Tourist & Travel Information

How to get here.... Devizes' Railway Station is just a thing of the past, but Chippenham just ten miles away is situated on the main railway line from Paddington to the West Country. There is a choice of taxi companies to complete your journey and a limited Bus Service between the two towns. If traveling by train and bus see further advice on buses below. If travelling by motorway leave the M4 at Junction 17.

For local bus enquiries call: National Travel Line Tel. 0870 608 2 608. Wiltshire Bus Enquiry Line advise that "Whilst Chippenham is indeed the closest station, it is not the best one to use to get to Devizes by Public Transport, because there are fewer buses on this route in the early mornings and in the evening, and none at all on Sundays. We therefore normally recommend passengers to travel to either Swindon or Bath and pick up a bus there. We also advise passengers travelling from the South Coast to travel to Salisbury then take a bus from there."

Local Taxis If you arrive by public transport then taxis are easy to find at both the Rail & Bus Stations. While in Devizes you may want to call on the services of one of the following companies. In no particular order......

Ace Taxis 55, Longcroft Avenue Devizes Wiltshire SN10 3AS Tel.01380 729629 Devizes Taxis Castle Lane Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1HJ Tel.01380 723129

R H Reeves 91 Springfield Road Rowde Devizes Wiltshire SN102PD Tel.01380 725072 J.P Taxis 1, Adlam Close Devizes Wiltshire SN10 5HA Tel.01380 722622

The Tourist Information Centre Cromwell House Market Place Devizes Wiltshire Tel.01380 729408

These are the principal establishments, but the local directory lists a couple of dozen more. The Tourist Information Centre will be pleased to advise you.

Details of other Hotels and Guest Houses in the area can be found at SmoothHound's Pages Where some can be booked on-line.

• Blacklands Lakes Holiday & Leisure Centre
  Stockley Lane
  Calne
  Wiltshire
  SN11 0NQ
  Tel.01249 813672
  Fax. 01249 811346
  On the A4 Calne - Marlborough road. A caravan site with extras: lake fishing, indoor swimming, fitness centre and more. Large and the facilities are open to non residents so can be busy.
• 
  
• The Camping and Caravanning Club Site
  Spout Lane
  Nr Seend
  Melksham
  Wiltshire
  SN12 6RN
  Tel.01380 828839
  On the A365 Melksham road.
  
  
• Bell Caravan Park
  Andover Road
  Lydeway
  Devizes
  Wiltshire
  SN10 3PS
  Tel.01380 840230
  Heated pool, BBQ area and children's play areas
  Entrance off the A342 Devizes - Andover road.

• Wiltshire Heritage Museum. The museum houses the archaeological history of Wiltshire from Neolithic times, through the Bronze age up to recent history.
  There is also the museum library, dating back from the mid 1800's. A rich source of information about the county and the people that shaped it. Good for local and family historians as well as researchers of antiquarian histories and notes.
  41 Long Street, Devizes. Tel.01380 727369. open: Monday - Saturday; 10.00am - 5.00pm Admission charge, but Free on Sundays open: 12 noon - 4.00pm.

• The Wharf At the Canal Wharf you will find another museum devoted to the history of the Kennet & Avon Canal. It tells the story of the waterway from 1794 to the present day. There is plenty of parking on the wharf, a restaurant and several shops. The museum is open 7 days a week 10.00am - 5.00pm (4.00 in winter) Tel.01380 729489 Signed from New Park Street

• Caen Hill Locks Take a walk along the towpath to Caen Hill and see the magnificent flight of 29 locks. Take a camera there's a fantastic view in either direction. There are refreshments at Lock Cottage Tearooms from 11.00 - 5.00 from March to the end of October.
  A Devizes Locks Discovery Trail, leaflet is available from the Tourist Information Centre or British Waterways, The Locks, Bath Road, Devizes. Or, Tel.01380 722859 for further information.

• Bowood House, home to Earl and Countess of Shelburne was built around 1760. Part of the House was demolished in 1955, some of what remains is open to the public. The estate was inherited from, Sir William Petty. Petty's widow became the Baroness Shelburne, and it was their grandson who settled at Bowood, and their great-grandson who became the 1st.Marquis of Lansdowne. It was he, who befriended Joseph Priestly, the early chemist who discovered oxygen at Bowood. Successive generations added to the house, Sir Charles Cockerell designed the Chapel, Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of parliament, the Clock tower, the Italianate Tower and the Golden Gates at the entrance. Outside, there are grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, with a Doric Temple, a pinetum and arboretum, and a most spectacular Cascade.

  The separate Rhododendron Gardens are open for six weeks during May and June and for the younger visitor there is an Adventure Playground.

  Open daily from March until November 11am - 5.30pm Tel.01249 812102 for further information.
  Bowood is on the A4 Calne to Chippenham road.

  
  Contributions from individuals and organisations in the Devizes area always welcome.
  Please email yourguide@zetnet.co.uk

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  All company logos & marks acknowledged and used with permission.