Tickets can be booked in advance for this informative museum, which helps visitors make sense of the known history behind Wiltshire’s mysterious prehistoric sites. Its convenient location—between Stonehenge and Avebury—makes it the ideal complement to a visit to either of these UNESCO-listed sites. Explore permanent galleries covering Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, and Saxon histories, as well as the local history of Devizes. Special temporary exhibitions focus on art and other curated selections from the museum collection.
Wiltshire Museum is located in the town of Devizes, about a 30-minute drive from Stonehenge. Buses run from nearby railway stations in Bath, Swindon, Salisbury, and Trowbridge, and stop at Devizes’ Market Square, about a 5-minute walk from the museum entrance.
Opening hours and days vary depending on the season, so check them in advance of your visit. Weekends are busiest so go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Start on the ground floor, where galleries document the Roman, Iron Age, medieval, and prehistoric history of Wiltshire. See items unearthed during archaeological digs in the local area, such as ceramics, tools, and jewelry, as well as reconstructions of prehistoric sites. The second story hosts exhibitions on the Saxon era, the story of Devizes, and various artworks, which typically have a local connection and often include representations of the Wiltshire landscape.