards.

Additionally, there is a wealth of motoring accessories and memorabilia, alongside an impressive collection of model trucks.

A corner of the museum is designed as an authentic recreation of a 1930s garage, including vehicles from that era.

Many cars on display possess fascinating backstories, such as the customized 1936 Rover 14HP Sports Saloon that was tailored for a affluent Chippenham woman, featuring an oversized steering wheel and a vanity mirror.

13. Corsham 17th-Century Schoolroom and Almshouse

Your visit to Corsham should highlight this Carolean almshouse established in 1668 by Lady Margaret Hungerford.

Her husband, Sir Edward Hungerford, commanded Wiltshire’s Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War two decades prior.

Lady Margaret Hungerford, akin to Cromwell, maintained strict Puritanical principles and enforced 45 regulations for the almshouse’s residents to follow.

The arms of the Hungerford family, intricately carved in stone, adorn the primary entrance.

Most strikingly, the oak-paneled 17th-century schoolroom preserves numerous original fittings, such as benches and a teacher’s lectern, along with graffiti left by schoolboys over the centuries!

14. Cherhill White Horse

White Horses, formed by removing a layer of grass and soil to reveal the underlying chalk, are iconic features of Wiltshire’s downs.

Located eight miles from Chippenham in Cherhill, this particular horse, carved in 1780, is recognized as the third oldest in the nation.

The eccentric Calne resident, Dr. Christopher Alsop, is thought to have directed the creation from the bottom of the slope via a megaphone.

The hill above the horse is owned by the National Trust, which has established a walking trail leading to the Lansdowne Monument located a few hundred meters away.

This 38-meter obelisk was erected in 1845 in honor of Sir William Petty (d. 1687), a notable scientist, economist, and philosopher who served under Oliver Cromwell and maintained influence after the Restoration.

15. Chippenham Folk Festival

Now in its fifth decade, the Chippenham Folk Festival takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, featuring more than 200 individual events.

This highly anticipated event greatly contributes to the local economy, celebrating a wide variety of traditional music and customs from across England.

Events include concerts, dance performances, jam sessions, workshops for music and dance, poetry readings, storytelling, social dances, cabaret acts, and a grand parade through the town on Monday.

Families are not overlooked, with children encouraged to participate in puppet shows, circus workshops, face painting, and soft play areas.