Trowbridge

Trowbridge sits astride the River Biss in west Wiltshire, a town whose broad Georgian streets and mill buildings still carry the memory of the woollen cloth trade that once made it rich. As the county town of Wiltshire, it is home to Wiltshire Council's headquarters and a working market town feel that has never quite been swallowed by tourism, which makes it a refreshingly unshowy base for exploring this corner of the West Country.

The town grew rich on West of England broadcloth, prized for its fine quality and exported across the world, and that industrial heritage still shapes the streets today: former mills, merchants' townhouses and workers' terraces sit close together around the town centre. Just a few miles east lies Bradford-on-Avon, with its Saxon church and weavers' cottages tumbling down to the Kennet and Avon Canal, while the wider countryside rolls out into classic Wiltshire farmland, dotted with thatched villages, drovers' lanes and the occasional Neolithic monument for which the county is famous.

Top things to do in Trowbridge

Trowbridge rewards a slower pace than the big-name Wiltshire honeypots, but there is plenty to fill a day or two in and around the town.

• Trowbridge Museum — Housed in the Grade II listed Home Mills, a former woollen mill, the museum tells the story of how the town became Wiltshire's county town on the back of the cloth trade. Exhibits include a complete Spinning Jenny, one of only five surviving examples in the world, and a fulling machine patented by local engineer John Dyer in 1833.
• Parade House — Built around 1720 for wealthy cloth merchant Robert Houlton, this is one of Wiltshire's finest Georgian townhouses, now restored with period rooms, costume displays and a grand ballroom open to visitors.
• St James' Church — The town's parish church has a soaring spire that dominates the Trowbridge skyline and is one of the tallest in Wiltshire; poet George Crabbe, once rector here, is buried inside.
• Bradford-on-Avon — A short hop east, this photogenic small town has a rare Saxon church, a multi-arched packhorse bridge, and the Kennet and Avon Canal, ideal for gentle towpath walks or a canal boat trip.
• Longleat — England's first drive-through safari park and a magnificent Elizabethan house are within easy reach for a full day out with children.
• Great Chalfield Manor — A moated, National Trust-run medieval manor house with beautiful gardens, a peaceful contrast to the bustle of the town.
• Steeple Ashton — One of Wiltshire's prettiest villages, with timber-framed and thatched cottages clustered around a handsome medieval church.
• Trowbridge Park — The town's Victorian public park offers open lawns, mature trees and a boating lake, good for a picnic or a run around after a morning of sightseeing.

Getting to Trowbridge

Trowbridge sits on the A361 and A363, within easy reach of the A350, A36 and the M4 corridor via Chippenham or Bath. Bath itself is around 12 miles north, Bristol roughly 25 miles to the north-west, and Salisbury about 20 miles south-east, so the town makes a workable base for exploring much of west Wiltshire and the wider West Country.

Trowbridge railway station has regular Great Western Railway services, with frequent trains to Westbury (around six minutes) for connections onto the main line, and direct services to Bath Spa in under 20 minutes and onward to Bristol Temple Meads. National Express and local coach and bus services also link the town to nearby Bath, Bristol and Salisbury.

Best time to visit Trowbridge

Spring and early summer bring the county's countryside to life, with the lanes around Bradford-on-Avon and the Wylye and Avon valleys at their greenest and local gardens, including those at Great Chalfield, at their best. Summer is ideal for towpath walks along the Kennet and Avon Canal and days out at Longleat, while autumn brings golden colour to the surrounding parkland and quieter roads for exploring the villages. Winter has its own charm, with Trowbridge's Georgian streets looking handsome under frost and cosy pubs offering a warm welcome after a bracing countryside walk.

Where to stay in Trowbridge

Trowbridge itself has a modest range of accommodation, from town-centre hotels to budget chains handy for road and rail links, while the surrounding villages offer characterful bed and breakfasts, farmhouse stays and boutique inns. Bradford-on-Avon, Bath and the villages around Melksham and Westbury add further choice for those who want a quieter, more rural base within a short drive of the town.

Food and drink in Trowbridge

The Hidden Brasserie has built a strong local reputation and holds an AA Rosette for its cooking, while the Bridge Brasserie makes the most of its riverside setting with contemporary British dishes using seasonal ingredients. For Italian food, Verona Italian Restaurant and Caffe Italiano are popular choices, and Namaste Trowbridge serves well-regarded Indian cuisine. The Garden Trowbridge offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu in a relaxed garden setting. Out in the surrounding villages, traditional pubs such as the Wiltshire Yeoman and the Old Bear Inn serve classic pub food alongside modern gastro dishes, often with locally sourced ingredients and, in the Yeoman's case, live music evenings.