Westbury White Horse, Hill figure in Bratton, England
Westbury White Horse is a hill figure in Bratton, England, cut into the escarpment of Salisbury Plain near Westbury in Wiltshire. The chalk-cut shape measures roughly 180 feet (55 meters) tall and 170 feet (52 meters) wide and sits below an Iron Age hillfort.
The current design dates to 1778, when a local steward commissioned a new version on the same slope where an earlier figure stood. That older version from the late 17th century is said to have marked King Alfred's victory over Danish forces in 878.
The white horse faces left with a shape typical of Wessex chalk figures, its clean lines standing out against the green slope. Visitors see the animal best from the foot of the escarpment or from the opposite side of the valley, where the full silhouette comes into view.
Drive through Newtown and follow Long River Road to reach parking inside the outer earthworks of the hillfort. The path leads over gently rising grassland with firm ground and offers a clear view of the figure after a few minutes.
During World War II, workers covered the entire chalk figure with turf and brushwood to prevent German pilots from using it as a navigation aid. After the war, the community returned and uncovered the figure by removing the covering.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
