Location: Salisbury
Top Things to do in Salisbury
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The 10 Best Things to do in Salisbury, England
If you saw Chevy Chase's masterpiece European Vacation, you'll recognize Stonehenge's massive formation. (As a citizen of the world, you should recognize Stonehenge anyway.) The prehistoric stone circle is eight miles from Salisbury, and its visitors provide a boost to the local economy. With a history dating back over 5,000 years, there is no shortage of significant places to visit in and around Salisbury. On the "must see" list are Salisbury Cathedral, Longleat and Stourhead gardens (and Stonehenge, of course).
Restaurants in Salisbury
1. Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 582 reviews
Whether you're a serious aviation enthusiast or a kid who wants to sit in fast jet cockpits, this is for you! Please note - We are at Old Sarum Airfield - NOT at the Boscombe Down airfield.
Reviewed By thorpoticus - Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
What a fantastic place to get up close to a large part of Britain’s military aviation history Most of the cockpits are open and you are allowed to climb inside and use the controls The staff are very friendly and informative with anything you may want to know Recommended for kids of all ages(I’m 59) If you’re near Salisbury this is a must!
2. Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,642 reviews
Prepare to be amazed by one of the finest cathedrals in the UK, home to Britain’s tallest spire and largest cathedral close and cloisters. Our original 1215 Magna Carta is the best-preserved copy in existence and our 14th century clock is the oldest working mechanical clock in the world. We suggest 1.5 – 3 hours for your visit, but you can see most highlights in 45 minutes if you are pressed for time. You can enjoy delicious snacks and meals prepared freshly on-site in our Refectory Restaurant and browse our unique range of souvenirs in our Gift Shop. 10-minute walk from Salisbury Train Station | 20-minute drive from Stonehenge| 1.5 hours from London. Tickets must be booked online. There is no charge, but please support our work by giving a donation.
Reviewed By TroutQ - London, United Kingdom
What a great day out! I went mainly to see the Magna Carta but was surprised to discover a fantastic art and sculpture collection. The highlights for me being a sculpture by Anthony Gormley, the amazing font and a magnificent tapestry by Grayson Perry, the worlds oldest working clock and of course the Magna Carta. All the staff inside the Cathedral were helpful and friendly but Rob stood out as a fantastic curator. Thanks Rob for taking us back into the Cathedral to view the rear of the tapestry which we hadn't spotted. Oh and of course its a beautiful cathedral.....
3. Mompesson House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 593 reviews
Reviewed By yardleygirl08201960
This National Trust property benefits from its own beauty, informative room guides and a central and stunning location right in the cathedral close. It also is blissfully free from hordes of tourists so that one can truly appreciate the rooms at one's leisure. There are informative pamphlets as well as helpful volunteers in each room who are knowledgeable and welcoming. Delightful garden and team room at the back of the house. Not to be missed!
4. The Salisbury Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 444 reviews
Salisbury Museum is based in the Grade 1 listed building, The King's House, just opposite the west front of Salisbury Cathedral. It houses a significant archaeological collection relating to nearby Stonehenge, as well as costume, fine art (including Turner watercolours) and ceramics.
Reviewed By T1m0te1 - Bath, United Kingdom
My daughter and I had visited Old Sarum and were on our way to the Cathedral, so popped in here for a quick visit beforehand. Half price entry thanks to our English Heritage membership meant that the entry price was very good value (other discounts are available- check the website) and we began in the Wessex gallery, which takes you from Old Sarum back in time to the mesolithic era by way of the Romans and Iron Age. There is a huge amount of archaeology on display, and we spent a long time here. It is a very hands-on gallery, with drawers and cupboards to open, pottery to sort, and prehistoric burials on display, including the Amesbury Archer. There is a lot of information about General Pitt-Rivers, who was a prominent figure in the science of archaeology, and about the work he did in and around Salisbury Plain. Further into the museum you'll find a bewildering array of treasures including lacework, coins and a giant, plus a gallery of costume and several of more modern art. There is a wonderful room crammed with china upstairs, and a bustling café downstairs. This is the sort of place one could easily while away a whole day- perfect for a rainy day, and there are are family trails for the little ones too. We will be back!
5. The Close
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 532 reviews
Reviewed By wiltsdee
If you enjoy history, architecture and browsing, Salisbury Cathedral Close is one of the most spacious Cathedral Closes in England. The Cathedral itslf has the tallest Cathedral spire in England and when the weather is favourable a tour of the Cathedral, including part of the spire may be made. However, recently, during a storm, the wind was blowing at over 90 miles per hour at the top of the spire, so of course there would have been no tours then! The Cathedral itself is so interesting, that one could visit many times and never tire of it. Music is magnificent too. Magna Carta is an original document, displayed in a secure setting. The workshops may be visited at times, where stonemasons, lead and glass workers and other skilled tradespeople work on repairing and constructing ecclesiastical items. The Cathedral has a cafe. Other places of interest within Salsibury Cathedral Close include Mompesson House (National Trust), Salisbury Museum and The Rifles Museum, incorporating the history of The Berkshires, too. All these places have cafes. Aarundells was the home of the late Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister. The back garden leads down to the river. If you visit The Close, there are always artworks on display in and around the grounds. Ideally you would need to visit several times to enjoy everything!.
6. The Parish Church of St Thomas and St Edmund
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 305 reviews
St Thomas’s Church. A welcome in the heart of the city dating mostly from the Fifteenth Century, the Church of St Thomas a Becket stands in its own square at the north end of Salisbury High Street, a two-minute walk from the Cathedral Close. This has been a place of worship since the early Thirteenth Century. Please come in for a look round. Try to spot the “damned bishop” being led to Hell in the famous Doom painting. Or why not try counting all 250 angels on the roof, walls and pillars? There is full disabled access to all public areas of the church with ramps and an automatic door. Quiet, boisterous, contemplative, social: it’s always a good time to drop in to St Thomas’s. We’d be happy to meet you whenever you can stop by.
Reviewed By KirkieClare
This is just near the Market Square in the centre of Salisbury. It's a lovely early church (evidently it was built as a place of worship for the builders of the cathedral), but, for me, the most astonishing thing about the place, was the amazing wall paintings which still exist there. They are of a rarity and splendour which takes your breathe away.
7. Arundells
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 324 reviews
Bringing together six architectural periods, Arundells is one of the finest houses in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close, with parts of the property dating back to the 13th Century. It was acquired in 1985 by Sir Edward Heath KG MBE, Prime Minister, Statesman, sailor and musician, who bequeathed Arundells to the Charitable Foundation set up in his name following his death in 2005. Arundells is presented today as it was when Sir Edward lived here, with gifts from leaders such as Nixon, Chairman Mao and Fidel Castro sitting alongside beautiful collections of ceramics, glassware and sculpture. Arundells hosts a number of events and exhibitions throughout the year, including outdoor theatre, historical and political talks and intimate concerts. We are also available for private events and parties. Please visit our website or Facebook page for more details.
Reviewed By GadgetGalG - Woburn Sands, United Kingdom
Arrived at 12:30 and when we left the house and checked our watches, we were amazed to see it was 16:30. For four hours we had wandered the house, delighted by the room stewards who had such fascinating insights and information, we were just enthralled. We learned so much and left with a much deeper understanding of both Sir Edward Heath and his life and interests as well as the politics of the time and the relationships between Sir Edward and other political figures. The political cartoons were hilarious. The house felt really lovely and you could really imagine living there. So pleased to have seen this.
8. Queen Elizabeth Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By KuldipS109 - Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Beautiful stunning place. Great that it has a very shallow stream rubbing through the middle making it perfect for a paddle.
9. Old Sarum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,599 reviews
Reviewed By A2051PNandrewl - Salisbury, United Kingdom
If you are visiting Salisbury, and appreciate it's history, don't miss a visit to Old Sarum. Great views of the city, informative and enthusiastic staff and lots of information boards to help you enjoy your visit. You may be surprised to discover how important Old Sarum was, but you'll have to visit to find out more...
10. Salisbury Market Place
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 119 reviews
Reviewed By theresag876
love salisbury market place.very interesting stalls and friendly market traders.well worth visiting salisbury just to visit the market
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