Wiltshire

Wiltshire (/ˈwɪlt.ʃər, -ʃɪr/; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east and south, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to the west. The largest settlement is Swindon.

The county has an area of 3,485 km² (1,346 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 767,575 in 2024. The county is mostly rural, and the centre and south-west are sparsely populated. Swindon is located in the north-east, and the county's other major settlements include the city of Salisbury in the south-east and the towns of Trowbridge and Chippenham in the west. For local government purposes, the county comprises two unitary authority areas, Swindon and Wiltshire.

The north-west of Wiltshire is part of the limestone Cotswolds, and the remainder of the county is characterised by chalk downlands. The Marlborough Downs lie in the north-east of the county and encompass Savernake Forest. To their south is the Vale of Pewsey, south of which, in the centre of the county, is Salisbury Plain. The south-west contains the West Wiltshire Downs, to the south of which is the Vale of Wardour, and the far south comprises part of Cranborne Chase. The south-east contains part of the New Forest. The county's two major rivers are both called the Avon. The northern Avon enters the county in the north-west and flows south-westward before exiting near Bradford-on-Avon, its vale separating the Cotswolds from the rest of the county. The southern Avon rises on Salisbury Plain and flows south through Salisbury, then into Hampshire. Much of the county is protected: the Marlborough Downs, West Wiltshire Downs, Vale of Wardour, Cranbourne Chase, and the Cotswolds are each part of national landscapes, and the New Forest is a national park.

Salisbury Plain is noted for the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles, which together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as other ancient landmarks. Much of the plain is a training area for the British Army. Salisbury is notable for its medieval cathedral. Large country houses open to the public include Longleat, which also features a safari park, and the National Trust's Stourhead.