Warminster ranks highly in Tripadvisor searches

Believe it or not, Warminster has been ranked as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in Europe, based on online searches.

Warminster ranks 9th out of destinations which have seen an increase in traveller interest in 2011, based on searches carried out on the TripAdvisor stable of websites.

Tripadvisor attributes increased interest for a number of towns to the Olympic Games in 2012, but as there are no events near Warminster this would seem an odd conclusion.

Warminster Information Centre has carried out its own survey on visitors to the town and found that many travellers from Europe, Japan and Canada were visiting Warminster to research geneaology. Warminster's long history as a military town means that usually at some point in every army career time is spent in Warminster or Salisbury Plain.

So, what does Warminster have going for it?

Warminster dates back to Saxon times, and in was a prosperous trading town in the Middle Ages. The town centre has an interesting variety of commercial and residential buildings along the main thoroughfares from Bath Road and Church Street up into Portway, the Close, Market Place, East Street, Boreham Road and Bishoptrow. The Warminster Civic Trust works hard to preserve and restore as many properties as they can, and the architecture principally uses local quarried stone, Chilmark and Bath stone. A number of impressive churches and manor houses can be found in and within a short drive of Warminster.

It is also strategically well-placed on the A36 and close to A303, and with good rail links to London, Bristol and the South Coast, so it is safe to assume that a number of British visitors have also spent time in Warminster this year. House prices are reasonable, and those prices out of the Bath or Salisbury markets often find themselves buying in one of the many satellite villages around Warminster or Frome.

With a huge number of well-respected nursery and primary schools, an "outstanding" Secondary School in Kingdown and a long-established private school, Warminster School, the town definitely has something to offer for families looking to settle in the area.

Huge investment and new attractions at the commercially-restyled Longleat Safari and Adventure Park will also have pulled in many more visitors to the Warminster area, and of course the holiday resort of Center Parcs has a constant stream of guests throughout the year. Longleat has also recently acquired Bishopstrow House Hotel, a luxury Hotel, Spa and Restaurant which has appealed to many international and celebrity guests over the years.

Other tourist attractions in the area and within say a 30 minute drive, if Warminster was your base, include the National Trust property Stourhead House and Gardens, the English Heritage properties of Nunney Castle and Old Wardour Castle (as seen in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves), Shearwater Lake and numerous Iron Age hill forts including Battlesbury Hill and Cley Hill, the latter also being one of the "UFO Capitals of the UK" which attracts many science fiction and UFO enthusiasts! The World Heritage site of Stonehenge and the historic cities of Bath and Salisbury are also within easy reach.

For shoppers, Warminster has a diverse range of businesses, from small independent traders through to high street chains and multinational operators. At first glance or on simply driving through Warminster, one might be forgiven for thinking that there is not a lot to the town centre, but a closer exmaination reveals a wealth of choice.

For those who like the comfort of a well-established business, Dents of Warminster have been in business since 1777 manufacturing gloves, handbags and small leather goods, and which recently opened a new £4m factory, museum and shop outlet. One of Warminster's favourite and iconic shops is S L Cordens, dating back to the 1880s, and sells a range of ironmongery, homeware and gardening products, and is a real "Aladdin's Cave". If it is house-related, Cordens probably have it!

As we are coming up to Christmas, many residents and visitors to Warminster will be purchasing gifts for family, friends and colleagues. When one starts peeling back the layers and exploring off the main High Street there are many unique and quirky shops, each with an interesting range of gifts and products.

In Chinns Court one will find the Footprint Gallery, and just on Market Place at the entrance to Chinns Court is Serendipity, a long-established gift shop with a huge range. Elsewhere in Warminster, Blue Lily Jewellery, Pauls, Magpie and Warm Wishes all have a huge range of gifts, crafts and jewellery.

Warminster is also famous for its' wonderful Antique shops, centred predominantly on George Street and Silver Street including for example the Warminster Antiques Market, Anthony Cole and Isabella Antiques.

After a morning's browsing of Warminster shops, or taking a tour of Warminster landmarks such as the Obelisk, North Row or St Lawrence's Church, what better way to spend elevenses than a slice of cake and cup of tea...and Warminster has no shortage of tea rooms and coffee shops! For quirky French chic try Le Café Journal; for an extensive choic of cakes and sandwiches try Moretons; for an olde-worlde tea room experience Rosie's in Chinns Court is for you...and

Jacqueline's has been an established tea room and restaurant for nearly a decade. In addition, the Cornmarket Café, the KS Coffee Bar, Magpie Tea Rooms and of course the Gorge Café in the Three Horsehoes Mall all offer a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and hot food.

For something a little stronger to drink, or delicious lunches and evening meals, Warminster's villages have an overwhelming choice of Wiltshire pubs and restaurant, the most recommended of which are The Bath Arms in Horningsham, The George in Longbridge Deverill, the Prince Leopold Inn at Upton Lovell, the Angel Inn at Upton Scudamore and the Dove Inn at Corton.

To conclude then, Warminster is a historic and strategically well-placed market town; architecturally pleasing; great for families; with a huge choice of independent shops, eateries and coffee shops; a cornucopia of antique and gift shops; is surrounded by characterful villages with classic Wiltshire pubs; and is close to a number of regional and internationally-renowned tourist attractions...maybe Tripadvisor has a point, then?