Salisbury is a cathedral city 150 km (90 mi) southwest of London. The city has plenty of character, with some houses dating back to the 13th century.

Hotels in Salisbury

Salisbury has a station on the secondary main line from London to Exeter. Trains leave from London Waterloo rail station, and there are two trains an hour. The journey takes about 1 hr 30 mins.

The medieval city of Salisbury has many things to enjoy: historic streets and alleyways, charming half-timbered buildings, traditional English eating houses, pubs and tea rooms, characterful shopping streets with individual shops and regular street markets, but the most important attraction is Salisbury's medieval cathedral, considered to be among the finest cathedrals in the UK.

Salisbury Cathedral was constructed between 1220 and 1258 and is considered to be one of the leading examples of early English architecture. The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the UK at 123 meters (404 feet). The spire was not constructed until 1320. The cathedral close, the largest in Britain (80 acres), is especially beautiful with fine lawns surrounded by elegant and historic buildings. Salisbury Cathedral is also known for having one of the four surviving original copies of Magna Carta (from 1215) on display, and the best preserved of the copies. Also the cathedral contains the world's oldest working modern clock from 1386. The clock has no face because all clocks of that date rang out the hours on a bell. 

The Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum is housed in the King's house, a grade 1 listed building dating back to the 13th century, it is located opposite the west front of the cathedral. The permanent Stonehenge exhibition gallery has interactive displays about Stonehenge and the archeology of south Wiltshire. Stonehenge itself can be seen only a short distance away to the north of Salisbury, and is also definitely worth seeing.

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. Despite Old Sarum for long periods had no residents, to members of parliament were elected by Old Sarum until 1832. Most of the site is free to enter, although there is a charge to enter the Inner Bailey.