Two Stunning Wiltshire Towns Could Soon Be a Direct Train Ride from London

Campaigners in Wiltshire are pushing to bring back direct train services from London to Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon — which would make these two picture-perfect market towns dramatically easier for Londoners to reach on a day trip.

【Buffet】Macau Londoner Hamper Court Dinner Buffet

Available tomorrow

HKD 531 Start

Book now

Wiltshire is best known for ancient landmarks — Stonehenge and the enormous Westbury White Horse carved into an Iron Age hillside spring to mind. But tucked away in this corner of southwest England are some truly gorgeous old towns, and two of the finest could soon have their London rail link restored.

The routes that previously connected Trowbridge and Bradford-on-Avon to London Waterloo were scrapped back in 2021. Travellers currently face a change at Salisbury or Southampton, with total journey times clocking in around two hours. Now, South Western Railway (SWR) has launched a passenger consultation on service changes — and local rail advocates are seizing the moment. The West Wiltshire Rail User Group is pushing for two existing SWR services to be joined up: the Bradford-on-Avon/Trowbridge–Salisbury run and the Salisbury–London Waterloo connection. They argue the move would come with minimal additional costs.

Wiltshire Council has said it would "strongly welcome" the direct link, which would give commuters easy capital access while opening up west Wiltshire's prettiest towns to London day-trippers.

【Attraction Tickets】London Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Bus

Available tomorrow

HKD 245 Start

Book now

So what awaits at the other end? Bradford-on-Avon is a Georgian gem, its streets dotted with historic weavers' cottages and its riverbank lined with 19th-century cloth mills. Beyond the heritage architecture, you'll find independent boutiques, cosy pubs, riverside cafés and a thriving food scene. Trowbridge, the county town once famed for its woollen cloth industry, counters with generous green spaces and a fascinating textile museum — housed in a former mill and tracing 1,000 years of local history. Both are well worth the journey, especially if it becomes a direct one.

【Attraction Tickets】Greenwich Royal Observatory London Ticket

Available tomorrow

HKD 79 Start

Book now