Combining a mix of food, books, and antiques, beauty expert Liz Earle MBE has revealed her favourite places in Wiltshire.
Earle is a British entrepreneur, broadcaster, and bestselling author best known for co-founding the award-winning Liz Earle Beauty Co. (in 1995).
The 63-year-old lives in the West Country on the Wiltshire and Dorset border, and recently shared her top "local haunts" with lifestyle website Muddy Stilettoes.
Earle said: "I’m a frequent visitor of the food emporium and brasserie, Compton McCrae in Semley.
"They have the best bakery – my whole family is addicted to their chewy cheese straws.
"I love their selection of local foods too, as well as their epic cheese room.
"It’s also an excellent stop for speciality coffees."
She continued: "I’m a big fan of Fox & King bookshop in Tisbury, it’s not only brilliant for books but a lovely space to stay a while and pick up pretty greetings cards and more.
"At the weekends, I also enjoy wandering around Dairy House and Kingsettle Antiques, both in Semley.
"I buy vintage cutlery there for a fraction of the price of modern tableware."
👑 REVEALED! Discover which local businesses have just been crowned best of them in the Muddy Awards 2026 ↓
🔗 https://t.co/kAkX00m8kp#MuddyAwards2026 #InLoveWithLocal #SupportLocalBusiness #BestOfLocal #MuddyStilettos pic.twitter.com/9PRcI6jTn5— Muddy Wiltshire (@muddywilts) June 16, 2026
Liz Earle's 3 favourite places in Wiltshire
Compton McCrae (Semley)
A small, family-run delicatessen and café in Semley, Compton McCrae offers coffees, delicious takeaway food, and light lunches, and celebrates “everything that is good about food.”
Its "world-class" Cheese Room is one of its biggest attractions, featuring a strong British offering with some gorgeous examples from the Continent.
The team at Compton McCrae describes it as “an epicurean journey of delight and discovery.”
Compton McCrae also comes highly recommended by other visitors, boasting a 4 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor from 35 reviews (at the time of writing).
One customer wrote: "Don't drive past. It's well worth the visit.
"We had a lovely lunch. We opted for a sharing platter of charcuterie and cheeses with delicious bread and crackers with pickles and salads.
"Everything was top quality and delicious with a nice but limited choice of wine by the glass."
Fox & King (Tisbury)
As a self-confessed book lover, Earle describes Fox & King in Tisbury as “brilliant for books” and calls the shop “a lovely space to stay a while and pick up pretty greetings cards and more.”
Set on Tisbury’s High Street, the independent bookshop is a "welcoming, community-driven space with a broad selection of fiction and non-fiction, a dedicated Children’s Department and strong author events programme."
It has a perfect 5-star rating on Google (from 16 reviews).
One reviewer said: "What a lovely find. This is a beautiful independent bookshop full of a great selection of books across all genres.
"Additional items such as cards and stationary have been wonderfully curated. Owners are very friendly to."
Kingsettle Antiques (Semley)
Weekends for Ms Earle often include a leisurely browse through Semley’s antique offerings.
She singled out Kingsettle Antiques and Dairy House (now relocated to Dorset) as favourite destinations for finding vintage treasures.
Kingsettle Antiques, described as a “friendly local antique centre,” offers everything from furniture and jewellery to pictures and rugs.
It has a 4.7-star rating on Google from 49 reviews.
RECOMMENDED READING:
-
Wiltshire village with less than 650 residents that's home to Hollywood star
-
'Quintessential' Wiltshire village with 'quaint' streets one of the UK's prettiest
-
Pretty village pub in Wiltshire named among the UK's best by the Michelin Guide
One visitor said: "Absolutely packed with Vintage & Antiques.
"You can always find something interesting.
"Each room is different - it's a real joy to spend a few hours here and I always find something wonderful to take home!
"The staff are incredibly helpful & knowledgeable too which makes all the difference."
Where are your favourite places to visit in Wiltshire? Let us know in the comments below.
Share