Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a county in South West England known for the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles, Salisbury Cathedral and chalk downland.
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Wiltshire sits in South West England, with Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset and Somerset as its neighbours. The county's best-known sites are on Salisbury Plain: Stonehenge and Avebury, two stone circles that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of the county is chalk downland, with Cotswold limestone in the north-west and the River Avon valley running through Bradford on Avon toward Bath and Bristol.
Salisbury, the main city in the south-east, is known for its medieval cathedral and makes a practical base for the plain. Old Sarum, an older hilltop site above the city, is a short trip away. Longleat has a large country house open to visitors and a safari park, and Stourhead is a National Trust property with a country house, both further west. July and August are the warmest months, while the driest weather is most likely between April and September. Parts of Salisbury Plain are a British Army training area, so check access before you go.
Wiltshire in five
- Choose between Stonehenge and Avebury, or do bothStonehenge has a visitor center, a path around the circle and a ticket. Avebury's stone circle is open dawn to dusk, with a village inside it.Stonehenge or Avebury
- Use Salisbury as the transport baseSalisbury is the nearest station to Stonehenge, 12 miles away, and the Stonehenge Tour bus runs hourly from the station via Old Sarum.London to Stonehenge
- Check Salisbury Cathedral's calendarThe cathedral lists Tower Tour and Magna Carta Tour options and says opening times vary, as it is a living church. Check its closures page before fixing the day.
- Walk Avebury at either end of the dayThe stone circle is open dawn to dusk, while the museum and manor garden keep set hours. National Trust and English Heritage members park free.
- Stop at Old Sarum on the wayThe English Heritage hill fort is about 7 miles from Stonehenge, and the Stonehenge Tour bus calls there between Salisbury and the stones.
Things to do in Wiltshire
See all attractions in Wiltshire
Need to know
- Airport
- London Heathrow or Bristol, then road or rail
- Getting there
- Waterloo to Salisbury about 1.5 hours; Bath and Bristol also link to Salisbury
- Getting around
- Car for Avebury; bus and taxi from Salisbury to the stones
- Best base
- Salisbury for transport; Avebury village for the quiet downs
- Time needed
- 1 day for Stonehenge and Salisbury; 2 days with Avebury
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh7°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cool, springMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, spring
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Mild, EasterAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Easter
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Mild, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Summer solsticeJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer solstice
- JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Winter solsticeDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter solstice
Average daily high and low in Salisbury, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Wiltshire
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 73%
- Wind
- 22 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Wiltshire
08:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°6°0%Monday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue12°6°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed10°8°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu8°6°4%Thursday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri8°5°12%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sat9°5°14%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sun9°4°11%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 11%.
Updated 04:43 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MarCheltenham FestivalThe Cotswolds, a day trip
- Jun–JulGarsington OperaOxford, a day trip
- JunIsle of Wight FestivalIsle of Wight, a day trip
- AugBristol International Balloon FiestaBristol, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Stonehengeabout 12 miles from SalisburyThe sarsen circle, exhibition and Neolithic houses.Read the guide
- Aveburyshort drive north of SalisburyA huge henge circle open from dawn to dusk, with a village built through it.Read the guide
- Bathregular trains to Salisbury link the twoA spa city with Roman remains and Georgian streets.Read the guide
Before you go to Wiltshire
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Rules for Wiltshire, checked
- Avebury stone circle: open dawn to dusk. Museum and manor garden keep set daytime hours. National Trust and English Heritage members park free.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Wiltshire
What to book, when to go and what is covered
Read the guideLondon to StonehengeTrain and bus, coach tour or car compared
Read the guideStonehenge or Avebury?Two circles and which fits your day
Read the guideStonehengeThe monument, hours and visitor basics
Read the guideBathRoman baths and Georgian streets by train from Salisbury
Read the guideAll of EnglandCities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideWiltshire FAQ
What is there to see in Wiltshire?
Stonehenge and Avebury for prehistory, Old Sarum for an Iron Age hill fort, and Salisbury for its cathedral and market. Most visitors choose one or two of these, since each takes a half day.
Is Avebury worth visiting as well as Stonehenge?
Yes if you want to walk among the stones: Avebury's circle is open dawn to dusk and the village sits inside it. Stonehenge has the better exhibition and the more famous silhouette.
How do you get around Wiltshire without a car?
Use Salisbury as a base. The Stonehenge Tour bus runs hourly from the station via Old Sarum, and taxis cover the rest. Avebury is far easier with a car or a guided tour.
Can you see Salisbury Cathedral as well as Stonehenge in a day?
Yes by bus, since the all-in-one Stonehenge Tour ticket includes the bus, Stonehenge admission and Salisbury Cathedral entry. Check the last bus and the cathedral's opening times first.
When is the best time to visit Wiltshire?
May, June, September and October are mild and less crowded. Solstice weeks at Stonehenge bring crowds and changed opening hours, so check the English Heritage notice for those dates.