The station was opened by the Great Western Railway on 9 September 1851 as the terminus of its branch from Westbury on its Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth route.

The station was originally provided with a train shed covering the tracks and platforms, but this was removed around 1930 when the current canopies were erected in its place.

[1] Great Western Railway operate a generally hourly service in each direction from the station, westbound to Westbury, Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central, and eastbound to Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.

A few additional GWR trains call at certain hours (some of which either originate or terminate here).

Once a year, a bus service (colloquially known as route 23A) runs from Warminster station to the uninhabited village of Imber.