Local Favourites near Glebe House
A few of our favourite places, right on the doorstep
One of the things we love most about Glebe House is how much there is close by. You can walk to the village pub, head straight into the countryside from the back gate, or be in Wilton or Salisbury within minutes.
These are some of the places we find ourselves recommending again and again — from country pubs and independent cafés to a few favourite spots for families.
Country pubs we love
The Barford Inn
Our very local pub — and one of the great pleasures of staying at Glebe House. It’s right here in the village, so you can wander down for a drink, lunch or supper without having to get in the car.
A characterful 16th-century coaching inn with a large garden and freshly cooked pub food. Recent guests have particularly loved having such a good village pub so close to the house.
The Pembroke Arms
A relaxed favourite in nearby Wilton, opposite Wilton House. Great for lunch or supper, with Nole’s sourdough pizzas making it particularly good for an easy family meal.
The Compasses Inn
Tucked away down the lanes at Chicksgrove, this is the atmospheric country pub you hope to stumble across on a Wiltshire weekend.
The Queen’s Head
A lovely village pub in Broad Chalke, in the heart of the Chalke Valley. A great one to combine with a walk or trip through the valley.
The Beckford Arms
Set on the Fonthill Estate and one for a slightly more special lunch or dinner. Beautiful surroundings and particularly good for a long, leisurely lunch.
Coffee, cake & something a little different
The Stalls Café
One of our favourite local spots, tucked away in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside at Strang Manor Farm and only around 10 minutes from Glebe House.
Set in a gorgeous converted barn, The Stalls serves proper barista coffee and really delicious food, whether you’re stopping in for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake or an ice cream on a sunny day. It’s relaxed, friendly and particularly lovely when the weather is good, with the countryside all around you.
It’s the sort of place we find ourselves returning to again and again — and one we’re always very happy to recommend to guests.
Fisherton Mill
Part café, part gallery and part collection of artists’ studios, Fisherton Mill is one of Salisbury’s independent gems. The café is particularly good for lunch or coffee and cake, and you can wander through the gallery and working artists’ studios while you’re there. A lovely one to combine with a morning exploring Salisbury.
Ansty PYO & Farm Shop
A brilliant local find, especially with children. This family-run farm combines seasonal pick-your-own fruit, a lovely little playground and an excellent café, all against the beautiful backdrop of the Wiltshire hills.
It’s a very easy way to spend a couple of hours — pick some fruit, let the children play, then stop for lunch, coffee and cake before heading home.
What there is to pick changes with the seasons, so it’s always worth checking what’s available before you go.
Wilton House & Grounds
One of our absolute favourites, and just a short drive from Glebe House. While the historic house itself is well worth exploring, particularly for those interested in its art and history, for families the grounds are the real highlight.
There’s an incredible adventure playground built amongst the trees, acres of beautiful grounds to explore, trees to climb and dens to discover. In the warmer months, children can paddle and swim in the river — so pack swimsuits and towels on a sunny day!
The café is excellent too, making it very easy to spend much longer here than you intended. Wilton House also runs events throughout the year, so it’s always worth checking what’s on during your stay.
Other brilliant playgrounds nearby
Barford St Martin playground & playing field
The village has its own playground and sports field — perfect when younger guests simply need to burn off some energy without turning it into a whole day out.
There’s plenty of open space for kicking a ball around, and because it’s so close to Glebe House it’s an easy option before supper or at the end of a day out. Dogs can come along too.
Broad Chalke Playground
A fantastic playground that’s well worth the short drive, with something for children of all ages. There’s a dedicated area for little ones, including toddlers, as well as a much bigger playground for older children with a zip wire, stand-up seesaw, roundabout and plenty more to explore.
Alongside the playground is a large playing field with football goals and a cricket net, so there’s lots of space to run around too. It’s a brilliant one for families with children of different ages.
Walks & exploring from our door
Glebe House is brilliantly placed for getting outdoors, with footpaths, woodland and miles of countryside to explore straight from the house. Head up towards Grovely Woods, with its beautiful long avenues and network of tracks — perfect for walking, running and mountain biking.
If you’re bringing bikes, you’re very welcome to store them in the garage during your stay. You will need to bring your own bike locks.
You’ll find some of our favourite suggested walks in the welcome guide when you arrive, from shorter wanders to longer routes. Or simply head out of the back gate and see where the paths take you.
And there’s plenty more…
These are just a few of the places we love locally. You’ll find more recommendations in our guest guide when you arrive, including favourite walks, farm shops, family activities and some of the lesser-known places we think are worth knowing about.