Calne is a friendly historic town with a rich heritage going back to Roman, Anglo Saxon and Norman dynasties. Between Medieval and modern times Calne experienced the rise and fall of the woollen broadcloth industry, canal and rail travel and the Harris bacon business. Visit the Heritage Quarter to discover more about each chapter of Calne’s fascinating past. It is full of hidden gems and interesting historical places you can discover and enjoy in peace and tranquility. Take advantage of the free parking in the Heritage Quarter, Church Street car park.

Calne has always been a town of discovery. In 1774, Dr. Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen whilst living in Calne, while working at nearby Bowood House and four years later, Dr. Jan Ingen Housz, who is buried in St. Mary’s Church, discovered photosynthesis. The Harris Brothers invented the Wiltshire Cure around 1843, which was a new process of dry curing bacon, which is still practiced by local pig famers to produce high quality Wiltshire Cured bacon.

We are located at the edge of the North West Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and surrounded by timeless iconic landmarks like the Lansdowne Monument and the Cherhill White Horse. Within a stone’s throw you can find magnificent Bowood, beautiful Lacock and the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Avebury. With easy access to the M4 and M5, Calne is less than an hour to Stonehenge, the Cotswolds, Bristol and Bath.

For travellers on the Great West Way® between London and Bristol, Calne is a great place to take a break and wander. Unlike many of the tourist hot spots, our welcoming cafes, good quality restaurants, traditional pubs and independent shops are affordable and offer friendly service and good value for money.