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Cathedral city in Wiltshire, England
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Salisbury is a cathedral city in the English county of Wiltshire, in the West Country at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. Stonehenge, a , is 13 km northwest of Salisbury. Salisbury holds a Charter market on Tuesdays and Saturdays and has held markets regularly since 1227.
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Constructed between 1220 and 1258 to replace the previous cathedral at Old Sarum, this Gothic-style cathedral has the highest spire in the United Kingdom at 404 feet (123 metres). Cathedral services take place daily and opening times can vary at short notice depending on services. The cathedral close is especially beautiful with fine lawns surrounded by elegant and historic buildings. There are daily 90-minute guided tours up the tower (extra payment). It is not for those scared of heights, but the views are magnificent, and 60-minute floor tours led by volunteer guides.
Great Charter
For history buffs, the chapter house displays the best-preserved of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta.
Photography of the original Magna Carta is not allowed.
The oldest working mechanical clock is on display and has been ticking apparently over 4 billion times since 1386. The bell however only rings on special occasions.
Located on a hilltop north of modern Salisbury, Old Sarum is the site of the original city, showing evidence of habitation from 3000 BC to 1219 when the bishop relocated Salisbury Cathedral to its current location. Until 1832 Old Sarum was a 'rotten borough', which elected two members of parliament despite long periods during which there were no residents. Most of the site is free to enter, although there is a charge to enter the Inner Bailey.
This small but varied museum houses displays on the history of Salisbury, costume, ceramics, pictures and the Stonehenge Gallery. In Notes from a Small Island, Bill Bryson comments that "Salisbury museum is outstanding and I urge you to go there at once"!
The big attraction here is sitting in a variety of aircraft cockpits and playing with the controls. The museum is run by dedicated and very helpful volunteers.
A 13th century medieval canonry now maintained by volunteers as a Grade II* listed building with beautiful surrounding gardens.
A Georgian era townhouse with a rich history dating back to the 17th century. It was built by Thomas Mompesson and later renovated by his son Charles in the early 18th century. The house reflects the Queen Anne style and features notable architectural influences from Christopher Wren. It houses exceptional Georgian plasterwork and carvings, as well as collections of 18th-century drinking glasses and ceramics. The house, bequeathed to the National Trust in 1975, also served as a filming location for the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.
A Grade I listed Church of England parish church in central Salisbury, founded in the early 13th century and rebuilt in the 15th century. It was founded as a small chapel built by Bishop Poore for workers on the cathedral. It was later expanded and dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury. The church features a 15th-century doom painting above the chancel arch, a rebuilt chancel, and a tower with an unusual pyramid roof. It underwent significant restoration during the 19th century, including the removal of pews and the installation of a new altar and organ. The church has strong historical ties with Salisbury Cathedral, and its parish was merged with St Edmund’s in 1974.
Located in The Wardrobe, a Grade II* listed building constructed in 1254 and rebuilt in the 15th century. The museum houses the combined collections of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and the Wiltshire Regiment, which were previously held at Brock Barracks in Reading and Le Marchant Barracks in Devizes. Acquired by the museum trustees in 1981, The Wardrobe became a military museum in 1982, initially named the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Museum, and it now showcases a wide range of artefacts from both regiments.
Rochcourt Sculpture Park
A contemporary art museum dedicated to showcasing both British and international sculptors. The museum features a diverse collection of sculptures in various styles and materials, with regular exhibitions and events. It offers visitors the chance to explore a wide range of three-dimensional artworks while engaging with the art through interactive programs and special commissions.
Theatre built in 1976 and features a 517-seat Main House, a 149-seat Salberg Studio, a rehearsal room, a café, and community and education spaces. It is funded by Arts Council England, Wiltshire Council, and Salisbury City Council. The Main House hosts between eight and ten own or co-produced plays each year, in addition to touring productions and events during the Salisbury International Arts Festival.
A famous racecourse that has hosted flat thoroughbred racing since the mid-16th century. The racecourse, which holds 15 meetings annually between early May and mid-October, has seen many notable horses win, including Gimcrack, Eclipse, Mill Reef, and Brigadier Gerard, as well as Derby winner Sir Percy and Oaks winner Look Here. It is also famous for being the venue where Winston Churchill first raced Colonist II in 1949, and where jockeys like Lester Piggott and Steve Cauthen made significant early career appearances. The course is a flat, downland track, known for its races for two-year-olds, handicaps, and maiden races, with no jumps.
Meadows in the flood plains of the Avon river, which is known for its diversity in herbs. It's a great location for walks, weather permitting, despite there only being a single path traversing the meadows.
Traditional, hearty English food done very well, in a beautiful and well-preserved mediaeval building with sheltered views of the 13th-century Church of St Thomas. Lots of game and poultry on the menu, exquisite wine selection, impeccable service and gorgeous food, for a very decent price. In World War II, the tiny "Horsebox" bar downstairs was used by Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower to plan the D-Day offensive. This place positively crawls with history, and dinner here is classy, interesting, and completely unpretentious.
a Mexican restaurant overlooking the river.
Good, modern Indian and Nepalese restaurant.
Breakfast, lunch, coffee, tea or supper. Licensed. Gluten-free cakes available.
Italian chain restaurant. This branch gained worldwide media coverage when it was closed for an extensive cleanup during the aftermath of the Skripal's novichok poisoning.
Pub adjacent to the historic building.
The largest club, but it is expensive to get in (£8-10 usually, but cheaper before 10-11PM).
A large bed and breakast located in a quiet area of the town centre, within 10 minutes walk of the market square. Free Wi-Fi and parking, prices start from £39 for a single room.
Hillside B&B is in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside in a village called Odstock, around 3 miles south of Salisbury.
Edwardian Lodge
Guest house, halfway between the city centre and the castle of Old Sarum.
Rare opportunity to stay inside Salisbury's Cathedral Close. City centre, yet quiet and just 150 m from medieval cathedral. Rooms for all budgets. Premier rooms are refurbished and have uninterrupted views of the cathedral.
Gorgeous old building with luxury rooms and excellent food. The parking lot is convenient for drivers, since parking is difficult in the centre of Salisbury.
Comfortable modern hotel above a Weatherspoon's pub in a 19th-century building. A 10-min walk from the train station in the centre of Salisbury. Friendly staff.
Cosy multilingual B&B open May-Dec, no dogs.
Mercure Salisbury
In an elegant Georgian building near the gates to the cathedral grounds. Excellent, upscale, B&B hotel.
75 New Street is a gorgeous little gallery in a grade two listed building in central Salisbury. It shows a selection of exceptional contemporary jewellery and has a working studio where you can see pieces being made. Really close to the main city sights - it's an unusual destination worth a visit.
A retail market consisting of 90 stalls plus 10 farmers' stalls.
Quirky secondhand shop selling antiques, strange statues, used tools, and all manner of miscellaneous junk.
Antique shop in a historic building.
By train
Hourly trains also run through Salisbury on the Cardiff to Portsmouth secondary main line. These trains also link Bristol, Bath, Romsey and Southampton with Salisbury.
By bus
National Express operate services to Salisbury from cities throughout the UK including London. Advance ticketing is required.
By car
Salisbury has been a major regional crossroads for thousands of years, and this is still the case today, with the A30, A36, A338, A345 and A360 main roads crossing here.
The bus station is just off the Market Square on Endless St. Buses travel to surrounding villages and towns, and further afield to Swindon, Bournemouth and Southampton.
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