Secrets of Wiltshire: Unique, Historical & Unusual Things to do in Wiltshire

Last Updated on 10th February 2022 by Sophie Nadeau

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Between abandoned villages, Neolithic ‘Houses of the Dead’, and architecturally perfect historic houses, there’s a whole side of Wiltshire you may well not know about. Here are some of the best secret spots in the British county, the kind of unique, quirky and unusual things to do in Wiltshire which you won’t often encounter in any guide books!

Cat’s Brain Long Barrow

While almost everyone has heard of the historic sites of Stonehenge (the most architecturally advanced Neolithic stone circle in the world) and Avebury (one of the largest set of Neolithic stones in the UK), few have heard of some of the other hidden gems of history which Salisbury has to offer.

Cat’s Brain Long Barrow is one such place,  a neolithic house of the dead which was estimated to have been used 3600 years ago and can be found somewhere between Stonehenge and Avebury.

In the Summer of 2017, archaeologists spent time excavating the U-Shaped ditch and found all sorts of historical treasures which haven’t been seen for some 5000 years; carved flints and broken pottery were among the finds.

Imber Abandoned Village

Decades ago when Britain was at war, the inhabitants of a small village in the heart of Salisbury Plain were given less than two months notice to pack up and leave their homes. For good.

Although the residents were promised to be able to return following the war, the Military of Defense (then known as the Home Office) decided that Salisbury Plain was too valuable to give up.

As such, the villagers were forced to relocate. It’s said that the blacksmith was so sad that he died of a broken heart just a few months later. Today, the ghost village of Imber is open for just a few weeks a year, often less.

While most of the houses have long since gone, reduced to rubble during military live firing exercises, just a few buildings survive. The shells of two village pubs (which were used as drinking establishments at different times) survive, as does the wealthy manor house of the village, Imber Court.

As for the old vicarage and Baptist Church, both are entirely gone, save for the Baptist Church Cemetery. Today, the only building in full working order is the medieval church of St Giles and this can be visited during the Imber Open days held around Easter and towards the end of August each year. For even more information about this village, be sure to check out my YouTube video about Imber.

Explore Salisbury Plain

Of all the secrets of Wilshire, exploring Salisbury Plain, a chalky elevated expanse a few miles from the city of Salisbury is easily one of the most unusual things to do in Salisbury.

While much of the plain is closed off to the public as it is used as a live firing range for the military, there is still plenty to see. In order to get the best experience of the Plain, I highly recommend partaking in the Salisbury Plain Safari.

This two-hour immersive tour highlights the wildlife on the Plain (including the opportunity to maybe spot the Bustard, a large flying bird), as well as the chance to delve into the history of Salisbury Plain. After all, from here it’s possible to see the White Horse of Pewsey.

Mompesson House, Sense and Sensibility Filming Location, Salisbury

For fans of period drama, the facçade and beautiful interiors of Mompesson House may already well be familiar. Used as the filming location for the 1995 film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, this beautiful Queen Anne era townhouse is well worth a visit on any trip to the cathedral city of Salisbury.

Gifted to the National Trust in the 1940s by architect Mr. Denis Martineau, the former family home was constructed in the 1700s at the behest of a local MP. While the house may not get as much press as other stately homes in the area (Stourhead and Lacock Abbey to name but a few), it’s well worth a visit for an hour or two during any trip to Salisbury.

Old Sarum, Salisbury

On the fringes of the city of Salisbury, above the aptly named village of ‘Stratford Sub Castle’ sits a massive mound which was once the site of a Neolithic Settlement, probably dating back to 3000 BCE.

In more recent times, Old Sarum was where the settlement of Salisbury, which now lies some miles from the historic site, was first founded. While the compound is now managed by English Heritage, the surrounds of Old Sarum are free to visit and make for the perfect picnic spot.

The site of Old Sarum is home to the foundations of the first and second Salisbury Cathedrals, as well as an impressive fortified compound which demonstrates what a fortified Motte and Bailey Castle would have looked like during the time of the Norman Conquest.

Old Wardour Castle, near Tisbury

The crumbling and romantic ruins of Old Wardour Castle have seen plenty of action in their lifetime. More, in fact, than most castles see in centuries. Now managed by English Heritage, the fortifications were first constructed in the 14th Century and even served as inspiration for the Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves film.

During the castle’s heyday, it was one of the most sumptuous residences in England, sporting all of the mod-cons and luxuries of its day. Highlights of Old Wardour, include an audio tour with a focus on the Civil War (the guide is included in the ticket entry price), incredible turrets and grottos.

Birthplace of Christopher Wren, East Knoyle

The man who created iconic London landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, parts of Hampton Court Palace, and of course, Wren Library at Trinity College in Cambridge, was none other than Christopher Wren.

Born in a sleepy and secluded Wiltshire village during the 17th-century, today you can still see the little settlement where the great architect was born. Unfortunately, his actual birth-house no longer stands.

However, several key locations in the village of fewer than 700 residents still bear his name, notably a lovely house in the village’s central square, as well as the village shop. Head up the lane a little bit and you’ll soon stumble upon St Mary’s Church, which has roots dating back to before the Norman conquest!

Experience real-life Harry Potter filming locations

The beautiful village of Lacock is near to the town of Chippenham and not far from the city of Bath. A beautifully-preserved medieval village, in part due to the fact that much of it is owned by the National Trust, once there you’ll discover a museum dedicated to photography, a centuries-old abbey, and even one of the best-preserved Tithe Barns in the UK.

Though you’ll have to pay to visit the Abbey and its extensive gardens (The National Trust property remains free-to-visit for members), a stroll around the village itself is free. And thanks to its picturesque nature, the village has been used as many a filming location, including several of the Harry Potter films.

Malmesbury Abbey

Of all the hidden gems of Wiltshire, one of my absolute favourites is that of the Abbey at Malmesbury, a town on the fringes of the Cotswolds. Dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the Abbey finds its roots back in the 7th-century when it was established as a hermitage by a monk.

The abbey’s history continued all the way to the dissolution of the monasteries before being transformed into a parish church after Henry VIII sold the Abbey and its lands to a wealthy merchant who promptly returned the estate to the town for use as a church.

Today, the abbey ruins and reconstructed church rise far above the rest of the town and are easily one of the best places to visit in this part of the Cotswolds. Elsewhere in Malmesbury, there’s a smll museum you can visit and the rest of the town is also well worth a wander around.

Fovant Badges, Fovant

For those who enjoy their quirky location spotting served with a side of history, the Fovant Badges are quite literally carved out of the impressively large chalky hill which presides over the village of Fovant.

Over the years, there have been several sets of regimental badges, though, with a need to be maintained, some designs have been lost over the generations and can now only be seen via history books.

Easy to spy from the nearby A30, the larger than life-sized chalk carvings that make up the Fovant Badges were created by former WWI soldiers who wanted to create a memorial to their fallen colleagues.

By the end of WWI, there were some twenty chalk badges carved into the hillside. Today, several badges can still be spied from a panoramic viewing point along the road, just outside of Fovant.

Bremilham Church

The smallest church in England still in use is easily one of the most unique things to see in Wiltshire. Set against the backdrop of green rolling hills and in the little village of Bremilham, the tiny place of worship measures just ten feet by eleven feet. For more inspiration, check out this guide to Bremilham Church.

Map of the best hidden gems of Wiltshire

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