Explore Wiltshire
Your Itinerary Planner
Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.
Press
Welcome to Visit Wiltshire press pages, full of all the latest stories and events as they are released, keeping you informed on what's happening with tourism in Wiltshire. For older stories please refer to our News archive.
This section of our website is under construction, but before long it will have a handy media kit containing all the tools you need in one place: photographs, director profiles, logos, and key features such as an introduction to Wiltshire.
Discover more about VisitWiltshire tourism partnership by reading some of our Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us
Are you a journalist in need of further help or information? Contact us by email, call us on 01722 434238 or fax us on 01722 434440.
Media enquiries
Public enquiries
To be alerted of Visit Wiltshire's breaking news, register to join our electronic mailing list.
News Releases
News releases can be copied and pasted as required.
The photographs and screenshots in this section of the website are © Visit Wiltshire or supplied by member attractions or accommodation, but most may be used to illustrate editorial about Wiltshire without charge. Other photographs not specific to news releases are displayed in the photo gallery.
We are sorry, but due to technical difficulties the latest news releases have not yet been added to the site, please contact us for an up-to-date press pack.
Accommodation for all in Wiltshire
2 February 2009
VisitWiltshire has launched a new accommodation guide offering helpful information about where to stay around the county plus details of attractions, activities and the history of one of the UK's most interesting counties.
WINTER NEWS FROM VISITWILTSHIRE
2 February 2009
Michelin Stars, accommodation bargains and exciting events.......it must be winter in Wiltshire!
VISITWILTSHIRE LAUNCHES GROUP TRAVEL BROCHURE
17 January 2009
Group travel to Wiltshire has just become easier thanks to a new brochure from VisitWiltshire. The pocket sized 24 page booklet contains detailed information to help coach and tour operators and group travel organisers arrange everything from accommodation and dining to attractions and events. There is even a selection of suggested itineraries.
WINTER NEWS FROM VISITWILTHIRE
8 December 2008
Magna Chalets are Scandinavian style wooden chalets offering rustic comfortable self-catering accommodation for families in Wiltshire. The company has three chalets, each offering accommodation for up to four people complete with fully fitted kitchen and satellite television.
WILTSHIRE EXCELS IN FOOD AWARDS IN 2008
4 December 2008
The past 12 months has seen five Wiltshire businesses achieve accolades for their exceptional cuisine, especially in respect to the food being locally sourced and seasonal, firmly establishing the county as one of the UK's most exceptional foodie destinations.
WILTSHIRE GUESTHOUSE FORGES JAPANESE LINKS
3 December 2008
Fosse Farmhouse, a charming Cotswold Stone Georgian Guest house in the picturesque Castle Combe Valley of North Wiltshire, has forged links with a high class Japanese restaurant and now runs an exchange programme where the head chef of "Mominoki House" will be joining the team at Fosse Farmhouse over Christmas to offer visitors a taste of the Orient.
DECEMBER OFFERS IN WILTSHIRE
1 December 2008
Visit Wiltshire this winter and enjoy savings on a variety of accommodation from pretty guesthouses to luxury country house hotels.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR WALKING
27 November 2008
Wiltshire based walking specialist Foot Trails has launched a Christmas gift voucher with a difference. Not only are the vouchers redeemable against walking holidays with Foot Trails but each voucher comes with a complimentary gift pack.
ACCOMMODATION AND DINING OFFERS IN WILTSHIRE
25 November 2008
The Red Lion Hotel in the centre of Salisbury is offering Christmas break packages from £295 per person. The package includes overnight accommodation on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On arrival on Christmas Eve, guests will be treated to a traditional cream tea, cocktail reception, A La Carte dinner and carol singing.
SPEND CHRISTMAS IN WILTSHIRE
18 November 2008
The Angel Hotel in Chippenham, Wiltshire dates back to the 17th century. Having undergone extensive renovations in 2007, the hotel now offers 50 en-suite rooms, including four posters. The hotel has launched a Christmas special offer of just £60 per room, including breakfast for stays in December between 23rd - 29th
DISCOUNTED WINTER BREAKS IN WILTSHIRE
10 November 2008
This winter save on weekend breaks and holidays to Wiltshire with a variety of low cost offers. Great Ashley Farm in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire is offering discounts of up to £40 on short breaks at its self-catering cottage.
NO TRICKS JUST TREATS FOR MONKEYS AT LONGLEAT
30 October 2008
'Trick or Treating' might have become one of the more recognised activities of Halloween but Longleat keepers have decided to turn the concept on its head and just treat their monkeys with some Halloween 'specials' this October!
NEW 43 BEDROOM HOTEL & SPA TO OPEN AT 'BEAUTIFUL BOWOOD' IN MAY 2009
28 October 2008
Wiltshire's Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort takes shape in 
Capability Brown parkland
FREE ACCOMMODATION IN WILTSHIRE......and other special offers, including spooky Halloween breaks
21 October 2008
For one Friday every month the Chiseldon House Hotel offers free accommodation to all diners in the restaurant. Simply book a four course dinner at the AA Rosette winning restaurant with a set price of £39.95 and enjoy complimentary accommodation and breakfast.
HALF-TERM HOLIDAY OFFERS IN WILTSHIRE
16 October 2008
Now is the last opportunity to take the family to Longleat before the season ends and Bishopstrow House Hotel in Warminster, Wiltshire has an excellent package on offer, saving £56 per child. The package which costs from £135 per adult per night includes a three course gourmet dinner, full English breakfast, a Longleat Passport ticket and a Longleat Picnic.
Spectacular new font is centre of attention for visitors to Salisbury Cathedral
15 October 2008
In less than a month, a large and exquisite piece of modern religious art has undoubtedly become the centre of attention for visitors to one of Britain's greatest and most iconic buildings. The contemporary sculpture in question is the new font, installed at the end of September at Salisbury Cathedral. One of the most significant additions to the fabric of an English Cathedral in recent years - and probably the largest piece of modern art to be installed within a medieval cathedral - the font was designed by William Pye, Britain's most distinguished water sculptor, who hopes that "it will be seen as something timeless that has been absorbed naturally into the fabric of this great building, becoming an integral part of the cathedral and its history."
VISITWILTSHIRE TOURISM PARTNERSHIP APPOINTS TOURISM COORDINATOR
14 October 2008
Nicholas Baumber has joined VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership as new Tourism Coordinator after three years as Tourism Projects Officer with Salisbury District Council.
A WEEKEND OF HALLOWEEN HAUNTS
8 October 2008
Spooky spectres, ghoulish ghosts, haunted hostelries - all this and much more will be unearthed in supernatural Salisbury this Halloween. Salisbury celebrates its spectral heritage with a special Spooky Weekend from 24-31 October. Our medieval city boasts a staggering 20 ghosts - including a beheaded aristocrat, a cheating gambler with an amputated hand, and a friendly 17th century Cavalier.
LOW COST AUTUMN BREAKS IN WILTSHIRE
6 October 2008
Wiltshire hoteliers continue to offer low cost holidays and weekend breaks. Here is just a selection of some of the best deals available this autumn.
LONGLEAT JUNIOR RANGERS HIT 100,000
6 October 2008
Junior Rangers, a 20-part web series based from Longleat, has topped 100,000 viewers! The five-minute or so shows put together by Joe (12yrs) and Annie Smith (10yrs) with help from their dad, Clive Smith, an experienced television cameraman, have been aired on both the Longleat website and on iTunes and have regularly appeared in the Top 10 on the Kids and Family podcast section of iTunes and at times, have been at Number 2!
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WILTSHIRE THIS AUTUMN
2 October 2008
Welcome to VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership's first media newsletter. In here you will find the latest news and events taking place between now and Christmas plus special offers from some of the region's hotels.
ENCOURAGE RISK TAKING THROUGH ADVENTUROUS PLAY AND DON'T OVER-PROTECT CHILDREN, URGE PARENTS IN BOWOOD SURVEY.
September 2008
Parents bringing their children along to the Adventure Playground at Bowood House & Gardens (nr. Calne, Wiltshire) are clearly concerned about the future ramifications of over-protecting today's youngsters, according to a snapshot survey conducted by the popular Wiltshire family attraction this summer
LONGLEAT MAKES SUPERBRAND STATUS
29 September 2008
Longleat has been voted one of the top 500 UK Superbrands for 2008/09 as nominated by a panel of independent experts and voted for in a YouGov poll of more than 2200 UK consumers. Thousands of brands from more than 40 different sectors were considered in the initial stages.Superbrands, as recently published in The Sunday Telegraph, presents consumer opinion on the UK's strongest and best loved brands and Longleat at no. 308 has found itself in the forefront of the Leisure and Entertainment/Destinations section.
VISITWILTSHIRE TOURISM PARTNERSHIP REPORTS PROMISING VISITOR STATISTICS
26 September 2008
Following the launch of a new county-wide organisation - the VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership - the area is looking forward to a new boost in tourism as it seeks to establish itself as one of the most exciting UK destinations
Mum ninety-five times over!
16 September 2008
Any new mother will know how much time and effort goes into a newborn baby what with feeding, nappy changing, those essential cuddles and so much more! Well imagine Kim Tucker, keeper in Pets Corner at Longleat, and new mum of ninety-five! For any arachnophobe, Kim's motherhood experiences would undoubtedly send shivers down the spine, as her 'babies' are Chilean Rose Tarantulas. These baby tarantulas are a first for Longleat however and keepers are said to be absolutely delighted.
VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership Launches
11 September 2008
Wiltshire is establishing itself as a must visit county following a major re-structure and the launch of a new county-wide organisation - Visit Wiltshire Tourism Partnership.
Chinese to take-away a good impression of Salisbury
21 August 2008
While the eyes of the world are focused on a certain international sporting event in China, tourism officers in Salisbury have been busy promoting the area to the hosts of the games. Salisbury & Stonehenge Tourism Partnership are participating in a new campaign initiated by Tourism South East which is aimed at attracting greater numbers of Chinese visitors to Britain.
Longleat tiger territory Goes wet 'n' wild
29 July 2008
Keepers at Longleat Safari Park are delighted to confirm that at long last, their trio of Amur tigers have turned their attention to their new outdoor pool. The new pool, which was completed back in June, has sadly not really inspired the tigers to any serious water play to date. Turn on the hot weather though and it's a completely different story.
DOUBLE TROUBLE AS SEA LION PUPS MAKE GRAND ARRIVAL
14 July 2008
Longleat Safari keepers were delighted when not one but two of their sea lions gave birth earlier this month. The two youngsters, both female, join the six-strong colony of Californian sea lions who reside in the freshwater Half Mile Lake alongside Longleat House.
MBE FOR TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE MANAGER
8 June 2008
Jane Fry, Manager of the Salisbury Tourist Information Centre in Fish Row, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours. Jane was awarded the MBE for services to tourism in the south west.
Salisbury750 spectacular Flower Festival 17-21 June
5 June 2008
With over 40,000 flowers worked into breath-taking floral displays and integrated co-ordinated designs encompassing the Cathedral's whole interior, produced by 550 volunteers from churches and flower clubs from all over Wiltshire and Dorset and master-minded by award-winning designer Michael Bowyer, this Festival is a must for everyone who loves flowers.
FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF 'THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL'
5 March 2008
If you have caught Tudor fever with the latest costume blockbuster, 'The Other Boleyn Girl', why not soak up some of the period atmosphere and visit the National Trust locations that were used for the film. From the exquisite Tudor courts of Henry VIII at Whitehall Palace to the lavish interiors of the Boleyn country residence, find out which Trust properties brought them back to life.
New look Salisbury guides break with tradition
7 March 2008
Salisbury could soon receive a boost in visitors thanks to publications published by Salisbury and Stonehenge Tourism Partnership this year.
Extraordinary exhibition launches Cathedral's celebrations
4 January 2008
'Odyssey' by Robert Koenig marks the start of Salisbury Cathedral's 750th anniversary celebrations. During this extraordinary exhibition of some thirty two well travelled wooden figures, 2½ metres tall, Hove based artist Robert Koenig will carve a 'Salisbury' figure from a local tree donated by the Wilton Estate.
Wiltshire village of Lacock stars in BBC's Cranford
20/11/07
The Wiltshire village of Lacock, with its cottages and inns dating back to the 15th century form a breathtaking backdrop to the BBC production of Cranford.
