Malmesbury

Malmesbury is a historic market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is situated on a hill overlooking the River Avon in the northern part of the county, near the edge of the Cotswolds. The town’s defining landmark is Malmesbury Abbey, which was founded in the 7th century by Saint Aldhelm. The abbey developed into an important religious and learning center in the medieval period, and its church remains a prominent feature of the town.

Historically, Malmesbury grew up around the abbey and attracted merchants, craftsmen and pilgrims. It became a thriving medieval market town, with trade in wool and agricultural produce, and it retains a compact historic core of narrow lanes and market spaces.

Today Malmesbury preserves its market-town character while serving as a local service centre for surrounding villages. It has a small resident population and a range of shops, pubs and visitor facilities. The town is governed as a civil parish within Wiltshire Council. For rail travel, the nearest station is Kemble on the Great Western Main Line, with road connections linked to the A429 and surrounding routes.