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Aside from its Sainsbury's, Somerfield and Iceland supermarkets, Calne is somewhat lacking for residents seeking retail therapy. Several units remain empty and the town has witnessed its fair share of transient enterprises. However, an expansion of the Sainsbury's store in the town centre was completed in September 2007. Furthermore, a Tesco Express store opened in the Lansdowne Park district in December 2007, replacing the former One Stop outlet.
It is believed that once Phelps Parade has been successfully redeveloped (a partial redevelopment will be complete by autumn 2009), the central business district will be able to attract chain outlets such as Wilkinsons, Argos and a larger Boots to the town. Most residents travel to Chippenham, Bath, Devizes, Marlborough, Swindon and even Bristol for a more fulfilling shopping experience beyond buying their groceries. As of May 2009, part of Phelps Parade had been demolished and a new mixed-use building is being constructed in its place, part Costwold stone and part red-brick, though not to everyone's taste. This is part of the 'New Heart of Calne' initiative.
St Mary's, Calne is regarded as one of the UK's most prestigious independent schools for girls, with sumptuous grounds and a modern sports centre. The John Bentley School is the local comprehensive high school situated on the southern periphery of Calne, and is a noted languages centre.
The closest further education institution is the Wiltshire College site in Chippenham (10 km / 6 miles away), although the college also has a small centre at The Green in Calne.
The closest higher education institution is the University of Bath campus at Claverton Down in Bath, 18 miles (29 km) to the west. The university's Oakridge campus in east Swindon is 20 miles (32 km) to the northwest. Bath Spa University lies 24 miles (38 km) away at its Newton Park campus, west of Bath.
Calne is located in the Devizes constituency and governed by Calne Town Council, North Wiltshire District Council [3] and Wiltshire County Council.
As from April 2009, North Wiltshire District Council will be no more as this body is coming under the auspices of a unitary authority whereby all district councils will be taken over by Wiltshire County Council.
Notable people from Calne include Saint Edmund, John Pym and the athlete Walter Goodall George who held the world record for the mile from 1886 to 1915. Walter Goodall George also held more than 13 world records for running at the time and still holds a world record simply for holding the mile record longer than anyone else. There are two plaques in Calne to commemorate his life. One one the front of the Town Hall and one at ground level just inside the recreation grounds.
Isaac Nichols ,a transported convict who became the first postmaster of Sydney, New South Wales was born here in 1770.
The country estate of Bowood House lies near Calne. It was here that Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in 1774; there is a plaque in the town centre commemorating this.
There is also a plaque on the wall of the house where Samuel Taylor Coleridge stayed from 1814 to 1816 as part of the Morgan household whilst writing his Biographia Literaria.
Jan Ingenhousz repeated Joseph Priestley's experiments and found it was sunlight which acted upon the plants to create oxygen. Pavement display outside the Millennium library in Calne in his honour.
The singer-songwriter-author Julian Cope resided in a small village 7 km (4.5 miles) east of Calne, towards Avebury, until 2006, and lived in Calne itself for some years before he moved with his family to the village.
The actor David Hemmings lived in the Old Mill in Calne for many years up until his death in December 2003. His funeral was held at St. Mary's Church.
Former Take That singer and solo artist Robbie Williams moved to nearby Compton Bassett (4 miles east of Calne) in February 2009 after purchasing a large property there in December 2008.