Why visit Mere
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 5 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Mere Museum and Visit Hillbrush.
Weather in Mere
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Mere
Mere is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the extreme southwestern tip of Salisbury Plain, close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset. The parish includes the hamlets of Barrow Street, Burton, Charnage, Limpers Hill, Rook Street and Southbrook.
From the Wikipedia article Mere, Wiltshire (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks4
Restaurants and cafes5
Where to stay1
History
Evidence of prehistoric activity in the area is provided by bowl barrows, including four on Long Hill, overlooking the town. On the northwestern boundary of the parish is Whitesheet Hill, with barrows and an Iron Age hill fort, White Sheet camp. A burial dating from either the 7th or 8th has been found in the town.
The name Mere may reflect the presence of a mere, a pond or small lake; or it may derive from the Old English mǣre meaning 'boundary' as the town is near the tripoint of Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset.
Mere had a church from the end of the 12th century. The Earl of Cornwall built Mere Castle on a hill which is connected to Long Hill, overlooking the town, in the mid-13th century. The castle was abandoned in the 14th century and today only earthworks remain. The Duchy of Cornwall still owns much land in the area.
From the History section of Mere, Wiltshire on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Mere
Economy
The Hillbrush company was established in Mere in 1922, and continues to make brushes and other forms of cleaning equipment in a modern factory on the western edge of the town.
The town's library and museum are housed in the 1839 National School building, which was converted in 1970.
The Monarch's Way long-distance recreational footpath passes through the town. The town is part of the West Country Carnival circuit.
The nearest railway station is in neighbouring Gillingham, Dorset, on the Exeter to Waterloo line.
From the Wikipedia article Mere, Wiltshire, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Mere
Mandy Rice-DaviesBritish actress (1944-2014)Photo: Joop van Bilsen for Anefo, CC0- Anthony VidlerBritish-American architectural historian (1941–2023)
- Ian BoneEnglish anarchist
- Matt PotterEnglish association football manager
- Tony WhitbyBBC radio executive
- Edward HenslowEnglish cricketer and British Army officer (1879-1947)
Born in Mere, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Churches and places of worship4
Schools, colleges and libraries2
Healthcare1
Map of Mere
19 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (YEO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Redlynch 7 mi west, about 11 min by car
- Tisbury 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Warminster 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- Templecombe 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Frome 10 mi north, about 16 min by car
- Stalbridge 10 mi southwest, about 16 min by car
- Sturminster Newton 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Evercreech 11 mi west, about 18 min by car
- Westbury 12 mi north, about 20 min by car
- Milborne Port 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Mere
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- R & M Cochran and house adjoining to right, Mere, Wiltshire, UK, Nicola K. Reiss, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geschäft am Marktplatz in Mere - panoramio, Jürgen Regel, Marian…, CC BY 3.0
- Mere Museum, Smb1001, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Butt of Sherry, Mere, Wiltshire, UK, Nicola K. Reiss, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.