Holiday rentals and lettings in Wiltshire

Table of contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a holiday rental in Wiltshire?
• Holiday rentals in Wiltshire: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Wiltshire: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in Wiltshire?

• Countryside settings: Choose from thatched village cottages, riverside homes and country manor houses, most with pretty gardens for slow mornings in the rolling English countryside.
• Easy to reach: Barely a two-hour drive from London off the M4 motorway, with the south’s main airports and mainline rail all within comfortable reach.
• Best areas to stay: Base yourself in historic Salisbury, film-famous Lacock or pretty Castle Combe, depending on whether you want culture, heritage or romance.
• Ancient monuments: Stonehenge and the vast stone circle at Avebury sit on your doorstep, alongside Salisbury Cathedral and its copy of the Magna Carta.
• When to visit: Late spring to early autumn brings the greenest downs and warmest evenings; the quieter shoulder months mean lower rates and emptier trails.

Wiltshire’s holiday rentals range from thatched holiday cottages with white-painted walls and black timber frames to elegant country manor houses set within private grounds. Families and couples will find spacious homes near Salisbury, whilst those after something different can book glamping stays in Wiltshire in the rolling downs. Look out for these amenities for a comfortable stay:

• Free Wi-Fi throughout
• Private gardens with outdoor seating
• Barbecue facilities
• Pet-friendly properties
• Dedicated off-road parking

Whether you settle into a village cottage or a secluded log cabin in Wiltshire, you’ll find comfort and character throughout.

What are the best areas to stay in Wiltshire?

For first-time visitors, Salisbury makes an ideal base, combining a walkable city centre with easy access to Stonehenge. The table below details areas for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests return to Wiltshire again and again for the peace of the countryside and the warmth of its village hosts. Reviewers regularly praise the thoughtful touches – fresh flowers, local welcome hampers and honest advice on the best walks and teahouses. Here are some of our most popular holiday lettings in Wiltshire:

1. Cottage 'St Peters' with garden and firepit - 9.0+: With room for seven people and a spacious garden, this cottage is perfect for larger groups. Guests love the traditional stone building and pet-friendly welcome.
2. Cottage 'Hooper's Farmhouse' with garden and parking - 9.0+: This thatched four-person cottage offers oodles of classic country charm, with a woodburning stove for those cosy autumn evenings.
3. Glamping 'Safari Lodge' with hot tub - 9.5+: Guests in search of something a bit different flock to this fun, unique wooden lodge for four. The hot tub is perfect for relaxing after a long day exploring the countryside.

Wiltshire is a landlocked county in south-west England, bordered by the Cotswolds to the north, Cranborne Chase to the south and the North Wessex Downs to the east – a lush, green patchwork of chalk hills and historic villages.

✈️What is the best way to get to Wiltshire?

Getting to Wiltshire is straightforward, with good options by car and rail. Here are the most common ways to get to the county:

• Car: Wiltshire is easily accessed off the M4 motorway in the north and the A303 in the south, and it is barely a two-hour drive from London. The A36 links Salisbury with Bath and Southampton, and there are plenty of petrol stations and car parks in the market towns.
• Train: Mainline services run to Salisbury, Chippenham, Swindon and Westbury from London Waterloo and London Paddington, many in around 90 minutes. From these stations, local trains, buses and taxis connect you to smaller towns.

🥗Where to eat in Wiltshire?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, The Kitchen at Widbrook Grange is among the best-rated dining spots in Wiltshire. Below is a table showing five highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests’ recommendation: Our guest travellers Emma and James recommend the Boston Tea Party in Salisbury for a leisurely brunch: it is a friendly, unhurried spot in the city centre, perfect for refuelling with good coffee and cake before a morning at the cathedral.

☀️When is the best time to visit?

Wiltshire is a year-round destination, but late spring to early autumn (May to September) is the sweet spot, when the downs are at their greenest and the evenings are long and warm. For fewer crowds at Stonehenge and lower rates, the quieter autumn and early-spring weeks are hard to beat.

Spring

• Best for: Walkers and garden lovers exploring the fresh, green countryside.
• Weather: Mild and changeable, with bright days ideal for downland walks.
• Atmosphere: Calm and uncrowded, with villages waking up for the season.

Summer

• Best for: Families and monument-hunters making the most of long days.
• Weather: Warm and generally settled, perfect for gardens and picnics.
• Atmosphere: Lively, with busy sites, village fetes and open gardens.

Autumn

• Best for: Couples and photographers after golden light and quiet lanes.
• Weather: Cooler and crisper, with misty mornings over the downs.
• Atmosphere: Peaceful and mellow, with far fewer visitors at the big sights.

⭐Our hosts’ recommendation: Our Wiltshire local hosts suggest arriving early at Avebury to walk among the standing stones before the crowds, then rounding off the day with tea and cake in one of the county’s traditional village teahouses. It is the calmest way to appreciate just how ancient this landscape really is.

1. Stand in awe at Stonehenge
2. Wander the stone circle at Avebury
3. See the Magna Carta in Salisbury
4. Explore Capability Brown’s Bowood House
5. Spot the Westbury White Horse

1. Stand in awe at Stonehenge

   No trip to Wiltshire is complete without Stonehenge, one of the UK’s most iconic monuments. To this day, no one knows exactly how the giant stones were raised, nor how they were brought all the way from Wales. Walk the visitor trail, learn about the prehistoric builders and time your visit for early morning or late afternoon, when the light is at its best and the crowds thinner.

2. Wander the stone circle at Avebury

   Less famous than its neighbour but arguably more atmospheric, Avebury is the largest stone circle in the world – so large that a whole village sits within it. You can walk right up to the stones, follow the surrounding earthworks and combine your visit with the nearby Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow.

3. See the Magna Carta in Salisbury

   The great city of Salisbury is home to one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta, widely considered the best preserved. It is housed in the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral, which also boasts Britain’s tallest spire and the world’s oldest working clock. Allow time to wander the Cathedral Close, one of the finest in the country, and to explore the city’s markets and independent shops afterwards.

4. Explore Capability Brown’s Bowood House

   The gardens and parklands of Bowood House are a testament to the skill of the ever-great landscape designer Capability Brown. The house itself is a stunning Grade I-listed Georgian property and a joy to visit, with sweeping lawns, a lake and a much-loved adventure playground for younger guests.

5. Spot the Westbury White Horse

   Cut deep into the chalk hillside on the edge of Salisbury Plain, the Westbury White Horse is the oldest of Wiltshire’s famous chalk figures. Its true age is uncertain, but its scale is best appreciated from a distance or from the ramparts of the Iron Age hillfort above it. On a clear day you can see for miles across the surrounding downs.