Press release 10 December 2015
Make Time for Wiltshire in 2016
Wiltshire is a memorable place to visit. Its strong connection with the past makes it the perfect place to enjoy the present. It’s the ideal location to let time stand still and take in the beautiful surroundings within an ancient landscape.
Wiltshire is rolling green downs, ancient woodlands and bustling market towns. Parish churches, historic houses and country inns. Timeless monuments and contemporary luxury. Arts and culture, festivals and events. Local ales and picnics in the park. The England you love in one county. All this, yet only an hour and a half, or less, from London.
Here are 5 reasons why it’s time to visit Wiltshire in 2016:
1. Year of the English Garden 2016 – ‘Capability’ Brown’s 300th Anniversary
2016 sees the 300th anniversary of the birth of master landscaper Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Many of Britain’s great houses owe their breathtaking pastoral settings to his ground-breaking vision, and his creativity is still inspiring gardeners today. Bowood House, Longleat, Corsham Court, Wilton House, Lacock Abbey and Old Wardour Castle all have connections with ‘Capability’ Brown.
There are many other stunning gardens in Wiltshire including Iford Manor and The Peto Garden, Larmer Tree Gardens, Lydiard House & Park, Abbey House Gardens, Heale Gardens and Arundells. Wiltshire is also home to many National Trust gardens such as Stourhead, Great Chalfield Manor and Mompesson House.
Don’t miss these garden related events:
• Snowdrop Drama, Heale House Gardens - February
• Early Spring Walk with Lacock’s Head Gardener - Wed 10 and Tues 23 February
• Fritillary Season, Cricklade – April
• New Bowood Capability Brown garden tours on selected dates from Wed 20 April to Wed 19 October. Plus new exhibition ‘The Terrestrial Delights’
• Elements of Capability Brown Exhibition, Lacock Abbey – Sat 30 April to Sun 22 May
• Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival, Bowood – Sat 4 –to Sun 5 June
• Butterfly Day, Iford Manor, The Peto Garden – Sunday 3 July
• Treefest, Westonbirt Arboretum – August (dates tbc)
• Autumn Colour Tours – Stourhead – Daily throughout the autumn
2. 30th Anniversary of Stonehenge and Avebury’s World Heritage Site Inscription
Stonehenge and Avebury are magical places shrouded in history steeped in legend. If you stand on Salisbury Plain at sunrise or sunset it’s easy to understand why the ancient Britons believed Stonehenge was special, and even today people from across the globe make the pilgrimage here to marvel at one of the most timeless and iconic wonders in the world. Its orientation on the rising and setting sun is one of its many outstanding features, but why it was built in this way remains a mystery.
Wiltshire is home to archaeology collections of outstanding national importance. Salisbury Museum, has three major new exhibitions planned for 2016 and together with the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes you can immerse yourself in the full Stonehenge and Avebury story. There are unique opportunities to access the expertise of the Museum staff who have a detailed understanding of Wiltshire’s archaeology and care for internationally important finds from these iconic sites. There is a unique opportunity to see Marden Henge – the third super henge in Wiltshire - being excavated as part of an archaeology tour being run by Wiltshire Museum during selected dates in July.
Don’t miss these related events:
• A Poetic Eye John Caxton: A life in art from Cranborne Chase to Crete, Salisbury Museum – Sat 30 January to Sat 7 May
• Archaeology Walks, Stonehenge Landscape – Sat 5 March, Sat 7 May and Wed 20 April
• Wings over Stonehenge Walk, Sat 12 March, Wed 27 April and Sat 21 May
• Discover Durrington Walls, Wed 16 March and Wed 18 May
• Wiltshire’s Story in 100 Objects, featuring the medieval silver Lacock Cup, in partnership with the British Museum - May to July
• Chalke Valley History Festival, Mon 27 June to Sun 3 July
• Heritage Open Days – across Wiltshire, Thurs 8 to Sun 11 September
• John Constable: Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows 1831, Salisbury Museum – Sat 17 September 2016 to Sat 25 March 2017
• BBC History Weekend, Malmesbury – October (dates tbc)
3. Made of England: Timeless Towns and Village - plus the Medieval City of Salisbury
Each of Wiltshire’s historic towns and villages has something unique to offer, whether it be stylish independent shops and colourful markets, tempting pubs and restaurants, fascinating history and heritage or great entertainment. Plus, of course an excellent range of accommodation. Wiltshire, the England you love in one county.
Market towns include Bradford on Avon, Amesbury, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Corsham, Calne and Marlborough. Quintessentially English villages such as Castle Combe and Lacock are often used as filming locations. Towns with good transport links include Chippenham, Tisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury and Melksham.
Salisbury was one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit according to Lonely Planet last year. Home to Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta, Arundells, Salisbury Museum, The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum and Mompesson House all within a stone’s throw from each other.
Don’t miss these towns, villages and Salisbury related events:
• Sophie Ryder Exhibition ‘Relationships’, Salisbury Cathedral & Magna Carta – Sat 20 February to Sat 9 July
• The Great Tisbury Brocante – Mon 2 May
• Chippenham Folk Festival - Fri 27 to Mon 30 May
• Cloth Road Artist Exhibition, Trowbridge Museum – Sat 7 May to Sat 29 October
• Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival – Fri 27 May to Sat 11 June
• CalneFest Music Festival – Sat 4 June
• Corsham Summer Fete – Sat 11 June
• WOMAD, Malmesbury – Thurs 28 to Sun 31 July
• Castle Combe Race Meeting – Mon 29 August
• Salisbury Contemporary Craft & Heritage Festival – Fri 9 to Sun 11 September
• Salisbury Christmas Market – Thurs 24 November to Sun 18 December (dates tbc)
4. Unforgettable Days Out and Unique Adventurous Activities
Longleat is celebrating its 50th anniversary of the opening of the Safari Park in 1966. There will be a range of events including a one-off concert from Elton John and a major new photographic exhibition showcasing ‘animal heroes’ with images taken at Longleat by Simon King – opens at Easter.
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway has two new locomotives on display and to mark the special anniversary, Swindon175 exhibitions plus ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘spotlight’ tours.
For a truly unique adventure Stonehenge ATV have a fleet of two seater road legal ‘Quadzilla’ buggies - the only ones in the UK! With access to hundreds of miles of byways and tracks across Wiltshire including Cope Hill Down, Stonehenge, long barrows and Salisbury Plain they visit places not normally accessible to the public. Salisbury Plain Safaris offer exciting wildlife, history and military tours of the Plain from the back of a luxury Land Rover Defender 110.
There are ample opportunities for adventurous activities – jump out of a plane with Skydive Netheravon or GoSkydive try your hand at water sports in The Cotswold Water Park or experience the thrills of driving fast around the race track at Castle Combe Circuit. For a different driving encounter try a virtual racing session at Ultimate Race Car Experience which has introduced new cars and tracks for 2016.
Don’t miss these attraction related events:
• Race Meeting, Castle Combe Circuit – Mon 28 March, Mon 29 August & Oct (date tbc)
• Elton John Concert, Longleat – Sun 12 June
• Swindon Railway Festival, STEAM Museum – Sat 10 & Sun 11 September
• Longleat Festival of Light – Nov to Jan (dates tbc)
5. New Accommodation and Award-Winning Dining
Wiltshire offers a warm welcome and has accommodation to suit every budget. The ultimate indulgence is our breathtaking country house hotels which combine excellent facilities with comfort and service. There are hotels, family run B&Bs, farmstay, pubs and restaurants, self-catering options as well as camping and caravanning or glamping experiences.
A luxury, fully assessable holiday studio, the Calf Shed, has been a new addition to the holiday cottages at Manor Farm Cottages in Sutton Mandeville. It sleeps up to 5 people and has its own wet room and fully fitted specialist kitchen. With glass faced terrace and garden and stunning views of the Fovant Military Badges on the South Wessex downs.
The Green Dragon in Market Lavington and Timbrell’s Yard, in Bradford on Avon both have new rooms for 2016.
When it comes to local food and drink, Wiltshire’s pedigree is second to none.
There are local breweries including Wadworth Brewery Visitor Centre which is famous for 6X beer and Arkell’s a family brewer since 1843 with many pubs around the county. The Three Daggers Brewery, at Edington is situated under the watchful gaze of one of the Wiltshire White Horses and on sale in the Three Daggers pub – which also offers great food and accommodation. There is also a range of local produce for sale at the Edington Farm Shop. Further up the county near Devizes is a’Becketts Vineyard which produces fine English sparkling and still wines, cider and apple juice.
There are several award-winning Michelin-star restaurants in Wiltshire including Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury, which has outstanding food in a country pub setting. It also boasts a 5 star boutique guest house. The Harrow at Little Bedwyn in Marlborough is well-established having been recognised for its award-winning food for over 9 years. The Manor House at Castle Combe carefully combines the finest local ingredients with produce from their very own kitchen garden creating culinary masterpieces complemented by a cellar boasting an AA acclaimed notable wine list.
We have several cookery schools in Wiltshire including Vaughan’s Cookery School in Devizes and Lucknam Park Hotel and Cookery School, in Colerne. Lucknam Park are offering new cookery courses and masterclasses in 2016 and at Whatley Manor, Michelin-star chef Martin Burge is hosting a new series of one-day cookery masterclasses.
Larmer Tree in Tollard Royal have recently started cookery classes and The Methuen Arms, in Corsham has opened a new restaurant.
Don’t miss this selection of food and drink events:
• Martin Burge Masterclass, Whatley Manor – Mon 18 January, Mon 13 June, Mon 14 November
• Malmesbury Beer Festival – Thurs 7 to Sun 10 April
• Artisan Food Festival, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens – Sat 28 May
• Real Ale & Cider Festival, Swindon & Cricklade Railway – Sat 28 to Mon 30 May
• Marlborough Food & Drink Festival – May (dates tbc)
• Swindon Food & Drink Festival, Lydiard Park– Sat 25 & Sun 26 June
• Calne Festival of Food & Drink – Sat 3 September
• Melksham Food & River Festival – Sun 4 September
• CAMRA Beer Festival, STEAM Museum – Wed 26 to Sat 29 October
• Salisbury Food & Drink Festival – September (date tbc)
Wiltshire is timeless wonders, timeless pleasures, timeless places and timeless nature…
…you’ll be here in no time!
For further information about what’s on, things to do, accommodation, food and drink and special offers and much more:
www.visitwiltshire.co.uk
Keep up to date follow us on Twitter @VisitWiltshire #timeforwiltshire and like us on Facebook.
For further information or to arrange a press visit please contact Florence Wallace, Travel Trade & PR Manager, flowallace@visitwiltshire.co.uk Tel: 01722 341309 or 07436 588860
Notes to editors:
VisitWiltshire was established in August 2011 and is the official Tourist Board for Wiltshire representing over 600 partners. It is a public/private sector membership organisation with our main funder being Wiltshire Council. VisitWiltshire's priority is to grow the county's Visitor Economy by raising awareness of the destination and generating additional tourism visits and spend. Wiltshire's Visitor Economy currently generates an estimated £1.5billion and supports over 28,000 jobs.