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Pictures of Lacock

a Picturesque Village in the county of Wiltshire

Lacock, Wiltshire

About Lacock

Gatherings of graceful medieval houses line the streets of Lacock - a Cotswold village that is entirely owned by the National Trust and exhudes with all the atmosphere of a gracious by-gone age. This is one of the most beautiful villages in England, it has a delightful blend of properties that date from the 15th to the 18th-century.

Like many of the great Cotswold villages, Lacock has it's roots frmley embeded in Saxon times but it was the Normans who built the early church of St.Cyriac. During the 14th and 15th-centuries St.Cyriac's was rebuilt in Cruciform style, it has a west tower and spire. It has a lofty nave with a traceried window above the chancel. The north-east chapel was built in 1430 and has a noted lierne-vault with pendents that contains a magnificent monument to Sir William Sharington who died in 1553. Following the dissolution, Sir William aquired Lacock Abbey and converted it into his family home. Interestingly, Lacock Abbey was originally founded in the 13th-century as a nunnery, by Ela, Countess of Salisbury. Worthy of note is the fact that Ela, was the one and only female sheriff of Wiltshire! Sir William retained the original features of the Abbey and some still remain, the house was only altered to the Gothic style in the mid-18th-century. This fine historic house rewards the visitor with glimpses of many treasures.

Visitors wandering Lacock's streets never fail to be anything other than enchanted by the rich compliment of gorgeous buildings, at every turn, a camera is brought out and photographs are taken of Whitewashed, half timbered houses squashed between stone and brick cottages. High Street is a veritable feast, Porch House is a beautiful timber framed house that has two gables and close-set uprights in it's timber frame. The Red Lion Hotel is of mellow brick and dates from the 18th-century. A 14th-century barn with wonderful curved timbers can be seen in East Street.

Lacock Abbey eventually passed to William Henry Fox Talbot and it was at the Abbey that he carried out experiments into photography. On display in the Abbey is his first recognisable photograph, which is, as you would expect, of Lacock Abbey. Some of his work and equipment can be seen in the museum in the 16th-century barn at the gates of the Abbey. It was William's granddaughter who graciously presented the village of Lacock and the beautiful Abbey to the National Trust.

Some scenes from several romantic films have been shot in Lacock; these include; Emma, Pride and Preudice and Moll Flanders.

Lacock is almost devoid of 21st-century trappings, it is a place of sheer enchantment that provides the visitor with an enjoyable trip into the past.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Lacock

Lacock Abbey(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)Pictures
Bowood House & Gardens(3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction E)Pictures
Castle Combe Motor Racing Circuit(6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction NW)Pictures
Farleigh Hungerford Castle(9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction SW)Pictures
Prior Park, Bath(10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction W)Pictures
Bratton Camp & White Horse(10.4 miles, 16.8 km, direction S)Pictures
Bath Abbey(10.5 miles, 16.8 km, direction W)Pictures
Buildings of Bath Museum(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction W)Pictures
Sally Lunns(10.7 miles, 17.1 km, direction W)Pictures
Bath Pump Rooms(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)Pictures
Roman Baths(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)Pictures
Bath Assembly Rooms(10.8 miles, 17.3 km, direction W)Pictures
Bath Museum of Costume(10.8 miles, 17.3 km, direction W)Pictures
Jane Austen Centre(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction W)Pictures
Bath Theatre Royal(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction W)Pictures

All attractions in Lacock
All attractions in Wiltshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Lacock

Reybridge in the county of Wiltshire (0.4 miles, 0.7 km)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Chippenham in the county of Wiltshire (3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Castle Combe in the county of Wiltshire (7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction NW)
As recently as 2001 it was awarded the title of 'Most Picturesque Village' by British Heritage Magazine's 2001 Traveller's Choice Awards.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bradford-on-Avon in the county of Wiltshire (7.4 miles, 12.0 km, direction SW)
Beautiful old town with a rich mixture of mellow Bath stone properties to be seen along ancient winding streets.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Trowbridge in the county of Wiltshire (7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction SW)
Trowbridge is a historic town crammed with attractive stone buildings. It originated as a settlement along the Biss and flourished from the wool and weaving trades and from these periods there remain many magnificent merchant houses.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bath in the county of Somerset (10.8 miles, 17.3 km, direction W)
Bath is an elegant city famous for its fascinating history, its beautiful Georgian architecture and its Roman remains.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Beckhampton in the county of Wiltshire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction E)
This delightful hamlet lies in one of the richest natural history area's in England, containing the burial places of people from pre-history and almost unknown centuries.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Avebury in the county of Wiltshire (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction E)
The village of Avebury is world famous for its spectacular stone circle, which some consider more spectacular than Stonehenge....
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Malmesbury in the county of Wiltshire (12.0 miles, 19.4 km, direction N)
The town stakes its claim to be the oldest borough in England on the fact that it was granted a charter in the year 924 by King Edward
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Broad Hinton in the county of Wiltshire (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction NE)
Broad Hinton is found in the spacious countryside a few miles south-west of Swindon, close to the Ridgeway Path.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Warminster in the county of Wiltshire (14.6 miles, 23.5 km, direction S)
This is a former wool and corn town with a fascinating history stretching back to Saxon times. It sits comfortably beneath the chalk downland of the Salisbury Plain at the head of the beautiful Wyle Valley.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Crudwell in the county of Wiltshire (15.5 miles, 25.0 km, direction N)
Visitors will find this a restful place, there is a serene atmosphere, pleasant properties in lovely country lanes, and a nice friendly village inn.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Marlborough in the county of Wiltshire (16.9 miles, 27.2 km, direction E)
Dramatic chalk downs extend from Berkshire into rural Wiltshire, they are particularly rich in pre-historic remains and shelter a...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Wotton under Edge in the county of Gloucestershire (17.9 miles, 28.8 km, direction NW)
This charming Cotswold village boasts a finely restored 14th-15th century church which retains some good brasses and an old Organ...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Chiseldon in the county of Wiltshire (18.0 miles, 29.0 km, direction NE)
This is an attractive large village lying to the edge of the Marlborough Downs, its inclusion in the Doomsday Book indicates at that time it was a village of some importance.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Wiltshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Melksham Station(2.4 miles, 3.9 km, direction SW)
Chippenham Station(3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction N)
M4 Junction 17(7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction N)
M4 Junction 18 (Tormarton Interchange)(11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction NW)
Bristol International Airport(25.9 miles, 41.7 km, direction W)
Bournemouth Airport(45.3 miles, 73.0 km, direction S)
Lacock to London(86.3 miles, 138.8 km, direction E)

Hotels & Accommodation in Lacock

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Lacock center
Beechfield House Hotel(1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction SW)
Conigre Farm Hotel(3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction S)
Rudloe Hall Hotel(4.7 miles, 7.6 km, direction W)
Best Western Lansdowne Strand Hotel(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction E)
The White Hart Hotel(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction E)
Lucknam Park Hotel(6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction NW)
Leigh Park Hotel(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction SW)
Bell House Hotel & Restaurant(6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction N)
The Castle Hotel(6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction SE)
Stanton Manor Hotel & Restaurant(7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction N)
All hotels in Lacock


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