Malmesbury is an ancient market town, dating from the fifth century, and a place of pilgimage since the early times of Christianity in Britain. The town is the oldest borough in England, having been granted its charter by King Edward, son of Alfred the Great, in 924. The first king of all England, King Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great, made Malmesbury his capital in AD925. Malmesbury also boasts having England's oldest hotel, the Old Bell has been offering bed and board since 1220.
The town offers a wealth of 17th and 18th century buildings, many of which are now host to bright and friendly shops and inns. The town is famous for its 7th century abbey and the Abbey Gardens including its extensive collection of roses. With the abbey as dramatic backdrop its five acres feature more than 10,000 plant varieties spread between formal gardens dotted with fish ponds and a wilder section that cascades into a valley cut through by a tributary of the River Avon.
