Attractions of Chippenham Town

Chippenham inherited its name from a Saxon called Cyppa, and Hamme means a piece of low ground lying in a bend of the river. The River Avon flows through the town and is popular for fishing or just feeding the swans and ducks from the Town Bridge.

The town boasts many unique and historical claims including, the former home of Robert Peel the founder of the Metropolitan Police and former MP for Chippenham as well as home Secretary . The town is also the former hunting grounds of King Alfred the Great who had a hunting lodge here

There are many churches of various denomination in the town including Saint Andrews Church in the town centre in Market Place which dates back to the Anglo Saxon times, and the Old Baptist Chapel in Chapel Lane dates back to1812 .

The town has a Museum and Heritage centre in the High Street.

Chippenham is also famous for its involvement with engineering and Isabard Kingdom Brunel's work can be seen in the railway arches of the town .

Chippenham hosts the annual traditional Folk festival in May, and is the ideal setting for for visiting places of interests such as Bath, which is only half an hour away.

Bowood House and Gardens, Longleat House, Castle Coombe Racing Circuit, Castlecobe village rated the prettiest village in England, Lacock Abbey and village with the Fox Talbot museum where the first photograph was taken, and of course Stonenehenge.

There are a number of good pubs and restuarants within walking distance of Diana Lodge B&B in Chippenham town centre and many green areas and parks, as well as designated walks and cycle paths to places of popular interest.

Chippenham is centrally located for easy access by road it is less than ten minutes from J 17 of the M4 and the railway connects to all major towns and cities in the UK as well as to airports such as Bristol, Gatwick and Heathrow.

Within 10 minutes walking distance from Grathie Cottage is the new home of the Swindon and Wiltshire History Museum and it is proving very popular for visitors from all over the world who want to find out more about their south west history.