History of Wilton
Wilton, an ancient capital of Wessex, is a quintessential English market town redolent with history spanning more than 2000 years. The town gave its name to Wiltshire and the famous Wilton Carpets, which are still made here today.
Wilton lies 3 miles west of Salisbury, located at the confluence of the Wylye and Nadder rivers and has a number of independent shops. Market day is Thursday and, with free parking and cash points, you have easy access to the wide range of traditional family - owned shops, pubs, cafés and other services. Within a short walk of the Market Square and Old St Mary's Church, you will find the famous Italianate Church and a delightful river walk along the Wylye, running from St John's Square through the St Mary's RuinFlouse Hole conservation area to Castle Meadow.
With Wilton House and the Wilton Shopping Village, Wilton offers a unique and varied day out for families of all ages.
The History of Wilton - timeline
Town trail
Discover more about the history of Wilton as you walk around our lovely old Town, using our informative town map. You can purchase the map at one of our Town Map Boards in the Market Square, or at the Wilton Village Shopping Centre for just £1.
The Town Trail takes about an hour and you can stop off at the many shops, cafes or pubs on the route to extend your stay in our delightful town.