Commuter Towns in Wiltshire

The Independent Schools Guide 2011-2012

Wiltshire makes greater demands on the commuter than counties closer to London. You have to go that bit further. There are two railway lines. One across the north of the county which stops at Pewsey (67mins -80 mins) on its way into London Paddington, and one from the south coast which stops at Salisbury (90 mins or more) on its way to London Waterloo.

Strutt & Parker in Salisbury says London commuters get 10% to 20% more house for their money compared to closer to the capital and you get some deeply lovely English countryside. Chalk downland and streams mingle with film-set villages like Castle Combe and Lacock (owned by the National Trust), Avebury, Aldbourne and Donhead St Andrew where Old Wardour Castle stands.

Wiltshire has five-star towns like Bradford-on-Avon outside Bath (which is where you would go for a spot of culture or clothes shopping), and Marlborough to the north where the eponymous public school is.

Salisbury is a beautiful city with a cathedral to match which has the tallest spire in England. Yet it has the feel of a market town and still has a fruit and veg market, cattle market and racecourse.

The main arterial route swishing past to the north is the M4. Other main roads include the A303, and the A356.

Neighbouring counties are Somerset and Devon in the west, Dorset to the south, Hampshire to the east, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire to the north.