Turn off the A4 Heritage Trail at Calne, into the St Mary’s Car Park, and you will find yourself in the epicentre of Calne’s upmarket Heritage Quarter.
This is the quaint area of Calne where you will find beautiful, historic buildings, cobbled streets, blue plaque buildings and mini wharfs where the ducks play merrily. The atmosphere is quintessentially English, instantly transporting you back to a bygone era when people cared about people and everyone you pass greets you with a polite and friendly ‘Good day’.
From St Mary’s Car Park, you can visit the adjacent Heritage Centre to learn more about the fascinating journey that Calne has been on to get to where it is today and why the area is blessed with so many historic buildings and churches.
Once you’ve swotted up on your history, you can start your journey though the Heritage Quarter where you will be amazed to find so many interesting and unique shops selling everything from ladies clothing to latte, from paint to pampering sessions and from pet supplies to cakes and gifts! Even HOUSES
(Atwell Martin is situated here too).
These smaller, independent shops specialise in delivering top quality products with special emphasis on supreme and personal customer service. If you find internet shopping soulless and confusing, you will enjoy your visit to Calne where you will be served by helpful and knowledgeable human beings who understand their products and pride themselves on giving their customers a first class shopping experience.
Start with a meander through the quaint St Mary’s Courtyard where you will find a delightful café, Sampaguita’s. Here Tess and her team will serve you with a delicious variety of British and Asian food and welcoming beverages, always with a smile. Soak up the atmosphere as you sit in the courtyard and enjoy Tess’ hospitality. You can also get a new hairstyle in Courtyard Creative, at the skilled hands of Nikki and Jo before popping into Real PaintBox where you can choose the perfect paint colours first time, every time, with a little help and guidance from Nikki and Sam when needed. Stockists for Dulux Trade and Little Greene, as well as the ever popular Chalk paint, Real PaintBox supplies everything you need for your next decorating project. Whilst there, you can browse the latest collection of beautiful homeware – always easy on the eye AND easy on the pocket too!
Once on Church Street you are met by the impressive Grade l listed St Mary’s Church which towers protectively over this delightful Heritage Quarter. If you’re lucky, the campanologists will be ringing their bells, instilling an even greater sense of ‘times gone by’ and market town charm as you turn left into Juniper’s Ladieswear. Here, Jan and Caroline are happy to provide specialist styling advice so that you get the look you want when choosing from their great designer labels including Birkenstock, French Connection, Mint, Fenn Wright Manson, Noa Noa, Part Two, Unisa and White Stuff.
Further down Church Street you will find The Flying Pig Cake Emporium where Cathie and Annie will be busily adding the finishing touches to their latest Celebration Creations. Their talent for cake decorating skills are exemplary and they are always on hand to offer free consultations on your celebratory cake requirements in between running their very popular cake decorating parties – a real winner for children and adults of all ages.
Keep on going and you will come to Woman to Woman & The Male Perspective. Established in 1993, the clinic specialises in Advanced Beauty Solutions, providing non invasive, high tech treatments for the removal of unwanted hair, thread veins, fat reduction and anti ageing facial skin tightening, rather uniquely for both women and men.
Past Woman to Woman and you arrive at Pamplemouse, where Christine and her team are waiting to style your hair, pamper Brides on their special day, as well as their famous nail treatments and waxing services.
Next stop on your tour list is Withstyle Embroidery. Here Liz can embroider or print your chosen design onto clothing and accessories including workwear, schoolwear, sportswear as well as clothing for Stag / Hen parties!
Continuing your wander down Church Street and it’s impossible to resist going into Simply Flowers. Bryony’s talent for window dressing and flower arranging is evident in here magnificent displays that are constantly changing and never fail to impress. With flowers for all occasions, she also supplies balloons, baskets and sundries.
Carry on towards the traffic lights and you will come across The Gift Box, brimming with inspirational present ideas, fine jewellery and cards for all occasions. Next door are Atwell Martin’s Estate Agents who, with over 20 years’ experience of moving people, will be able to help you whether you’re looking to sell, buy or rent in the local area.
Just the other side of the traffic lights you can pop into the furniture showroom of Just Loved Furniture, run by Luke who skilfully renovates all sorts of interesting pieces of furniture including antiques. Next door you can treat yourself to a special bottle of wine from our very own local vineyard, Maud Heath from the New Wine Shop, before crossing back over the road and nipping into Bazaar – a complete treasure trove, jam packed with a wide range of exciting products. Whether you want a treat for yourself or a gift for a loved one, you’re sure to find something of interest in here. Heading back towards the Church, up on Beach Terrace and overlooking the ‘ducks personal water slalom’, you will find Johnson Daltry Funeral Directors, Real Hair and Faye’s Bistro. Faye specialises in serving up delicious dishes using fresh, high quality, locally sourced ingredients.
Back on Church Street, the quaint building on the corner with the blue windows is the only dedicated pet shop in Calne. Here, Julia’s extensive knowledge is on hand to guide you through the myriad of natural and special foods and supplies for your pampered pouches and fussy felines, as well as bird, fish and reptile supplies.
Cross back over the street, past the entrance to St Mary’s Courtyard and you will see one of life’s essentials, Calne Appliances. With a wealth of knowledge on all things electrical, Stuart stocks and services electrical products ranging from vacuum cleaners to table lamps and irons.
Continue your journey up Church Street and you will find Paul at Aladdins Cave Art – literally an Aladdin’s Cave of art materials and craft supplies including paint, pastels, easels, cases and brushes.
Further on, Sarah is waiting to beautify you at her health and beauty salon, English Rose. Here, Sarah’s team of qualified beauty technicians are trained in all manner of treatments to enhance the mind, body and spirit, designed to make you feel special.
Walk on up the street and you will come to The White Hart pub – a great watering hole. Walk round to the side and you will find Calne Antiques where you can choose and order made to measure furniture in solid wood with hand painted or waxed finishes, plus kitchens and a large range of antique pine furniture. Constantly changing stock means it’s always worth a visit.
Walking back down past the White Hart and taking a right, you can meander across The Green (another peaceful trip back in time). As you get to the Church take a right down The Proclamation Steps, through the Co-op car park, over the bridge and you are at the top of town by Sainsburys. Once here there’s more delights in store including M & S mini market, Pure Indulgence sweets and toys, cafes, Goldmans fabrics, blinds, carpets and flooring, Butfield Breach Estate Agents and Charles Faye Estate Agents Odette’s Funeral Directors, plus a whole lot more.
So why not treat yourself to a trip to Calne today and experience this shopping haven where you will find service with a smile at sensible prices all dished up in tranquil surroundings that make shopping a treat.