To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Find out more here.
To provide you with the best experience, cookies are used on this site. Find out more here.
The village of Box is uniquely situated at a Gateway to the Cotswolds National Landscape, on the historic Great Western Railway line and Great West Way, stretching along the beautiful By Brook valley only 5 miles east of the World Heritage City of Bath. Located in the rural county of Wiltshire, Box offers a place to stay, visit, enjoy, and relax in stunning surroundings, allowing opportunity to step back in time through its cultural heritage.
The area has been settled since Neolithic times. Box Roman villa is a Scheduled Monument, and a Roman Road forms the southern boundary of the Parish. The Parish contains many buildings of national importance. Grade I and II*, of outstanding importance, such as Box and Middle Hill Tunnel Portals, Drewetts Mill, Hazelbury Manor, Rudloe Manor, and the Churches of St Thomas a Becket in Box and St Christopher’s Church in Ditteridge. Grade II, buildings include such properties as Box School and the Poynder Fountain. The Parish has four Conservation Areas, areas of special architectural and historic importance, at Box, Ditteridge, Middle Hill, and Ashley.
Historic Box Mill was bought by Peter Gabriel in the 1980s and converted into his international renowned Real World recording studios. Notable artists who have recorded at the studios include Robert Plant, Deep Purple, Harry Styles, Coldplay, and Tom Jones, and it is the headquarters of WOMAD.
Box is probably best known for its Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s railway tunnel and quarried stone. Views of Box Tunnel combine with his Road Bridge and magnificent Middle Hill Tunnel to celebrate a wonder of the Victorian age and one of the finest views of a historic railway line in the country.
Box also lays claims to being the birthplace of Thomas the Tank Engine as the popular children’s entertainment character was conceived by Rev. W.V Awdry when he lived in Box.
Hillside and underground quarries provided stone not only for the honey-coloured historic buildings in the area but fine country houses such as Longleat and Lacock Abbey, properties in Bath, London and exported around the world. A quarryman’s village grew up on Box Hill, the ‘Hill of Stone ‘, with stone yards, shops, cottages for workers, pubs, and Methodist Chapel. Box was famous for Box Ground Stone, a durable stone. http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/ has a wealth of information on the village.
Box Recreation Ground offers a children’s playground, football ground, bowling green and tennis courts. It has thriving men’s and women’s cricket teams who play on the cricket pitch which WC Grace graced. A Rock Circus, a magnificent circle of rocks fossils and minerals, forms the centre piece of the village. Lovar Garden, adjacent, with its pond and bog garden is a haven for wildlife and a habitat for flora and fauna.
Kingsdown Golf Club, founded in 1880, is the second oldest Golf Club in the West of England (behind Westward Ho!) and a popular destination for golfers of all abilities.
The Parish has over 100 Public Rights of Way making it a hugely popular destination for people looking to explore the glorious English countryside. Long distance footpaths The MacMillan Way and Cross Cotswolds Path cross the Parish. The Box Heritage Trail a circular walk of 4.5 miles offers magnificent views of the By Brook Valley and details of quarrying, milling and Brunel’s Great Western Railway. Footpaths and bridleways pass through Commons, woods, and meadows, areas of significant habitat value for our native species of wildlife, which in some areas have been improved with tree and hedge planting. Box Common at the top of Box Hill is an example of one of the splendid viewpoints around the Parish.
A range of walking maps give details of the paths, suggested routes, and points of historical interest including https://corshamwalkingfestival.org.uk/heritage-trails/
A variety of pubs, restaurants, cafes, and shops can be found in the area, with plenty of places to stay locally from cosy B&Bs to 5 Star hotels. The village has even got its own airfield!
Box Revels which takes place every end of May Bank holiday commenced life as a medieval celebration of the patronal day of St Thomas à Becket. Box Revels has had a lot of in-carnations since then and each year brings different themes and ideas, but the two purposes remain the same; to bring together the whole demographic of the village in fun and entertainment, and to raise funds for community groups and projects.
Queen Victoria was new to the throne when Arnos Vale opened in 1839. Arnos Vale was to be a garden…
Conveniently located just off the A303, The Brush & Broom offers a warm welcome to all. Whether you…
Shires Yard (formerly Milsom Place) is located at the heart of fashionable Milsom Street, set…
Discover award winning, and sustainable real ales and spirits. Crafted from the land around us, we…
See gold from the time of Stonehenge! Wiltshire Museum is home to the best Bronze Age archaeology…
Curated Visits Steeped in British Elegance Windsor Carriages creates privately hosted visits…
Number of results: 184
, currently showing 127 to 147.
Alton
Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire is the picturesque country cottage where Jane Austen lived. It is the most treasured Austen site in the world. It was here that Jane’s genius flourished and where she wrote, revised and had published all her…
London
Be amazed by the glittering interiors of the grandest address in the capital, once known as 'Number 1 London'. This beautiful Georgian building was the London home of the first Duke of Wellington and has changed very little since his great victory…
Woodstock
Receive a warm welcome into the home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Wonder at this masterpiece of 18th Century Baroque architecture, which houses some of the finest antique collections in…
The River Thames is the longest and most well-known river in England. It is navigable for 215 miles starting as a small trickle in the Cotswolds; flowing through nine English counties; right through the centre of London; past the Thames Barrier out…
We’re an experienced and vibrant walking company leading scenic walks in and around Bristol and Bath.
Let us show you breathtaking scenery rich in history with our 8-16km tried and tested walks around Clifton Suspension Bridge, The Cotswolds,…
Crofton, Marlborough
Crofton Pumping Station was built in 1807-9 to supply water to the highest point of the Kennet & Avon canal which links London and Bristol.
Mere
Conveniently located just off the A303, The Brush & Broom offers a warm welcome, delicious locally sourced dishes, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Explore our on-site museum to discover the fascinating history of Hillbrush and the brush-making…
Hungerford
“The Rose of Hungerford” is a purpose built 55 feet long wide-beamed passenger trip boat owned by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and has a maximum capacity of 50 passengers which is available for public trips and charters.
Newbury
Jubilee is a traditional narrowboat purpose built for carrying passengers. It has seating for up to 29 passengers and the sides can be opened up to the fresh air in fine weather, but with protection for colder days. Jubilee is crewed by volunteers…
Bradford on Avon
Week and day hire, skippered cruises and canoe hire.
Swindon
Get up close to magnificent locomotives, be a signalman in the GWR interactive Signal Box and drive the steam train simulator as you travel through STEAM’s story-telling displays!
STEAM tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and…
Bradford on Avon
Wiltshire Music Centre is a purpose-built, 300-seat concert hall which attracts internationally-renowned musicians, including the City of London Sinfonia, jazz legend Courtney Pine and famed guitarist John Williams. It hosts more than 90 concerts a y
Yattendon , Thatcham
West Berkshire Brewery is an independent brewery nestled in the heart of Berkshire with over 23 years of brewing experience. With our new state of the art brewery and packaging line we proudly produce traditional cask ales and innovative craft beers…
Bristol
Explore Bristol's Harbourside by ferry, go on a trip with friends or colleagues, or simply get from A to B without worrying about traffic
Bath
Experience critically acclaimed exhibitions of historical and contemporary
art and events against a backdrop of renowned eighteenth century portraits, Renaissance bronzes, ceramics, silver and embroidery. The Garden Café serves fresh seasonal…
The Cotswold Lakes is an area of 40 square miles with more than 150 lakes set across the countryside of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire. Within the Cotswold Lakes a diverse range of businesses offer accommodation, leisure activities…
Newbury
Internationally recognised theatre set in Bagnor, Newbury which hosts up to 220 people.
Bristol
Led by a knowledgeable guide, the tour commences in the venue barns with a presentation, followed by a vineyard walking tour, and concluding with a tasting session.
Tours last approximately 90 minutes, depending on group size.
Please…
Newbury
West Berkshire Museum is housed in two of Newbury’s best loved historic buildings - the 17th century Cloth Hall and the old Granary/Corn Stores in the Wharf. The permanent exhibition ‘Lives and Landscapes’ tells the story of West Berkshire. The…
Henley-on-Thames
Home to the Stonor family for over 850 years, Stonor Park dominates a magnificent view of the beautiful deer park, woodland and 17th century gardens. Beyond the warm red brick Jacobean façade, a stroll through the house is a walk through history. …
Bristol
The Wave is an inland-surfing destination where everyone can surf and bodyboard on consistent safe waves every day of the year. It brings surfing, nature and a fresh way of thinking to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities - from a child…
© Great West Way 2025.
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
