Warminster is a town in West Wiltshire close to Longleat and Center Parcs. It is on the edge of Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has a population of around 17,000 residents and is near to the Somerset border. The town has many amenities including a shopping centre with both national and independent retailers, numerous pubs, cafes and restaurants, three supermarkets including Waitrose and Morrisons, a library, museum, theatre and cinema. The railway station in the town provides a service to Salisbury and thereon a direct line to London Waterloo. The town has a sports centre, tennis courts and many sports clubs including, cricket, hockey, football, rugby and swimming, as well as a golf club. Notable attractions include Shearwater Lake, popular for sailing, the park and lake and Small Brook Meadows Nature Reserve. Avenue primary school is rated as Good by Ofsted as is Kingsdown secondary school. Independent education is offered at Warminster school.