Pictures of Malmesbury

a Historic Market Town in the county of Wiltshire

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About Malmesbury

Malmesbury lies in a favoured hill-top position above the River Avon, spanned along this stretch by six bridges. 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.

The town has some notable buildings and these include St.John's Almshouses and the impressive 16th-century fine stone Market Cross. The Green Dragon Inn has a 14th-century window, and the Bell Inn is of interest. Important to the town is the splendid ruins of the 12th-century Benedictine Abbey - all that remains of an Abbey founded here in the 7th-century. The magnificent nave survived the Reformation and became the parish church. The south porch contains fine examples of Romanesque Sculpture and the figures of the apostles surmounted by an angel are perhaps the best to be seen in any English church. The Norman interior has 14th-century lierne vaulting and there is a 15th-century tomb, complete with reclining effigy, said to be King Athelstan. There is a rare watching loft situated above the nave arcade. The church has beautiful stained glass including a window commemorating a monk who broke his legs attempting to fly with home-made wings from the roof of the original abbey in the 11th-century. The church has many other beautiful treasures that are doubtless a legacy of the great wool-trading days from which the town prospered and gained stability.

Interestingly, the philosopher Thomas Hobbes was born here in 1588 and John Aubrey, the country antiquary was educated at the local grammar school in the 17th-century. Apart from wool and textiles, the town also had a lace making industry. This is an old town that is well worth seeing, it has the appearance of timelessness, and is as though modernity had passed it by. The town offers a rich historic experience, it is a conservation area that contains many listed buildings, at the same time it offers excellent shopping and recreational facilities both in the town and the lush green countryside beyond.

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 Malmesbury

Malmesbury Abbey	(0.2 miles, 0.4 km)	Pictures
Abbey House Gardens	(0.2 miles, 0.4 km)	Pictures
Westonbirt Arboretum	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Castle Combe Motor Racing Circuit	(8.2 miles, 13.1 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Bowood House & Gardens	(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction S)	Pictures
Lacock Abbey	(11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction S)	Pictures
Dyrham Park	(13.8 miles, 22.1 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Avebury Manor & Garden	(14.9 miles, 23.9 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Painswick Rococo Gardens	(14.9 miles, 23.9 km, direction N)	Pictures
The Alexander Keiller Museum	(15.2 miles, 24.5 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Barbury Castle Country Park	(15.5 miles, 25.0 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Silbury Hill	(15.6 miles, 25.2 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Avebury Ring	(16.1 miles, 25.8 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Berkeley Castle	(16.6 miles, 26.7 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust	(16.6 miles, 26.7 km, direction NW)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Malmesbury

Crudwell in the county of Wiltshire (3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction NE)
Visitors will find this a restful place, there is a serene atmosphere, pleasant properties in lovely country lanes, and a nice friendly village inn.
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Ewen in the county of Gloucestershire (7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction NE)
Leafy lanes, tree lined roads and thatched country cottages form the character of this delightful hamlet through which an infant river Thames courses on its way through the lovely Cotswolds.
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Castle Combe in the county of Wiltshire (8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction SW)
As recently as 2001 it was awarded the title of 'Most Picturesque Village' by British Heritage Magazine's 2001 Traveller's Choice Awards.
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Chippenham in the county of Wiltshire (8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction S)
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Nailsworth in the county of Gloucestershire (8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction NW)
Nailsworth is a handsome town that has a history stretching back to beyond Roman times.
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Eastcombe in the county of Gloucestershire (10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction N)
Eastcombe is a beautiful hilltop village nestling in the heart of the Cotswolds.
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Wotton under Edge in the county of Gloucestershire (10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)
This charming Cotswold village boasts a finely restored 14th-15th century church which retains some good brasses and an old Organ...
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Cirencester in the county of Gloucestershire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction NE)
Originally known in Roman times as Corinium Dobunorum, the town of Cirencester in those far off day's was the second largest town in England.
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Cricklade in the county of Wiltshire (11.2 miles, 18.0 km, direction E)
Lying in the northern reaches of Wiltshire, the historic town of Cricklade has many visual delights.
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Bisley in the county of Gloucestershire (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction N)
The village of Bisley is all charm. It has an excellent collection of very fine buildings as well as some interesting local folklore.
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Reybridge in the county of Wiltshire (11.7 miles, 18.7 km, direction S)
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Lacock in the county of Wiltshire (12.0 miles, 19.4 km, direction S)
Gatherings of graceful medieval houses line the streets of Lacock
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Dursley in the county of Gloucestershire (12.4 miles, 20.0 km, direction NW)
Dursley is an ancient place, set in lush greenery to the edge of the Cotswolds in the midst of the beautiful Vale of Berkley, close to the River Severn.
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Duntisbourne Abbots in the county of Gloucestershire (12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction N)
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Broad Hinton in the county of Wiltshire (13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction SE)
Broad Hinton is found in the spacious countryside a few miles south-west of Swindon, close to the Ridgeway Path.
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Nearby travel help

M4 Junction 17	(5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction S)
Kemble Station	(7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction NE)
Chippenham Station	(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction S)
M4 Junction 16	(11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction E)
Bristol International Airport	(29.9 miles, 48.2 km, direction SW)
Southampton Airport	(54.7 miles, 88.0 km, direction SE)
Malmesbury to London	(85.3 miles, 137.3 km, direction E)

Hotels & Accommodation in Malmesbury

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Malmesbury center
Old Bell Hotel	(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)
Whatley Manor	(2.0 miles, 3.2 km, direction W)
The Rectory Hotel	(3.5 miles, 5.7 km, direction NE)
The Close Hotel	(4.3 miles, 6.9 km, direction NW)
The Ormond At Tetbury	(4.3 miles, 7.0 km, direction NW)
The Royal Oak Inn, Tetbury	(4.4 miles, 7.0 km, direction NW)
The Priory Inn	(4.5 miles, 7.2 km, direction NW)
Best Western The Hare & Hounds Hotel	(4.5 miles, 7.3 km, direction NW)
Stanton Manor Hotel & Restaurant	(4.9 miles, 7.9 km, direction S)
Bell House Hotel & Restaurant	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction S)
All hotels in Malmesbury