Things to do in Salisbury
Salisbury is a charming city in South Wiltshire, United Kingdom famous for its cathedral, independent shops and historical town centre.
In this article, I will go through my top 5 must visit attractions in Salisbury and surrounds.
Salisbury Cathedral
The cathedral is open from 09:30 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:30 to 16:00 Sundays. The cathedral contains the UK’s tallest cathedral spire built between 1310 and 1330, the world’s oldest working mechanical clock, beautiful sculptures, and tombes. Adjacent to the main body of the cathedral is one of four copies of the Magna Carta, a vital document in Britain’s political history.
Old Sarum
The Ancient fort at Old Sarum had many uses over the years, from its beginnings as a iron age fort, to becoming in later years a royal castle and medieval town with a cathedral ( Salisbury’s predecessor) . Old Sarum is open from 10:00 to 16:00 and is great to explore for a few hours with a cafe nearby and great views over Salisbury.
Salisbury Museum
Salisbury Museum has a lot to discover including archaeology, fine art, fashion and ceramics. The archaeology collection is estimated to be in excess of 100,000 objects. Highlights include finds from Stonehenge, stone age burials including the famous Amesbury Archer and Old Sarum artifacts. Paintings from artists such as J. M. W. Turner are also displayed.
The museum is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, adult tickets are £10, for children are £5.
Arundells
Arundells is the former home of UK Prime Minister Edward Heath. Originally a medieval canonry, it has an extensive personal collection of art, ceramics, political cartoons and sailing memorabilia, as well as a beautiful two-acre riverside garden. It is open from 10:00 to 17:00, Mon, Thurs,Fri, Sat and Sunday.
Stonehenge
A half hour car journey outside Salisbury lies the world heritage Stone Age monument, Stonehenge. The stone circle has an unforgettable atmosphere and can be visited by a half hour walk from the visitor centre. You can walk around the small perimeter of the site. The large visitor centre includes over 250 artifacts, and interactive exhibits detailing the 5000 year history of the site, as well as a model stone age village. The site is open Monday to Sunday 09:30 to 17:00. Twice a year at the summer and winter solstice, the stones can be experienced up close.
Thanks for your comments and I wish you a wonderful visit to Salisbury in the future.
Simon Toms