What's happening in Wiltshire this Autumn

VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership officially launched this autumn to bring together accommodation providers, attractions, pubs, restaurants, event organisers, local food producers and all other authorities under one umbrella brand dedicated to promoting tourism to the county.

For full details about everything happening in Wiltshire, log on to Visitwiltshire.co.uk.

Special offers
Menzies Swindon recently completed a £1million refurbishment making it one of the region’s newest four star hotels. It has also achieved an AA rosette for quality local food. The hotel is offering a special weekend rate of just £60 per room, per night. The hotel is ideally located for exploring Swindon STEAM museum or perhaps a gentle stroll around Lydiard House and Gardens. It’s also just a short walk from Swindon’s Designer Outlet Village. For information and reservations visit menzies-hotels.co.uk.

The autumn is a terrific time to visit Wiltshire and where better to use as your base than The Pear Tree at Purton. Brisk walks through the adjacent countryside, with or without your dog or visits to Westonbirt Arboretum, Avebury and Marlborough are all within easy reach. On your return you can wallow in your own private spa bath or curl up in front of the roaring log fire in the library with a drink and a good book.

Enjoy Head Chef Alan Postill’s delicious food in the Conservatory Restaurant and start the next day with the Pear Tree’s award winning Wiltshire Breakfast. At only £359 per couple for two nights dinner, bed and breakfast you can do a little bit of pre Christmas retail therapy at the nearby Designer Outlet Village in Swindon without feeling an iota of guilt. This lack of guilt extends to the knowledge that you are staying in one of the greenest hotels in England. For reservations and more information visit peartreepurton.co.uk.

Historic Stanton Manor hotel near Chippenham, Wiltshire is offering special rates throughout autumn of just £85 per person, per night including breakfast. Stanton Manor is one of Wiltshire’s most traditional hotels offering high quality old fashioned accommodation. The hotel is located just off junction 17 of the M4 making it well placed for exploring Wiltshire’s countryside or hopping over the county border for a day of shopping in the historic market town of Bath. For further information and reservations visit stantonmanor.co.uk.

What better place to watch the autumn leaves turn than in the British Cotswolds, where a two-night midweek stay costs from just £45 per person, per night, including breakfast and a full a la carte dinner (weekend rates are just £55). The package at the pretty Mayfield House Hotel is available this autumn, subject to availability and prices are based on two sharing. For more information and reservations visit mayfieldhousehotel.co.uk, saving up to £28 per person per night on normal rates.

Forthcoming events
Following is just a few of the larger events coming up. For a complete listing visit visitwiltshire.co.uk.

October

Haunted Lydiard
Between October 11 and November 2nd historic Lydiard House & Park near Swindon with be hosting a new display revealing some of the ghost stories linked to this historic site and exploring the Victorians’ fascination with spiritualism.
Additional spooky happenings including crafts and a special children’s trail, will take place throughout October half-term including Halloween! Tickets cost from £3.50 per adult and £1.75 per child.

For more information visit lydiardpark.org.uk

Salisbury's Spooky Weekend
Salisbury has many tales of hauntings and ghostly apparitions and now you can learn all about it on Salisbury’s Spooky Weekend between 24 – 31 October. Tales include that of the violent death of the Duke of Buckingham, the bride buried alive or the Cavalier robbed in his grave. Walks cost from just £5 per adult and £2 per child.

For details of the specific walks log on to visitwiltshire.co.uk.

November

Wiltshire Christmas Crafts & Gifts Show
Start your Christmas shopping early on November 1st & 2nd at this fun event where over 100 of Wiltshire’s finest craftsmen, artists and small business will be offering a selection of the best Christmas gifts for sale. Held at the Oasis Leisure Centre, Swindon. Tickets cost just £2 per person.

For more information go to visitwiltshire.co.uk.

Victorian Christmas At Lydiard
Starting on November 29th and continuing throughout December (finishes 23rd) Lydiard House is offering visitors an insight into how the Victorian’s celebrated the festive season. The entire house is decked out for a Victorian family Christmas with traditional trimmings on real Christmas trees and beautifully festive floral decorations in the State Rooms. See how the Victorians celebrated and how their traditions influence the way we now celebrate Christmas. Tickets cost from £3.50 per adult and £1.75 per child. Family tickets are also available.

For more information see lydiardpark.org.uk.

December

Christmas at STEAM
Swindon’s STEAM Museum transforms itself into a magical Christmas wonderland between December 6th and 7th. There is something for both adults and children with around 40 market stalls selling crafts from around Wiltshire including jewellery, pottery, paintings, games and toys, organic soaps, handmade chocolates and chutneys. Father Christmas will be in his magical Grotto, accompanied by one of his Elves who will make sure young children get their surprise gift if they've been good. And whatever your age, you can climb aboard one of STEAM's famous locomotives and follow the Christmas quiz trail. A variety of musical performances will also take place on the Museum's atmospheric Station Platform throughout the weekend.

Tickets cost just £1 per person and the event is open between 10am and 5pm on both days. For more information see Swindon.gov.uk/steam.

Stonehenge Midwinters Past
Enjoy an alternative Christmas weekend at Stonehenge on December 14th where Stonehenge Midwinters Past hosts a guided walk looking at what our Neolithic ancestors would be doing in the run-up to their Midwinter festival. The 5½ mile walk around the Stonehenge landscape takes place between 11am and 1pm with light refreshments provided, although it is also recommended you bring a packed lunch.

For more information log on to visitwiltshire.co.uk.

Christmas and its customs
Have you ever wondered where all the myths and customs about Christmas began? On December 18th ARTSWORDS and the Swindon Festival of Literature presents: Christmas and its Customs - an illustrated look into the myths and magic of Christmas with Dr Patrick Harding. Find out why Santa dressed in red, why we hang up holly and mistletoe, what date Jesus was born, why we have Christmas crackers and what reindeers drink. With big pictures, fascinating details and brilliant stories, author and broadcaster Patrick Harding both entertains and sets the record straight as he delves into the background of Christmas traditions and rituals.

With mince pies, mulled wine, and appropriate seasonal jollity, this promises to be a lively event to help lead us into Christmas! Tickets cost just £7 for adults and £6 concessions.

For more information see visitwiltshire.co.uk.