Shopping & Commercial Life

Chippenham enjoys a reputation as a flourishing and lively Market Town, with a compact centre and thriving commercial life. The majority of shops open 7 days a week. The main shopping areas are on and adjacent to the High Street, Market Place and The Causeway and The Bridge, New Road and Hathaway Retail Park.

The pedestrianised High Street and Market Place contain a number of important nationals, including Wilkinsons, Boots The Chemist, W.H. Smith, Birthdays,  Superdrug, Burton Menswear, Millets and Vodafone.

The enclosed Emery Gate Shopping Centre and open air Borough Parade Shopping Centre lie on either side of the High Street.

Emery Gate's 24 units include a major Tesco Metro Store, Bon Marche, Clarks, Curry's, Dorothy Perkins, F Hinds Jewellers, Gilesports, Papertree, Peacocks and Julian Graves Ltd. Parking is on two levels and can be reached either from the Causeway and Market Place via Emery Lane, or from the Town Bridge via the slip road alongside Wilkinsons.

The 26-unit Borough Parade, owned by Prudential Nominees Ltd, part of Prudential Corporation Plc, includes Argos, The Body Shop, Books & Puzzles, David Christopher Jewellers,  Robert Dyas, Evans, Pink Planet, MacKays, Madison, New Look, Select, Specsavers, Thorntons @ Signature and Waterstones. Its 250 space surface level car park is disabled friendly and provides easy access to the mall shops and High Street.

To the south of the Market Place is The Causeway, the ancient gateway into Chippenham from London, now lined by independent retailers, restaurants and private residences. To the north of the Town Bridge, which spans the River Avon, is the retail area of The Bridge and the New Road - shop lined streets which lead to Brunel's imposing railway arches.

The Causeway, New Road, Station Hill and the Upper Market Place offer a wealth of independent shops and businesses, such as The Cellar Gallery, Beauty For Everyone, The China Bowl, Noteworthy Music, Amelia Classics, David Brown Travel and Edward & Alan Tile & Flooring.

At the top of new road is Hathaway Retail Park, a bustling in-town shopping centre which includes Laura Ashley, Heli-Beds, Homebase, Halfords, Jolleys, Rosebys, Sally Hair & Beauty Supplies, Tesco Express, and Blockbuster Video.

Larger superstores such as B&Q, Currys, Comet, Wickes, Pets at Home, Sainsburys and Morrisons are located on the edge of town as are fast food outlets McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut and the Little Chef.

Chippenham is also home to a large number of established Wiltshire businesses, as well as a full complement of banks, building societies, estate agents, travel agents, solicitors, accountants, doctors, dentists, opticians, garages, hotels, restaurants and pubs as would be expected in any thriving market town. Industrially, Chippenham has benefited enormously from its strategic position between Swindon and Bristol on Brunel's Great Western Railway.

Bumpers Farm Estate is the town's largest light industrial area, with Home Automation, Woods Business Services Ltd, the Renter Center, the Plumb Center and Antony Rowe specialist/vanity printers occupying major sites.

Methuen Park is a relatively new and expanding development. It includes Westlea Housing Association, Securicor, Fleet Support, Wincanton, The Mill House restaurant and Focus DIY.