• Things To Do
    • Attractions
      • Zoo & Animals
    • Activities
      • Walking
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Fishing
      • Horse Riding
      • Outdoor & Adventure
      • Bird Watching
      • Driving & Motorsports
      • Water Fun
      • Escape Rooms
    • Family Fun
    • Shopping
    • Parks & Recreation
    • Stately Homes & Gardens
    • History & Heritage
      • Museums
      • Landmarks
      • Industrial Heritage
      • World Heritage Site
    • Art & Culture
    • Entertainment & Nightlife
      • Purple Flag
    • Tours & Sightseeing
      • Guided Tours
      • Stonehenge Tours
  • Accommodation
    • Self Catering
    • Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Caravan Parks & Campsites
    • Farm Stay
    • Group Friendly
    • Adult-Only Accommodation
    • Glamping & Alternative
    • Longleat Accommodation
    • Stonehenge Accommodation
    • Grading Information
    • Pet Friendly
  • What's On
    • Easter
    • Markets
    • Events
      • What's on this Week
      • What's on this Weekend
    • Event Form
    • Mothers' Day
  • Food & Drink
    • Pubs & Inns
    • Restaurants
    • Cafes & Tea Rooms
    • Dog Friendly
    • Vegetarian and Vegan Wiltshire
    • Vineyards & Breweries
    • Cookery Schools
    • Farmers Markets
    • Award-Winning Dining
  • Explore
    • Towns
      • Amesbury
      • Bradford on Avon
      • Calne
      • Chippenham
      • Corsham
      • Cricklade
      • Devizes
      • Highworth
      • Ludgershall
      • Malmesbury
      • Marlborough
      • Melksham
      • Mere
      • Royal Wootton Bassett
      • Swindon
      • Tidworth
      • Trowbridge
      • Warminster
      • Westbury
    • Villages
      • Lacock
      • Tisbury
      • Castle Combe
      • Pewsey
    • Salisbury
    • Stonehenge
    • Avebury
    • Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty
    • New Forest National Park
    • Great West Way ®
    • Salisbury Plain
    • Wiltshire White Horses
    • The Cotswolds
    • Hampshire borders
    • Bath and Somerset
    • The Ridgeway in Wiltshire
  • Ideas & Inspiration
    • Itineraries
    • Holidays & Short Breaks
      • Eco-Friendly Holidays
      • Family Holidays
      • Summer Holidays
      • Group Holidays
      • Adventure Holidays
      • Walking Holidays
      • Photography Holidays
      • Weekend & Short Breaks
      • Spa Breaks
      • City & Shopping Breaks
      • Romantic Weekends
      • Honeymoons
    • Top 10 Highlights
      • Top 10 Places To Walk in Wiltshire
      • Top 10 Places To Cycle
      • Top 10 Free Attractions
      • Top 10 Pet Friendly Places To Visit in Wiltshire
      • Top 10 Wiltshire Views
    • Ideas For Sunny Days
    • Ideas For Rainy Days
    • Family Wiltshire
    • Romantic Wiltshire
    • Luxury Wiltshire
    • Budget Wiltshire
    • Car Free Days
    • Myths & Legends
    • Crop Circles
    • Wedding Ideas
    • Film & TV Locations
    • Videos
    • Competitions
  • Plan Your Visit To Wiltshire
    • Contact Us
    • Maps & Guides
    • Getting To Wiltshire
      • By Car
      • By Bus & Coach
      • By Train
      • By Ferry
      • By Plane
    • Car Parking & Car Parks
    • Group Travel
      • Plan a Group Visit
      • Travel Trade Toolkit
      • Helping you Sell Wiltshire
      • Book a Wiltshire Tour
      • Wiltshire on the Great West Way
      • Familiarisation Visits
    • Disabled Access
    • Tourist Information Centres
    • E-Newsletter Sign-Up
    • Book Tickets
  • Special Offers
    • Family Break Special Offers
    • Attraction & Tour Offers
    • Food & Drink Offers
    • Spa Break Offers
    • Longleat Family Break Offers
    • Late Availability Offers
    • Christmas and New Year Offers
  • Blog
  • Partner Sites
    • Salisbury
    • Great West Way
    • Chippenham
    • Swindon
  • Wiltshire
  • Salisbury
  • Great West Way®
  • Chippenham
  • Marlborough
Visit Wiltshire Facebook
Visit Wiltshire Youtube
Visit Wiltshire Instagram
Visit Wiltshire Facebook
Visit Wiltshire Youtube
Visit Wiltshire Instagram

UK

FR

DE

NL

ES

IT

  • UK
  • FR
  • DE
  • NL
  • ES
  • IT
  • Visit Wiltshire
  • Visit Wiltshire
  • Visit Wiltshire
  • Things To Do
  • Accommodation
  • What's On

You are here: Home > Towns & Villages > Bradford on Avon

Tweet

Bradford on Avon

Wiltshire
BA15 1DE

m

01225 864240

k

Visit website

j

Email

Open in Maps

Add Bradford on Avon to your Itinerary

Bradford on Avon
  • Product Image
  • Product Image
  • The Town Bridge (C) Chris Lock
  • Product Image
  • Product Image
  • old fashioned shop signs above street in Bradford on Avon
  • The Kennet & Avon Canal (C) Chris Lock
  • Product Image
  • Product Image
  • Product Image

About

One of the most compelling features about Bradford on Avon is its unique position on the edge of the Cotswolds facing the River Avon.

The ancient bridge in the centre of the town remains its natural focus and the bridge still retains two of its original 13th-century arches. The historical view from the main bridge incorporates the hill above the town which is dotted with the old weavers' cottages and the river bank flanked with the 19th-century former cloth mills.

Visiting Bradford on Avon means the visitor gets the best of everything, shopping, accommodation; restaurants and inns; river; canal and most of all an amazing history that can be found at every turn.

--

Must sees and dos in Bradford on Avon 
Tithe Barn, Barton Manor, Kennet & Avon Canal Boat Trips, K & A Cottage by Lock, Bradford on Avon Museum, the Town Lock-up, Westwood Manor, Wiltshire Music Centre, Moulton Hall, Moulton Bicycle Factory, weekly Farmers' Markets every Thursday morning in the Library car park, The Shambles, Lambs Yard Artisan market every Friday.

--

Things to Do in Bradford on Avon
* Family Fun, 
* Attractions, 
* Activities, 
* Afternoon Teas,
* Food and Drinks
* Shopping, 
* Parks & Recreation, 
* Paddleboarding,
* Canoeing
* Kayaking,
* Rowing,  
* Walking Tours,
* Events,
* Stately Homes & Gardens, 
* History & Heritage, 
* Art & Culture, 
* Entertainment & Nightlife, 
* Tours & Sightseeing

--

Annual events in Bradford on Avon
Pancake Race across the Town Bridge (February), Lions Annual Fun Day, Duck Race (April), Victory Field (May), Green Man Folk Festival (May),  Preservations Trust Gardens Open Day (July), Food & Drink Festival (July), Secret Gardens on the last Sunday of May and June, Heritage Open Days (September): Walking Festival (September); Arts Festival, Christmas Light Switch on and Gift Fair (last Friday of November).

--

The History of Bradford on Avon
With the River Avon at its heart, the golden town of Bradford on Avon lies at the southern edge of the Cotswolds, surrounded by glorious countryside. It is no wonder that this special place has drawn people to the area since the Iron Age – for many different reasons.

The Saxons drove their carts across the ‘broad ford’ that gave the town its name, and you can follow in their path today, on your way to the impressive Tithe Barn – described by English Heritage as   "one of the largest medieval barns in England, and architecturally one of the finest." Wander back into town along the canal or riverside, and you can’t miss the superb town bridge – parts of which date back to the 13th century – that replaced the ford.  Its nine arches span the Avon, and at its centre is a medieval pilgrim chapel, later converted into a ‘lock-up’ for undesirables. Although the Town Council hold the keys, rest assured it is now only open to visitors on World Heritage Open Days!

Bradford on Avon’s staple industry for six centuries was wool and weaving, starting in the 14th century. The mechanisation of the wool industry in the late 18th century saw the construction of the great mills that still dominate the town’s architecture, along with the rows – or ‘ranks’ – of weavers’ cottages lining the hillsides and streets, punctuated by the grand houses of wealthy clothiers.

As the wool industry declined, largely because of the development of highly mechanised and large-scale wool mills in the north of England, it was replaced from 1848 by pioneering rubber works, which operated in the town until 1994 and form yet another of the  architectural layers that give Bradford its unique character.

Nowadays, the cottages, mills and industrial premises of old, are joined by independent shops, accommodation and a host of great places to wine and dine. The town is well connected by road, rail, water – and even hot air balloon – to other nearby tourist destinations making it the perfect place to visit, whether for just a day or as a base for your stay in the South West.

To find out more about whats to see in Bradford on Avon why not visit the Explore BoA area. Or to find out more about our history why not check out the Bradford on Avon Museum.

--

Parking in Bradford on Avon

Local Bradford on Avon car parks can be found HERE. 

Off street car parks in Bradford on Avon include:
* Barton Farm - Maximum stay 10 hours
* Bridge Street - Maximum stay 2 hours
* Budbury Place - Maximum stay 24 hours
* Newtown - Maximum stay 2 hours
* St Margaret's - Maximum stay 3 hours
* Station Zone A - Maximum stay 3 hours
* Station Zone B - Maximum stay all day

Over 24 hour car parking can be found at the Canal and River Trust Car Park at the end of Baileys Barn.

Coach parks in Bradford on Avon:
* Station coach - Maximum stay all day

--

Public Transport to/from Bradford on Avon
You needn’t always bring a car when visiting Bradford on Avon. We are well connected by rail between London and Bristol – GWR from Paddington, South-Western from Waterloo – with regular services from elsewhere in the country. Find out more.

--

Tourist Information Centre details
Explore Bradford on Avon Visitor Information Centre can provide you with comprehensive information on day trips to Bradford on Avon with any group accommodating to any requirements and put you in touch with suppliers for the following:
* Canal boat trips
* Canal boat private day hire
* Blue Badge local guided walks
* Nature & ecology guided walks
* Events and Entertainment
* Group friendly restaurants and accommodation
* Family Friendly Activities 
* Leisure and Relaxation Excursions 
* Paddleboard tours
* Shopping and Cuisine
* Local historic houses and gardens
 

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Assistance Dogs

Parking & Transport

  • Car Parks
  • Parking for disabled visitors

Towns & Villages

  • ATM
  • Church
  • Information Centre
  • Public toilets
  • Toilets for disabled visitors
  • Train station

Map & Directions

View Map

Road Directions

Bradford on Avon is only 18 miles from the M4 motorway which links Wiltshire with London and Bristol and the main M5 artery leading north and south.

Public Transport Directions

There is a railway station at Bradford on Avon, situated within walking distance of the town itself.  The station is only one stop from the World Heritage City of Bath and serves the West Country and Wales with links to London from Westbury.  Local buses from Bradford on Avon direct to Bath and surrounding area.

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExploreBoA/

TWITTER UPDATES

Explore Bradford on Avon

ExploreBoA

Explore Bradford on Avon

🦢 We are urging all river users to be careful as the town swans begin to nest 🦢 During nesting season the swans ar… https://t.co/kBbNLo129x
30 Mar 2022   09:05:00
What a fabulous article covering some of the wonderful things BoA and the surrounding area has to offer!… https://t.co/nVrwbUj93I
20 Jul 2021   17:44:49

What's Nearby

  1. SUP in the river avon

    Stand Up Paddle Boarding & Kayaking - Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team

    0.2 miles away
  2. Towpath Trail Bike Hire

    Towpath Trail Bike Hire

    0.44 miles away
  3. Cumberwell Park Golf Club

    Cumberwell Park Golf Club

    1.4 miles away
  4. Dancing Flavours

    Dancing Flavours

    2.21 miles away
  1. Vintage Classics

    Vintage Classics

    5.16 miles away
  2. Foot Trails

    Alison Howell's Foot Trails

    5.2 miles away
  3. Galahad Tours

    Galahad Tours

    6.38 miles away
  4. Lucknam Park Horse riding in the grounds

    Lucknam Park Equestrian Centre

    7.31 miles away
  5. The Farm Cookery School - exterior

    The Farm Cookery School

    9.94 miles away
  6. Bowood PGA Golf Course and Golf Academy

    Bowood PGA Golf Course & Golf Academy

    10.19 miles away
  7. The Cooking School

    The Cooking School

    10.42 miles away
  8. Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team

    Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team

    10.73 miles away
  9. The Spa at Bowood

    The Spa at Bowood

    10.75 miles away
  10. Bishopstrow Spa

    Bishopstrow Spa

    11.26 miles away
  11. Peter Demonstrating at Vaughan's Cookery School

    Vaughan's Cookery School

    12.01 miles away
  12. Sleight Valley Golf Driving Range

    Sleight Valley Golf Driving Range

    12.08 miles away
p o

Search What's Nearby

Product Type
Proximity
Within miles
Loading..

Follow Us...

  • Facebook

    Thumbnail for Facebook

  • Twitter

    Thumbnail for Twitter

  • YouTube

    Thumbnail for YouTube

  • Instagram

    Thumbnail for Instagram

Accommodation
  • Hotels,
  • Bed & Breakfasts,
  • Self Catering,
  • Caravan Parks & Campsites,
  • Farm Stay,
  • Longleat Accommodation,
  • Stonehenge Accommodation,
Ideas & Inspiration Special Offers
Food & Drink
  • Restaurants,
  • Cafes & Tea Rooms,
  • Pubs & Inns,
  • Farmers Markets,
Plan Your Visit To Wiltshire
  • Maps & Guides,
  • Getting To Wiltshire,
  • Car Parking & Car Parks,
  • Group Travel,
  • Tourist Information Centres,
Things To Do
  • Family Fun,
  • Attractions,
  • Activities,
  • Shopping,
  • Parks & Recreation,
  • Stately Homes & Gardens,
  • History & Heritage,
  • Art & Culture,
  • Entertainment & Nightlife,
  • Tours & Sightseeing,
What's On
  • Events,
  • Exhibitions,
  • Festivals,
  • Markets,
Explore
  • Towns,
  • Villages,
  • Salisbury,
  • Stonehenge,
  • Avebury,
  • Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty ,
  • New Forest National Park,
  • Salisbury Plain,
  • Wiltshire White Horses,
  • The Cotswolds,
  • Hampshire borders,
  • Bath and Somerset,
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Tourism Signposting
  • Media
  • Partners
  • Jobs
  • Book Tickets
  • Group Travel
TripAdvisor logo

Reviews and advice on hotels, and lots more!

© VisitWiltshire 2022. All Rights Reserved

Wiltshire Logo

Don't Miss

  • Activities in Wiltshire

    Thumbnail for Activities

    Activities in Wiltshire

  • Bed & Breakfasts in Wiltshire

    Thumbnail for Bed & Breakfasts

    Bed & Breakfasts in Wiltshire

  • Escape the Everyday this Winter in Wiltshire

    Castle Combe, Wiltshire

    Escape the Everyday in Wiltshire this winter

  • What's on in Wiltshire this Week

    What's on this week in and around Wiltshire

    What's on this week in Wiltshire

Itinerary

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

List All My Saved Itineraries

  • Plan your future visit to Wiltshire

  • Take a virtual trip to Wiltshire

  • Sign up to ENews

    l

  • Itinerary

    a

  • Book Tickets

  • Contact Us

    q