38 #timeforwiltshire
IT’S TIME to hit the shops! Over 100 stores to choose from. A huge range of high street and designer labels. Up to 60% off recommended retail prices… McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon makes a great day out for all the family. From Build-A-Bear to Hugo Boss, John Lewis to Ernest Jones, Samsonite to Superdry, you’ll find them all here. Plus cafés, restaurants and children’s activities. All housed in the tastefully converted Grade II listed buildings of Brunel’s former Great Western Railway works. Not far geographically, but a million miles away in atmosphere, our award for the most unusual shopping location goes to… Avebury! Maybe not the first place you’d think of when planning to unleash your credit card. Yet here, within the world’s largest prehistoric stone circle, you’ll find not one, but two charming businesses: The Henge Shop and Elements of Avebury. Elsewhere around Wiltshire, numerous small, family-run outlets continue to thrive. Offering a relaxed and unhurried shopping experience as they’ve been doing for generations. In Devizes, for example. Malmesbury. Or Tisbury – which more than makes up for its lack of size with a unique selection of interesting, independent shops. For stylish stores in a cosmopolitan setting, the quintessentially English towns of Marlborough and Bradford on Avon are popular choices. As is Corsham, where many of the Bath stone buildings on High Street are independent businesses, providing irresistible retail opportunities. In Swindon, as well as the Designer Outlet, you can choose between the traditional stores of Old Town and shopping malls in the modern city centre. As befits a county famous for its local produce there are farm shops aplenty. Allington Farm Shop near Chippenham, Neston Park Farm Shop near Melksham, and Berwick Farm Shop near Salisbury. While cask and bottled beer can be bought from the Box Steam Brewery near Trowbridge. In Salisbury you’ll find galleries, studios and workshops at Fisherton Mill, classic and contemporary menswear at Chas H Baker and fine lingerie at Annie’s Just Jane. Head to Regent Tailoring for timeless design with British heritage at its core. Or Roly’s Fudge Pantry for the ultimate in indulgent treats. In Malmesbury you can bid for your chosen lots at Hillditch auction house. While PA Oxley near Calne is a treasure trove of antique clocks and barometers. Wiltshire is home to an outstanding range of markets, around the county and throughout the year. Indoor, outdoor and farmers’ markets… continental and Christmas markets… vintage, artisan and foodie markets… we’ve got them all. What better way to spend an hour or two than browsing the many stalls, where every imaginable item is on offer. First prize for the longest running market goes to Trowbridge, Wiltshire’s county town, where stallholders have been trading since the year 1200. These days, it’s on a Wednesday. Hot on its heels, history-wise, is Salisbury’s Charter Market, which has been coming to the city on Tuesdays and Saturdays (except the third Tuesday in October) for nigh on 800 years. Other bustling market towns include Amesbury (Wednesday), Bradford on Avon (Thursday), Calne (Friday), Chippenham (Friday and Saturday), Corsham (Tuesday), Devizes (Thursday), Highworth (Saturday), Marlborough (Wednesday and Saturday), Melksham (Tuesday), Pewsey (Tuesday), Royal Wootton Bassett (Wednesday), Swindon (Monday-Saturday), Warminster (Friday), Wilton (Thursday) and Wroughton (Friday). Up-to-date details of these and other markets can be found at visitwiltshire.co.uk/markets So, with designer brands and high street names, independent outlets and shopping malls, farm shops and markets, Wiltshire offers a great all-round shopping experience. > Malmesbury > Neston Farm Shop > The Shires Shopping Centre, Trowbridge > Bradford on Avon > Regent Tailoring > Marlborough visitwiltshire.co.uk 39