Visiting Salisbury: How to See One of England’s Most Historic Places

Last Updated: 11/7/20 | November 7th, 2020

A stunning hour-and-a-half train ride through the English countryside from London takes you to the town Salisbury, home of the famous Stonehenge as well as the Magna Carta. It’s an easy day trip from London>, but I found that the town has a lot to offer and traveling to Salisbury is worth at least a night’s stay.

Salisbury has been an important site throughout human history. Over 5,000 years ago, Neolithic man was dragging huge stones, weighing up to 55 tons from Wales to Salisbury to build Stonehenge. It’s one of the best and most famous historical sites in the world. The area was a huge settlement and is now surrounded by ancient burial mounds and historical artifacts.

While Stonehenge is impressive and still one of the most important historical sites in human history, Salisbury itself is even more impressive. Beautifully preserved, this picturesque English country town offers a lot to do and will leave a far more lasting impression on me than Stonehenge.

Originally, “Old Sarum” (as the old town was called) was constructed and used by the Romans and early Saxons as a fortification. With the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, the fort and cathedral were moved to the present-day location. )The new city never had any defensive walls, as it’s surrounded by rivers on three sides and located on a hill.)

The city has been immaculately preserved over the centuries. During the German Blitz, Salisbury wasn’t bombed, as the Germans used its famous church as a waypoint during bombing runs and were under strict orders not to damage it.

Around Salisbury, one can see Elizabethan, Jacobin, and Victorian-style homes all squished together down tiny streets. The town market square is very well preserved, and outdoor cafes line the area.

There’s a lot of things to see and do in Salisbury but below are my six favorites that will take up a full day and a half, which is about the perfect time to visit. I don’t think you need much more than that.
 

1. Salisbury Cathedral

The highlight of my whole trip was Salisbury Cathedral. The cathedral was built in 1238 and still stands 750 years later. This huge Gothic cathedral is surrounded by grass and cloistered in a little community with a few smaller churches, homes, and other buildings. Of all the churches I’ve seen in Europe, this ranks as number one.

Inside (where no photos allowed), this church is laid out in the traditional cross-format with an entrance at one end and the prayer area at the other. Huge ceilings and large stained-glass windows adorn the sides, and the choir and seating area line the middle. What made this church really special were the tombs inside. The walls are lined with the tombs of dead bishops, kings, and queens. They are beautifully ordained in figures and symbols from the person’s life.

In the Trinity, there is a tomb that dates back to 1099. Walking past the tombs of so many historical figures, including some that signed the Magna Carta, was breathtaking, especially to a history geek such as myself. The church also houses one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta.

Chapter Office, +44 1722 555120, salisburycathedral.org.uk. Open Monday-Saturday from 10am-3pm (closed Sunday for worship). Admission is 8 GBP and includes a guided tour.
 

2. Walk Around The Close

Salisbury cathedral is surrounded by 80 acres of land called the Cathedral Close. This is where you’ll find most of the museums and historic houses. On one side you can see the River Avon, while the rest of the complex is protected by ancient walls. The old bishop’s palace (that is now the Cathedral School and Sarum College) is located in a late 17th-century house.
 

3. Market Square

Markets were first held here in 1219 and the square is still filled with stores and sellers. You can pick up anything from fresh fish to discount watches. The narrow lanes surrounding the square are named after their medieval specialties: Oatmeal Row, Fish Row and Silver St.

Visit the market on Tuesdays from 8am-2:30pm and Saturdays from 8am-3pm.
 

4. Visit Stonehenge

Located near Salisbury, this megalithic structure is over 3,000 years old and why most people visit the town. Scholars still are not sure how the builders got the stones all the way from Wales and have tried to replicate the feat, with dismal results.

Moreover, we only have a vague idea of Stonehenge’s purpose (we’re basically just guessing). Stonehenge is now fenced off, and you can no longer go into the circle. Visitors can only walk around the attraction. But it’s worth visiting for the mystery behind it and an excellent and detailed audio tour.

Near Amesbury, +44 0370 333 1181, english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge. Open daily from 9am-8pm in the summer and 9:30am-5pm in the winter. Admission is 19.50 GBP.
 

5. Explore Old Sarum

Located a couple of miles from town, this is thought to be the site of the original city of Salisbury. Settlements here date all the way back to the Neolithic Age (6,000-2,22 BCE), with a fort being constructed on the hill in the Iron Age (800-1 BCE). It’s a great place to go for a stroll and have a picnic as you sit among the ruins of history.

Castle Road, +44 0370 333 1181, english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/old-sarum. Open daily 10am-5pm. Admission is 6.50 GBP.
 

6. Visit the Salisbury Museum

Not only does this museum have some noteworthy archeological finds but the building itself is also significant, dating back to the 13th century. The museum is housed inside The King’s House, a building where King James I stayed on a couple of different occasions in the 1600s. There is a lot of jewelry on display you can see that dates back to the Bronze and Iron Ages.

The King’s House, +44 0172 233 2151, salisburymuseum.org.uk. Open Thursday-Sunday from 11am-4pm. Admission is 6.50 GBP.

Travelin to Salisbury can make for a great day trip from London, but to truly appreciate the area, it’s better to spend a night or two. Walk around this historical town, visit Stonehenge, its little cousin Avebury, the cathedral, and journey into the country. There’s a lot to do in Salisbury, and it’s a great respite from the chaos of London so be sure to visit the town on your next trip to the UK! There’s too much history here to avoid it!
 

How to Get to Salisbury

Salisbury is approximately a 90-minute drive away from London and around one hour from Portsmouth, Poole, and Southampton. There is direct train service from London, with tickets costing between 22-40 GBP.

Trains are also available from Bath, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton, and Bristol with tickets costing between 11-40 GBP. Buses run from Heathrow Airport too, taking around 2.5-3 hours costing between 10-20 GBP.
 

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Photo Credit: 3 – Peter Hurford, 6 – Mark Edwards, 7 – Salisbury Museum