Semington

Semington is a small village and civil parish in Wiltshire, tucked into the gentle farmland between Trowbridge and Melksham where the A350 and A361 once met at the heart of the settlement. It's the kind of place that rewards a slow look rather than a long stay: a High Street of stone and brick cottages, a working stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal, and fields that roll away towards the Somerset border. The modern A350 bypass, opened in 2004, now carries most through-traffic half a mile to the east, which has left the old village centre notably peaceful.

The Kennet and Avon Canal is Semington's defining feature. It threads through the parish past a small wharf and a pair of locks, and it was here that the long-vanished Wilts & Berks Canal once branched off towards Swindon and the Thames. The most striking piece of engineering is the Semington Aqueduct, a Grade II listed structure completed in the early 1800s that carries the canal over Semington Brook. The Kennet and Avon's route through this part of Wiltshire, via Devizes rather than the more northerly line originally considered, was surveyed under engineer John Rennie, and the canal remains a beautifully maintained example of the golden age of British canal-building.

Top things to do near Semington

Semington itself is compact, but it sits within easy reach of some of Wiltshire's best-known attractions and the towpath right on its doorstep.

• Kennet and Avon Canal towpath — Walk or cycle the towpath through Semington's own locks and wharf, or follow it further afield; the canal offers flat, well-surfaced routes ideal for an easy afternoon out.
• Caen Hill Locks, Devizes — A dramatic flight of 29 locks on the same canal, roughly a 20-minute drive east, is one of the most photographed feats of canal engineering in the country.
• Lacock and Lacock Abbey — The National Trust village of Lacock, with its medieval abbey and unspoilt streets used in numerous film and TV productions, lies a short drive north.
• Trowbridge — Wiltshire's county town, a few miles southwest, has a museum dedicated to the area's wool and textile heritage plus a compact town centre for shopping and cafes.
• Melksham — The neighbouring market town, just north of Semington, has its own stretch of the Avon river, parks and a regular market.
• Bowood House and Gardens — A grand stately home and landscaped parkland near Calne, within easy reach for a half-day out.
• Longleat — The safari park and stately home near Warminster makes for a popular full-day trip from the area.

Getting to Semington

Semington sits at the junction of the A350 and A361 in west Wiltshire, with the modern A350 bypass now routing through-traffic around rather than through the village. There is no railway station in Semington itself — the old Semington Halt closed in 1966 — but Trowbridge, Melksham and Bradford-on-Avon stations all lie within a short drive and offer regular services connecting to Bath, Salisbury and beyond. Bristol and Bath are both under an hour away by car, making Semington a realistic base for exploring west Wiltshire and into Somerset.

Best time to visit Semington

Late spring through early autumn suits Semington best, when the canal towpath is at its most inviting for walking and cycling and the surrounding countryside is at its greenest. Summer weekends bring gentle boat traffic along the Kennet and Avon, while autumn offers quieter towpaths and good conditions for exploring nearby Lacock and Trowbridge without the crowds. Winter can be atmospheric around the aqueduct and locks, though shorter days and wetter ground make it better suited to short visits than long stays.

Where to stay near Semington

Semington itself has no hotels of note, so most visitors base themselves in nearby Trowbridge or Melksham, both of which offer a range of pubs with rooms, guest houses and chain hotels within a few minutes' drive. Bradford-on-Avon and Devizes, both a short drive away and both on the Kennet and Avon Canal, offer a wider choice of characterful B&Bs and boutique stays for those wanting to combine a Semington visit with a longer canal-side break.

Food and drink near Semington

Semington's own historic pub, the Grade II listed Somerset Arms on the High Street, has been closed since 2023, with a local community group campaigning to bring it back into use — so at present the village has no pub of its own. Visitors are better served heading into Trowbridge or Melksham, both a few minutes away, for a proper choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants, or stopping at one of the canalside pubs found at intervals along the Kennet and Avon towpath towards Devizes.