Malmesbury: Museums, Exhibitions & Discounts

Malmesbury is a historic market town in Wiltshire, England, known for being one of England's oldest boroughs. The town is built on a hilltop position and is almost completely surrounded by the River Avon.

Malmesbury's most prominent feature is its former Benedictine monastery, Malmesbury Abbey, which dates back to the 7th century and was once one of Europe's most important seats of learning. Today, while partially ruined, the Abbey remains an impressive architectural landmark and continues to serve as a parish church.

The town retains much of its medieval character with narrow streets, historic stone buildings, and the Market Cross, considered one of the best-preserved of its kind in England. Malmesbury has a rich cultural heritage, being the birthplace of notable historical figures including Eilmer, the flying monk who attempted one of the first recorded human flights in the 11th century, and Thomas Hobbes, the influential 17th-century philosopher.