Why visit Wilton
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Salisbury Playhouse, Wilton House, Arundells and Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Course.
Weather in Wilton
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Wilton
Wilton is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. Lying about 3 miles (5 km) west of the city of Salisbury, and until 1889 the county town of Wiltshire, it has a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. The parish had a population of 4,305 at the 2021 census, an increase from the 3,579 recorded in 2011.
From the Wikipedia article Wilton, Wiltshire (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos of Wilton
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Things to do2
Salisbury Playhouse
Cinema and theater · 2.8 mi
Theatre in Salisbury, England
Museums and landmarks8
Arundells
Museum · 2.9 mi
Historic house museum in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
Mompesson House
Museum · 2.9 mi
18th century house in Cathedral Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
Salisbury Museum
Museum · 2.9 mi
Museum in Salisbury, England, United Kingdom
The Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum
Museum · 2.9 mi
Military museum in Salisbury, England, United Kingdom
Young Gallery
Museum · 3.0 mi
Historic building and museum in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Course
Golf course · 1.5 mi
18 hole Par 71 Cathedral Course & 9 hole Par 34 Bibury Course
Netherhampton Road, Salisbury
Salisbury Golf Centre
Golf course · 1.3 mi
Wilton Road, Salisbury
Restaurants and cafes14
2 more on the map.
History
The history of Wilton dates back to the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century, and by the late 9th century it was the capital of Wiltunscire, a shire of the Kingdom of Wessex. It remained the administrative centre of Wiltshire until the 11th century. Wilton was of significant importance to the church, with the founding of Wilton Abbey in 771 amongst other establishments. In 871 Alfred the Great fought and lost an important battle here against the Danish armies, leaving him in retreat for several years.
Despite further attacks, Wilton remained a prosperous town, as recorded in the 11th-century Domesday Book. The building of Salisbury Cathedral nearby, however, caused Wilton's decline, as the new site of Salisbury, with a new bridge over the River Avon, provided a convenient bypass around Wilton on the trade routes.
Wilton Abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and in 1541 much of the estate was granted to William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, who began to build Wilton House.
An outbreak of smallpox in 1737 killed 132 people. The Old Town Hall was completed in 1738.
Read more of the history
Wilton was anciently the seat of the county court, and for parliamentary elections it was the venue for elections of county members until the Wiltshire seat was abolished in 1832. On the formation of Wiltshire County Council in 1889, Wilton lost its role as county town to Trowbridge, which could be more easily reached by rail from all parts of the county.
From the History section of Wilton, Wiltshire on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Wilton
Economy
By the 17th century, weaving had become a busy trade, and the carpet industry began in 1741 when two French weavers were brought in by Henry Herbert, 9th Earl of Pembroke to teach the local people new skills. Carpet weaving prospered until 1815, when peace following the Napoleonic Wars introduced European competition. Machinery to produce Axminster carpets was installed in 1835. The Wilton Royal Carpet Factory was founded at the turn of the century, with the help of the then Lord Pembroke, to rescue the previous carpet factory that had fallen into financial difficulty. The factory continued to operate until 1995, when it closed temporarily after a takeover before re-opening under another name. Today the site is used as a shopping outlet.
From the Wikipedia article Wilton, Wiltshire, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Wilton
Herbert ChermsideBritish Army general (1850–1929)Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Michael Henry HerbertBritish diplomat (1857–1903)Photo: The Evansville Journal-News, Public domain
Abraham HaywardEnglish writer and translator (1801–1884)Photo: Carlo Pellegrini, Public domain- George Herbert, 11th Earl of PembrokeBritish Army general
- Edith OlivierBritish writer
- Serlo of Wiltonmedieval English poet
- Sidney OlivierEnglish cricketer (1870–1932)
- Fanny StreetBritish academic & college head
- A. G. StreetBritish writer (1892–1966)
- Dudley CockleEnglish cricketer and Royal Air Force airman (1907-1986)
- Percy HillEnglish association football player, known for his matches for Everton and Manchester City
- William PhelpsAnglican Archdeacon
Born in Wilton, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship17
Shopping4
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of Wilton
56 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Upavon Airfield (UPV) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 15 miles away.
- Salisbury 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Alderbury 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Amesbury 8 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Shrewton 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
- Lark Hill 9 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Tisbury 10 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Whiteparish 10 mi southeast, about 17 min by car
- Netheravon 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Tidworth 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Verwood 14 mi south, about 23 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Wilton
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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, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- St Mary and St Nicholas Church, West Street, Wilton (NHLE Code 1365914) (July 2022) (7), User:Hassocks5489, CC0
- Salisbury Playhouse, Neil Owen, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Mompesson House 2, Seb Ballard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kings House Salisbury Museum, SalisburyMuseum1, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Wardrobe, Salisbury, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Church of St Osmund (1) Salisbury, UK, Richard Avery, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old Sarum Cathedral 1978, hugh llewelyn, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Mark's Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire, Roger Templeman, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Mary, Wilton, Trish Steel, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Wilton House 1, Kachii (Katy) from London, England, CC BY 2.0
- Wilton House - road toward the front entrance, David Spender, CC BY 2.0
- Former St Mary's Church, North Street, Wilton (NHLE Code 1355781) (July 2022) (4), User:Hassocks5489, CC0
- The Young Gallery, TheYoungGallery, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sir Edward Heath - Arundells 59 Cathedral Close Salisbury SP1 2EN, Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, iced, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, OrangeHurst97, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, tallguy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, noid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, OrangeHurst97, CC BY-SA 4.0
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