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A Wiltshire City Steeped in History - It’s Salisbury
A medieval cathedral city in the southern English county of Wiltshire, Salisbury is home to some of the country’s most historic landmarks. Visitors come to see Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral but are often surprised by the additional selection of cultural attractions. Add in lively shopping and dining, together with excellent museums, galleries, and performing art spaces, and it’s easy to see why you’ll want to stay for a while. Thankfully, the city’s award-winning B&Bs and historic hotels allow you to do just that.
Iconic Attractions
A popular reason to visit Salisbury is to see the world-famous Stonehenge, a prehistoric stone circle and remarkable feat of early engineering standing proudly on the Salisbury Plain. Although a rope barrier keeps most visitors at a distance, a limited number of tickets permit entry to the circle itself. In either case, advance booking is recommended. Viewing Stonehenge takes around 60 to 90 minutes excluding travel time, so many people like to combine their visit with a trip to the nearby Old Sarum. This Iron Age hillfort settlement, the earliest-known settlement in Salisbury’s history, lies two miles from the city and counts the ruins of a royal castle and cathedral among its features. Back in the city, a visit to the 13th-century Salisbury Cathedral is a must. Regarded as one of England’s finest cathedrals, it boasts the tallest spire in Britain, a brass rubbing centre, and houses, in its Chapter House, one of four original Magna Carta manuscripts.
Historic Homes, Museums, and Galleries
Visitors won’t need to travel far from Salisbury Cathedral to find museums, galleries, and historic homes. The Close, an 80-acre lawned precinct surrounding the cathedral, offers visitors the chance to explore Arundells, the former home of Sir Edward Heath, and the Grade I-listed King’s House, home to the popular Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum and the Wessex Gallery of Archaeology. Also situated within the Close is the National Trust-owned Mompesson House, an 18th-century Queen Anne style townhouse featuring the Turnbull collection of 18th-century drinking glasses, the Rifles Military Museum, and Sarum College. For those interested in art, the Fisherton Mill Gallery, the Whitewall Galleries, and the Graham Oliver Gallery are all within a short walk of the Cathedral. Guided walking tours that take in many of these sights are easily accessible in the area.
Shopping and Dining
You won’t be in Salisbury long before you realise that it’s a great place to shop. Three city centre shopping centres - The Maltings, The Cross Keys, and the Old George Mall - are perfectly complemented by a wide selection of independent and boutique stores. These shops offer everything from fashion to homewares and can be found clustered in the High Street, Winchester Street, and Fisherton Street areas. The icing on the cake for souvenir hunters is the Salisbury Charter Market, a twice-weekly market that has attracted shoppers to the city’s Market Square for hundreds of years. When it’s time for a break, the city’s dining options come into their own. Restaurants are not especially numerous but there is some good food to be had nonetheless. The dining options here, typically found along Butcher Row, New Canal, and Fisherton Street, offer varied cuisine and a friendly atmosphere.
Entertainment and Events
When you’re not exploring historic sites or enjoying the shopping and dining opportunities in the city, entertainment options in Salisbury are plentiful. The Salisbury Arts Centre and the City Hall Entertainment Centre host regular theatrical and dance performances as well as exhibitions and workshops covering a variety of themes. Additional events are held at the Salisbury Playhouse, a theatre that is regarded as one of the leading producing venues in the South West of England. Festivals and events also play a big role in the city’s entertainment calendar. One of the most well-known festivals is the Ageas Salisbury International Arts Festival although smaller events such as the annual beer and cider festival held at Salisbury Rugby Club are also well attended. In winter, you can attend the cathedral’s Advent Procession followed by a trip to the city’s buzzing Christmas market.
Explore Further Afield
Salisbury has plenty to keep you busy but should you find yourself with time to spare, the attractions found in the surrounding areas are well worth the small effort required to reach them. The city is near several beautiful green spaces such as the New Forest and South Downs National Parks and the Cranborne Chase Area of Natural Beauty, the latter the home of attractions such as Old Wardour Castle, the Rockbourne Roman Villa, and Stourhead House and Gardens. You may enjoy a trip to the Thruxton Motorsport Centre and, if you’re travelling with young children, a visit to Paultons Family Theme Park, home of Peppa Pig World, is something of a must-do. Plus, with destinations such as Portsmouth and Bournemouth within an hours’ drive of your Salisbury hotel, a day enjoying the British seaside is by no means out of the question.