Malmesbury

Malmesbury abbey survived the test of time rather well, with only parts of it ruined.

Malmesbury is a charming little town in the Southern Cotswolds. Once a flourishing market town and centre for education, it's an attractive destination for travellers today. It lays claims to the title of oldest borough in England and the grand Malmesbury Abbey is a great reminder of this town's former glory.

Get in

By car

The main road into town is the A429, which connects to the M4. Other main routes nearby are the A433 and the A419, which are connected to Malmesbury via smaller local roads.

By train

If you're looking to get here by train, you'll need to go to nearby Chippenham (which is your best connection to Bristol), Kemble (for the line to Stroud) or Swindon (for London Paddington.)

By bus

Local bus company lines from Andybus, Ad-Rains and Cotswold Green run to and from Swindon, Cirencester, Chippenham, Stroud and Tetbury, where you can connect to national bus lines.

See

The town has managed to preserve its historical atmosphere, not only through its main sights but also in its general street views. The main monumental structures are:

• 1 Malmesbury Abbey, Gloucester St, SN16 0AA, ☏ +44 1666 826666. 9AM-5PM in summer, 9AM-4PM in winter. Built as a Benedictine monastery as early as 676AD, this massive religious structure is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. It managed to survive pretty much from its first establishment through to the rumbling times of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Then, in 1539, Henry VIII sold the premise to William Stumpe, who used the buildings for his cloth-weaving business. He did however return the abbey church to the town of Malmesbury to serve as a parish church: a function it fulfils still today. Free, although a gift of £5-10 is suggested for restoration and utility costs. (updated Sep 2017)
• Tower House, Oxford Street. Although the exact history of this place this remarkable house originates in medieval times. In the 1840s, its owner, a doctor with a strong interest in astronomy, gave the house its distinctive tower. 
• 2 Market Cross. Malmesbury's late 15th-century Market Cross is one of the best preserved examples of such a structure in England. Traditional in market towns, the market cross would indicated the place of the market. It can't be missed, right in the centre of town. This one is said to be built with limestone from shortly before ruined parts of the abbey.  
• 3 Athelstan Museum, Cross Hayes, Malmesbury SN16 9BZ, ☏ +44 1666 829258, info@athelstanmuseum.org.uk. Summer: daily 10:30AM-4:30PM; Winter (Oct to end-Mar): M-Sa 10:30AM-4:30PM, Su 11:30AM-3:30PM. (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep

• 1 Old Bell Hotel, Abbey Row, ☏ +44 1666 822344. 33-room hotel which has been in operation since 1220. Singles £92.50, doubles £120-250 bed and breakfast.  
• The Horse Guards, Brokenborough, ☏ +44 1666 822302. (updated Apr 2016)
• 2 Whatley Manor, Easton Grey SN16 0RB, ☏ +44 1666 822888. Superb splurge hotel and spa, great service, comfort and dining. No children under 12. B&B double £250. (updated Jun 2020)
• 3 Rectory Hotel, Crudwell SN16 9EP, ☏ +44 1666 577194. Stylish hotel in Georgian country house, creative cuisine. B&B double £150. (updated Jun 2020)

Go next

Routes through Malmesbury

Cirencester ← Kemble ←

NE  SE

→ Hullavington → merges with and (Chippenham)