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Stonehenge, Amesbury

Companionship careWiltshire

Days out in Wiltshire for an older parent

Nine places in Wiltshire that make a good day out for an older parent, from Stonehenge to Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

Stonehenge. Photo: garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0

Nine days out across seven towns

The best places to take an older parent in Wiltshire

Three of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for three confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Stonehenge, Amesbury

Photo: garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Amesbury

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is the world famous prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain, run by English Heritage, with a visitor centre, an exhibition of finds and reconstructed Neolithic houses. A shuttle bus runs from the visitor centre to the stones.

The visitor centre, car parks and stone circle are reachable by wheelchair on tarmac and grass paths, the shuttle buses are accessible, there are 22 accessible parking bays and accessible toilets, and wheelchairs can be borrowed.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Amesbury

Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury

Photo: Antony McCallum: Who is the uploader, photographer, full copyright owner and pro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Salisbury

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in Britain and holds the best preserved of the four original 1215 copies of Magna Carta in its Chapter House. It is set in a wide Cathedral Close of lawns and historic houses, with the Refectory Restaurant beside the cloisters.

The cathedral floor, Chapter House, cloisters, restaurant, shop and toilets are all wheelchair accessible, three wheelchairs can be borrowed, and there are disabled parking spaces in the Close.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Salisbury

The Salisbury Museum, Salisbury

Photo: SalisburyMuseum1, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Salisbury

The Salisbury Museum

The Salisbury Museum is in the King's House in the Cathedral Close, with the Wessex Gallery of archaeology, including finds from around Stonehenge, and displays on the history of Salisbury. There is a café.

The ground floor galleries have level access, there is a wheelchair to reserve, an accessible toilet and a Blue Badge space by the door, and an accompanying adult goes free.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Companion free with a disabled visitor

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Salisbury

Old Sarum, Salisbury

Photo: MARKEDWARDS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Salisbury

Old Sarum

Old Sarum is the great earthwork on the edge of Salisbury where the first city and cathedral stood, with the ruins of a Norman castle and the outline of the old cathedral. It gives wide views over Salisbury and its spire.

The ramparts and ruins are on grass and uneven ground, so the carer can plan a short visit to the inner bailey and its views, and the shop currently has step access only.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Salisbury

Lacock Abbey and Village, Lacock

Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Lacock

Lacock Abbey and Village

Lacock Abbey is a former nunnery turned country house, where William Henry Fox Talbot made one of the earliest photographs, with a museum of photography by the gate. The National Trust village around it has timber framed cottages, tea rooms and a medieval tithe barn.

The village streets are close to the car park and have tea rooms, so the carer can plan a gentle loop of the village and the abbey grounds.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Lacock

Stourhead, Stourton

Photo: Hamburg103a, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Stourton

Stourhead

Stourhead is a National Trust estate near Mere with a celebrated 18th century landscape garden laid out around a lake, with classical temples, a grotto and a Palladian bridge. The Palladian house holds furniture and paintings, and there is a café and farm shop by the visitor centre.

The circuit of the lake is the main draw, so the carer can plan a short stretch along the water from the village end and a stop at the Spread Eagle inn or café.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Stourton

Avebury, Avebury

Photo: MikPeach, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Avebury

Avebury

Avebury is the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world, with the village built partly inside it, and the stones can be walked among freely. The National Trust also runs Avebury Manor, the Alexander Keiller Museum and a café in the village.

The stones are free to see and some stand close to the village, so your parent can walk among them without a long walk, with the café nearby.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free outside, paid inside

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Avebury

Caen Hill Locks, Devizes

Photo: Arpingstone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Devizes

Caen Hill Locks

Caen Hill is one of the longest continuous flights of locks in the country, with 29 locks rising 237 feet over two miles on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Devizes. The central 16 locks climb the hill in a straight line and are a scheduled ancient monument.

Watching the boats work through the locks from the bottom of the flight needs very little walking, and it is free to visit.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Devizes

Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn, Bradford on Avon

Photo: Mark Anderson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Bradford on Avon

Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn

The Tithe Barn at Bradford on Avon is a huge 14th century stone barn with a remarkable timber roof, built to store the produce of Shaftesbury Abbey's estate. It stands beside the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal, a short walk from the old town.

It is free to go in and a single large room, so the visit is short, and the canal towpath and cafés of Bradford on Avon are close by.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Bradford on Avon

Regular groups and events in Wiltshire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Wiltshire.

  • Dancing · ChippenhamChippenham Folk FestivalA long running spring folk festival with dance displays, ceilidhs and folk dance sessions across the town. A carer can pick one or two afternoon displays to watch from a seat rather than attempting a full day.Details
  • DancingInclusive seated dance sessionA creative group for older adults, people with dementia and their carers, combining a seated dance session with crafts and lunch. A carer can attend alongside, which is how the group is set up to work.Details
  • Photography · SalisburySalisbury Photography ClubA local club with regular meetings, talks and competitions for photographers of all levels. A carer can help with transport to evening meetings and with printing or loading images before a club night.Details
  • Painting · DevizesLawrence Art Society annual exhibitionAn annual exhibition of members' paintings held at Devizes Town Hall by a long established local art society. A carer can take someone along to see the show, or help them work towards submitting a piece.Details
  • Reading · MarlboroughMarlborough LitFestAn annual literature festival in Marlborough with author talks and events across the town each autumn. A carer can book one afternoon event, sort the parking and collect a signed book afterwards.Details
  • Sports · ChippenhamNorth Wiltshire Indoor and Outdoor Bowls ClubA club offering both indoor and outdoor bowls, so play carries on through the winter. A carer can drive someone to sessions and carry the woods, leaving them to play and socialise.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Wiltshire

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
StonehengeAmesburyhalf a dayPaid entryAskYesAsk
Salisbury CathedralSalisburyhalf a dayPaid entryAskYesYes
The Salisbury MuseumSalisburyan hour or twoPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Old SarumSalisburyan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Lacock Abbey and VillageLacockhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
StourheadStourtonhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
AveburyAveburyhalf a dayFree outside, paid insideAskAskAsk
Caen Hill LocksDevizesan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Bradford-on-Avon Tithe BarnBradford on Avonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Wiltshire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

AmesburyCrickladeMarlboroughCalneMalmesburyWarminsterLudgershall123456789
  1. 1Stonehenge, Amesbury
  2. 2Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury
  3. 3The Salisbury Museum, Salisbury
  4. 4Old Sarum, Salisbury
  5. 5Lacock Abbey and Village, Lacock
  6. 6Stourhead, Stourton
  7. 7Avebury, Avebury
  8. 8Caen Hill Locks, Devizes
  9. 9Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn, Bradford on Avon

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Wiltshire

Carers in Wiltshire charge £19 to £23 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £21, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £84 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Wiltshire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Wiltshire

Stonehenge in Amesbury, Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, The Salisbury Museum in Salisbury, Old Sarum in Salisbury, Lacock Abbey and Village in Lacock, Stourhead in Stourton, Avebury in Avebury, Caen Hill Locks in Devizes and Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn in Bradford on Avon. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and The Salisbury Museum have an accessible toilet. Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and The Salisbury Museum lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Avebury (outside free, inside paid), Caen Hill Locks and Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 39 of the carers with a rate near Wiltshire drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £21 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Wiltshire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Wiltshire

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Wiltshire

Days out in the areas around Wiltshire

Companionship care by town in Wiltshire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Wiltshire

See carers near Wiltshire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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