day trip from London or part of a wider British road trip.
Take time to ramble past King’s House, visit Mompesson House, spot Harnham Gate and keep your eyes peeled for the stunning Elizabethan and Georgian Era properties. We loved it.
1.) Salisbury Cathedral
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Wiltshire County, where Salisbury is located, is absolutely chocked full of ancient artefacts, medieval ruins and historic spots to see! It’s a county steeped in history and one that can be easily explored within the Salisbury Museum.
Now, Poultry Cross is a gorgeous market cross (a sort of royal approval to hold markets) which has stood proudly since medieval times. Since that moment, Salisbury has held an open-air market in the town all the way back since the 1300s. To this day, you can still visit the market that happens on a Tuesday and Thursday at this very spot!
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Not only that, the Haunch of Venison is said to be one of Salisbury’s most haunted spots! There was even a mummified hand found in the fireplace, too! Apparently, the lone hand belonged to a disgruntled patron from centuries ago. Apparently, he lost it as penance after being caught cheating at a card game!
As you wander around the town, be sure to spot my favourites – St Anne’s Gate that’s close to Salisbury Cathedral Close and see High Street Gate that dates all the way back to the 1200s. Totally stunning and still standing proudly in the city.
Oh, and don’t forget to check out both the Single Cubed Room and the Double Cube Room for which Wilton House is most famous.
2.) Salisbury’s historic centre
Wilton House, built-in 1653 after a fire destroyed the Tudor home, is an absolutely gorgeous example of classic Baroque design style and is so unique to see.
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You can easily take a stroll around Cathedral Close, following the route outlined by the National Trust and it’s just perfect on a sunny day.
Once at Stonehenge, be sure to take your time to wander around the prehistoric structures were created and check out the Neolithic homes to see what life may have been like back then.
Inside, you’ll also find medieval tombstones dating as far back as the 13th century, and breathtaking 19th and 20th-century stained-glass windows that are world-renowned.
Also, if it’s museums you’re after, be sure to stop off at The Wardrobe that houses the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum. If you’re into historic military exhibits, you’ll love this place. If not, maybe give it a miss!
With thousands of years of history, it’s been discovered that the stones for Stonehenge were actually transported from the Preseli Hills in West Wales. We headed there recently and even checked out Pentre Ifan, a neolithic burial site that dates back 5,000 years and within earshot of the hills themselves. Anyway, that’s another story!
To get here, drive north of Salisbury’s historic centre (for around 1.5 miles) to reach the ancient ruins. Old Sarum is, nowadays, a well-protected English Heritage site and one of the best things to do in Salisbury if you’re something of a history buff.
3.) Cathedral Close
Finish up your visit to Salisbury Cathedral by taking a guided tour up the tower which, keeping with the theme, also has the country’s tallest spire! Known for holding one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta, the Salisbury Cathedral, one of England’s most popular cathedrals and one of the city’s oldest structures, dating back to 1258. Its architecture is classically gothic and has many unique and awe-inspiring features that you really can’t miss (both inside and out).
Stonehenge might be one of England’s most famous spots to see – and it’s right on the doorstep of Salisbury!
4.) Old Sarum
With amazing portraits of King Charles and his family hanging on the walls and ornate ceilings Wilton House definitely deserves all the hype – especially for a few hours trip from the centre of Salisbury
Take a look, below, at the best things to do in Salisbury. Have a gorgeous trip!
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Afterwards, take a stroll through 15th century Salisbury, passing by buildings of the time including St. Thomas of Canterbury, a parish church, and the Plume of Feathers Inn where you can stop for a tipple.
Explore the historic settlement, giving a little extra time for the ancient castle, too.
5.) Gates of Salisbury
To work off your lunch, take a stroll down the trails that line the River Avon, via the Queen Elizabeth Gardens.
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Surrounding Salisbury Cathedral, Cathedral Close was traditionally where the members of the Cathedral would live their day-to-day lives.
6.) The Salisbury Museum
Surrounding Salisbury Cathedral, Cathedral Close was traditionally where the members of the Cathedral would live their day-to-day lives.
Located on a hill fortified since the Iron Ages, Old Sarum is Salisbury’s earliest settlement.
