History & Heritage

Along the Great West Way you can trace the history of the nation, from neolithic times to the present day. You can walk the ancient Ridgeway National Trail, take a road trip on one of King Charles I’s Great Roads, built to facilitate the postal service, or ride The Great Western Railway - a marvel of Victorian ingenuity. And there’s plenty of attractions to visit along the way…

You could start at the beginning (relatively speaking), and visit the standing stones at Stonehenge or Avebury - which together make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These striking formations of standing stones continue to puzzle visitors and archaeologists alike. Were they places of healing? Druid temples? Burial sites? Meeting places? We will probably never know exactly what our ancestors were up to, but these special places continue to exert a powerful pull on our imaginations.

Don’t forget there’s many other mysterious sites in the region too, such as Silbury Hill, an enormous prehistoric mound, and Old Sarum, an impressive iron age hill fort and the site of Salisbury’s first cathedral. Top tip: If you’re looking for a hotel within easy reach of all these sites, Holiday Inn Salisbury-Stonehenge offers convenient Stonehenge accommodation.

Elsewhere on the touring route, you can explore the inventions of celebrated engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel by visiting the SS Great Britain and Clifton Suspension Bridge. You can learn Tudor table manners at Hampton Court Palace or see where mordern royalty reside at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth II's favourite weekend home. Set sail on a replica of The Matthew - the ship John Cabot first sailed to Newfoundland, discovering North America. And even come face-to-face with a Roman bather at the Roman Baths!

Then there’s the beautifully preserved historic towns, cities and villages, including Marlborough, Henley on Thames, Lacock, Castle Combe, Calne and Bath. Strolling through these living landscapes, whether on a walking tour or self-guided adventure, gives a sense of what real life was like for generations long gone.

And make sure you visit some of the many magnificent historic houses and gardens along the way too. From Hampton Court Palace with its Henry the VIII connections to Dyrham Park and its romantic 17th-century park.