Salisbury Guide Wiltshire History Maps Hotels

Salisbury Guide

Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and is the second largest community in the county by population behind Swindon.

Another name for Salisbury is New Sarum which distinguishes it from the historic settlement to the north of the city called Old Sarum. However, this alternative name is not commonly used. Salisbury is located in southeastern Wiltshire, near the Salisbury Plain.

Salisbury is located at the confluence of five rivers: the Nadder, Wylye, Ebble and Bourne which are tributary to the Avon.

Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England, UK. — Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England

Salisbury History

Although Salisbury was not established until 1220, there has been a community in the area since Neolithic times on the nearby hilltop of Old Sarum.

Old Sarum became a hill fort in the Iron Age which may later have also have been occupied by the Romans. Later yet, the Saxons established themselves there and called it Searesbyrig followed by the Normans who built a castle on the site. By 1086, in the Domesday Book, the site was called Salesberie.

St Bishop Osmund built the first Salisbury Cathedral at Old Sarum between 1075 and 1092, and it was enlarged around 1120. However, a dispute between the clergy and the military at Old Sarum led to the decision to move the cathedral, and in 1220, the city of New Sarum (a.k.a. Salisbury) was founded on a great meadow.

Bishop Richard Poore started construction of the new cathedral in the same year, and the main body was completed in only 38 years. Salisbury Cathedral is a masterpiece of Early English architecture. The cathedral's 123 metre tall spire was added later and is the tallest spire in the UK.

Old Sarum near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. — Old Sarum near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England

The New Inn pub in Salisbury. — The New Inn, an historic pub in the centre of Salisbury

Salisbury Attractions

Salisbury is best known for its cathedral. Salisbury Cathedral is formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is an Anglican cathedral. Visitors can take the "Tower Tour" in order to view the interior of the hollow spire, with its ancient wood scaffolding.

The cathedral hosts the largest cloister and the largest cathedral close in Britain as well as the world's oldest working clock (from 1386 AD). Visitors to Salisbury Cathedral can also view the best surviving of the four original copies of the Magna Carta. Of the other copies, two are in the British Library in London and the other in Lincoln Castle.

Another attraction for visitors is The Salisbury Museum (previously the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum), which is housed in the King's House, a Grade I listed building dating from the 13th century. This building lies just opposite the west front of the cathedral.

The Salisbury Museum (previously the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum) features a permanent Stonehenge exhibition gallery with interactive displays about Stonehenge and the archaeology of south Wiltshire. The museum also displays the skeleton of the Amesbury Archer. The Pitt Rivers gallery in the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum holds a collection from General Augustus Rivers, who is often called the "father of modern archaeology". Finally, the costume gallery highlights costumes and textiles from the area with historical costumes for children to try on.

Mompesson House

Mompesson House was built in 1701 for Charles Mompesson (1670-1714). Mompesson was the MP for Old Sarum. It is located in the Cathedral Close of Salisbury Cathedral. Over the next two centuries and a half, the property had a variety of owners. These included Elizabeth and Charles Longueville, the Hayter family, the Portmans and subsequently the bishops of Salisbury. The house is famous for its plaster work, remarkable oak staircase and period furniture. The property is now managed by the National Trust.

Sarum College

Sarum College is an ecumenical study and research centre. The College attracts scholars and students from throughout the UK and has an excellent reputation for theological education. It is based in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close.

The remains of a Norman castle built around the year 1069 AD, just after William's conquest of England and Wales. — The remains of a Norman castle in Old Sarum built around the year 1069 AD, just after William's conquest of England and Wales

Salisbury Shopping

Visitors will find plenty of shopping opportunities in Salisbury. Salisbury hosts the twice weekly Charter Market. Held on a Tuesdays and Saturdays, the Market Place fills with stalls selling a wide array of goods including fresh produce, clothing and household items.

Salisbury also features a great many independent shops including boutiques, arts and craft shops, and specialty food shops which can be found on Winchester Street, Fisherton Street, and the High Street.

There are also three shopping malls in the city centre: The Cross Keys, Old George Mall and the Maltings. Additionally, there is another shopping mall just three miles out of the city at Wilton; called the Wilton Shopping Village, it offers outlet shopping at highly competitive prices.

High Street City Gate, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. — High Street City Gate, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England

Salisbury Hotels

Salisbury features a wide variety of accommodation options from Salisbury city centre hotels and inns, to friendly B&Bs and guest houses. Riverside locations and properties in nearby villages are also available.

Try the four-star Best Western Red Lion Hotel or The Legacy Rose & Crown Hotel, also with four stars.

See a selection of the best accommodation options in Salisbury here.

New Inn, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. — New Inn, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England

Salisbury Access - Getting To Salisbury

Salisbury is well served by roads. Salisbury is located at the intersection of the A30, the A36 and the A338. Salisbury also serves as one end of the A343, A345, A354 and A360. 5 Car parks associated with a Park and Ride scheme are located around the periphery of the city and are linked to the city centre by bus transport. Under the scheme, parking and bus transport for up to 6 passengers cost £2.50.

Salisbury has daily bus links to Southampton, Bournemouth, Shaftesbury and Andover. The most important local bus company is Wilts & Dorset, which has a bus station at 8 Endless Street and a bus yard on Castle Street. There are also bus links via Stagecoach which runs the number 87 bus to Andover every two hours as well as every other journey on route 8 to Andover via Amesbury and Tidworth. Bodman's also runs the number 24 bus between Salisbury and Warminster.

Salisbury is also served by trains. Salisbury railway station is where the West of England Main Line, from London Waterloo to Exeter St David's Station in Exeter, and the Wessex Main Line from Bristol to Southampton, cross. The station is operated by South West Trains. First Great Western also operates hourly trains from Cardiff, Bristol, Bath Spa to Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.