What to do near Warminster?

Miró

Thanks to the cheapo Travelodge deal we have 3 nights booked in Warminster from Thurs 13th Jan and would appreciate any ideas on things to do/see/visit in the area. (2 adults with car, travelling from the north) So far we have Longleat, Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bath on our list of possibilities but as we have visited those places in the past does anyone with local knowledge have any other suggestions?? (Quite fancy a trip to the south coast?) We like the usual stuff...meandering/museums/galleries/historic stuff/shopping/country walking and just generally pootling about.

Also looking for decent places to eat in the evening...we usually go a bit mad and have one 'posh' meal...(is Bishopstrow House any good??)

Many thanks, in advance, for any help.....:)

Sooler

Monkey World, the chimpanzee rescue centre, based in Wareham, Dorset, UK, Rescue and Rehabilitation of primates world wide
www.monkeyworld.org
Lulworth Cove - http://www.lulworthonline.co.uk/
Clarkes Village at Street - http://www.clarksvillage.co.uk/
Glastonbury Tor - http://www.glastonburytor.org.uk/

p00hsticks

Dorchester has a number of nice little museums that are interesting if slightly bizarre - if I recall correctly, there is one with some (very good) replicas of terracotta army figures,
http://www.terracottawarriors.co.uk/

with a teddy bear museum upstairs (!),
http://www.teddybearmuseum.co.uk/

then another with replicas of items from the Tutankhamen tomb,
http://www.tutankhamun-exhibition.co.uk/

with a further one around the corner featuring replica mummies.
http://www.mummiesexhibition.co.uk/

And also a dinosaur museum .....
http://www.thedinosaurmuseum.com/

They're all within walking distance of each other, and I think you can get discounts on admission if you visit more than one...

lnjk

http://www.longleat.co.uk/

Hewie29

If you are a National Trust member, there is Stourhead not far from Warminster, always worth a walk round or King Alfreds Tower, which has a nice walk and you only have to pay for tower, not sure if you can go up this time of year though. Also Shaftesbury is quite a nice little town and also boasts the famous gold hill, where the hovis advert was filmed. Test your legs out by taking a walk up it.

Hewie29

Also if you are heading to Dorchester, carry on a bit further and head down to Weymouth, beach is lovely, even this time of year, and also pleny of shops to have a wander round too and plenty of places to eat.

juliapa

I personally wouldn't go there - kids went round in 5 mins - poor displays

See Trip advisor for reviews before wasting your money.

I don't think Longleat is open in Jan. Bath isn't far to go - lovely walks along the river and/or canal at Bradford on Avon.

Salisbury or Wells cathedrals are worth visiting.

jfdi

Wookey Hole (my very favourite cave!).

http://www.wookey.co.uk/

davehills

How far would you be prepared to travel?

Paultons Park is about an hour from Warminster: www.paultonspark.co.uk/

Marwell Zoo about an hour and a half: www.marwell.org.uk/
There's also Farmer Giles: www.farmergiles.co.uk/ and Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm: www.choldertoncharliesfarm.com

There's also the New Forest for Walks/Cycle rides. You could include a visit to Southampton to see the cruise ships or Hythe to travel the historic pier railway and take a boat trip. Beaulieu motor museum is worth a visit too.

If driving through Salisbury/Ringwood then the local In-Excess store is worth a visit, if you are into money saving! http://www.in-excess.com/

davehills

jfdi wrote: »

Wookey Hole (my very favourite cave!).

http://www.wookey.co.uk/

yes, and Cheddar gorge too!

p00hsticks

juliapa wrote: »

I personally wouldn't go there - kids went round in 5 mins - poor displays

I must admit I haven't personally been to the Dinosaur museum.

We did go to the Tutankhamen and Terracotta Army ones and enjoyed them although I think people should be made aware that they a) are very small - just a few rooms and b) only contain replica items - the blurb is a bit OTT.

Having said that, we thought the replicas were very good (the half a dozen full size terracotta army figures were aparently made by the people in China who are also working on the restoration of the originals) and well presented (the Tutankhamen has a complete replica of the antechamber as it was when discovered by Carter).

I think we must have had some sort of 2-4-1 offer or similar as I only recall them costing a few quid in admission.