Some 400 feet (120 metres) above sea level and built of local stone, it sits at the edge of the Wylye valley. Warminster and the surrounding area are well known for UFO sightings.

Battlebury and Scratchbury Camps lay to the east on the edge of Salisbury Plain. Clay Hill is to the west. The long main street runs for most of its length, the wide market place being its only interruption.

An agricultural centre and market town, Daniel Defoe said of it as 'without exception the greatest market of wheat in England'. It played its part in the cloth industry and became well known for glove making, but retaining its agricultural connections and adding light industry. The Army School of Infantry is on the outskirts as are the workshops of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. King Alfred assembled his army at Warminster for the final onslaught against the Danes in 878.

The grammar school, founded in 1707 by Thomas Thynne, Viscount Weymouth of Longleat has a dormer roof and mullioned windows. The doorway to the schoolhouse was originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren for Longleat. Dr Thomas Arnold was its most famous pupil, who became headmaster of Rugby.

The Bath Arms hotel and the Old Bell, two coaching inns are noteworthy. The town hall was built in the reign of William IV and nearby, the chapel of St Lawrence is a restored 13th century foundation. The monument, topped by an urn was erected in 1781. Around Pitsmead, 2 miles (3 km) away Roman remains have been found where two villas were discovered in 1786.