Lacock & Local Attractions
Lacock is a charming, medieval English village set on the edge of the Cotswolds near the market town of Chippenham. The old stone buildings and half-timbered houses are extraordinarily well-preserved, and despite having featured as a location in many films and historical dramas (Cranford, Pride and Prejudice, and the Harry Potter films, to name but a few), the village still maintains a peaceful and timeless atmosphere.
Bath Abbey
The centre of Lacock is just a short stroll away from the Old Rectory and offers some outstanding pubs and restaurants with excellent cuisine. Tearooms, a bakery, jewellery and antique shops, and a beautician all add to the character of the village.
To the west of the village, the 13th century Abbey (another Harry Potter filming location) was the home of William Fox-Talbot, a pioneer of the photographic negative. The Abbey, now owned by the National Trust, is open to the public and houses a photographic museum.
The surrounding area
Wiltshire is a county rich with history. The word heritage sites of Avebury and Stonehenge are both within half and hour's drive of the Old Rectory, as are the Marlborough downs with their white horses and iron-age hill forts.
Avebury Stone Circle
Not to be outdone by ancient history, the beautiful Georgian city of Bath with its Abbey, roman baths and pump room is just thirty minutes away by car.
Salisbury - with its beautiful cathedral - is just forty-five minutes drive away. Also within easy reach are the historic houses and gardens of Bowood, Corsham Court, Dyrham Park, Stourhead, and Longleat Safari Park.
Castle Combe
The local villages and towns – including Castle Combe (with racing circuit), Bradford-on-Avon (with its canal) and Malmesbury with its abbey and gardens – are peaceful and beautiful, offering both pubs and tearooms in which to relax, and the opportunity to indulge in a little shopping; perhaps for antiques! London is just two hours' drive away, and Chippenham is on the main train line to the capital.
Finally, guided tours of the entire Wiltshire and Wessex area, covering most of the attractions listed above, are available for those who enjoy a structured approach to their sightseeing.
