Chippenham offers two different ways to discover the town: history in historic buildings and the museum, and routes along the River Avon and through the park. Yelde Hall, Chippenham Museum and the Railway Viaduct represent different chapters in the town’s history; the North Wiltshire Rivers Route and John Coles Park offer reasons to spend time outdoors. When planning a stay, you can weigh up whether to focus on cultural sites or on cycling and walks.
History in buildings and collections
Yelde Hall, dating from the 15th century, is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Chippenham. Over the course of its history, it served as a guildhall, council chamber, armoury, fire station, prison and bank, as well as a tourist information centre, museum, gallery and theatre. Chippenham Museum is housed in an 18th-century townhouse and tells the story of the historic market town from its prehistoric origins to the present day. Its collection comprises almost 35,000 objects relating to Chippenham and the surrounding towns and villages. This places the history of a single building alongside the development of the town as a whole.
Two other structures also point to different periods: Chippenham Railway Viaduct opened in 1841 and was built mainly by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. St Andrew’s Church in Chippenham was built between 1100 and 1200. If you are interested in architectural and urban history, you can use these dates as different historical reference points when planning your trip.
The River Avon, cycling route and park
The River Avon runs through the centre of Chippenham. The North Wiltshire Rivers Route (NCN403) passes through the town along the river. It connects to the Millenium cycleway; the link between Chippenham and Calne can be used for walking, jogging and cycling. The River Route & Cycleway is accessible from Chippenham station via Monkton Park.
John Coles Park offers another way to spend time outdoors. It has a large open space and a circular route through mature trees. The format is a practical difference when choosing between the options: the link between Chippenham and Calne can be used on foot, for jogging or by bike, while the park route loops through the trees. This gives you both a route between two places and a circuit within a green space.
Performances and planning your visit
The Neeld offers performances for all ages. It is fully accessible via the entrance on Borough Parade or the Town Hall entrance on High Street. It is a five-minute walk from both Chippenham’s main railway station and bus station. This can help when planning a visit to The Neeld and deciding which of the two venues to use for your journey.
The Arc offers bouldering, roped climbing and auto belays. No booking or course completion is required for bouldering; equipment can be hired on site. Check the visitor arrangements before you travel. Alongside the historic attractions, the town also offers a climbing centre with several types of climbing.
Chippenham Museum is open Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm; admission is free. Check the opening hours before you travel. Alongside the town’s history and outdoor activities, this can help you decide which stops will shape your stay in Chippenham.
Discover more destinations: Alveston, Hinton, Bitton, Westerleigh, Petty France, Tortworth, Badminton, Hambrook.
For the main travel overview: South Gloucestershire.
