A Guide to Living in Wiltshire

Where is Wiltshire?

Wiltshire is located in the southwest of England and borders Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and Berkshire. The county town is Trowbridge, but there are also plenty of other towns and villages to explore.

Areas in Wiltshire

There are many different areas in Wiltshire to consider when looking for property. Some of the most popular include:

Salisbury Plain – covering an area of around 300 square miles, this is Wiltshire’s largest green belt and has long been used for military training exercises due to its remoteness from towns or roads. There are many interesting sites in Salisbury Plain including Stonehenge, Vespasian’s Camp, Old Sarum and the Long Barrow.

Tisbury – this village is well known to history buffs as it was once home to King Alfred the Great whose family estate included land in Tisbury during his lifetime. The original Saxon church can still be seen today at St Mary’s Church which dates back to over 900 years ago.

Trowbridge – located in the north of Wiltshire, Trowbridge is one of the county’s most important towns. Formerly an industrial town, it is now home to a variety of businesses and shopping centres. The Kennet and Avon Canal also runs through the town.

Littlecote – this is a more modern addition to Wiltshire’s history as it was first mentioned in records dating back only around 900 years ago. The manor house of Littlecote Park has its origins dating back to 1250 and can be seen on the cover of Agatha Christie’s novel “They Do It With Mirrors.”

It has been used as a backdrop in television shows such as Doctor Who, Casualty and Midsomer Murders.

Salisbury – this is one of the oldest cities in England with its origins dating back to around 4000 years ago which makes it older than Stonehenge itself! Salisbury Cathedral dominates the city’s skyline.

Salisbury also hosts several festivals throughout the year including an annual Christmas Craft Market and Food Festival; there is even a Beerfest that takes place every August!

Universities in Wiltshire

Wiltshire is home to two universities. The University of Bath Spa is located in the town of Bath while the University of Wiltshire is based in the city of Chippenham.

The University of Bath Spa – This university has been awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and is ranked as one of the top universities in the UK for employability.

The University of Wiltshire – This university offers a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, with many modules being available online or via distance learning. It also has strong links with businesses in the region, so it is a popular choice for students looking to study for business and management degrees.

Top Schools in Wiltshire

Wiltshire has a number of top schools including Oakfield School and Sherborne House School which both achieved an “Outstanding” rating from Ofsted.

Oakfield School – Oakfield School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school, which sits in 200 acres of parkland on the outskirts of Maidenhead.

Sherborne House School – Sherborne students achieve consistently high standards at GCSE, with over two-thirds achieving A* to B grades in 2020. The school has a long-standing commitment to music and was named ‘Music College of the Year’ by Ofsted for 2018.

Population of Wiltshire

The Population of Wiltshire is 470,981 according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. Wiltshire is one of the most rural counties in England and has a population density of just 87 people per square kilometre.