Places to visit in historic Salisbury
Salisbury is well sited in the rural heartland of England and contains some historical gems that are well worth a visit. With plenty of places to stay you will be sure to find a Salisbury hotel or guesthouse to suit whilst you explore the city and surrounding area. The city contains places to stay dating back to the 13th century - perfect for history enthusiasts. Those that prefer staying outside of a city could try a hotel in Wilton, the ancient capital of Wessex, only a few miles from Salisbury city centre. Accomodation Salisbury style varies and there are great places to suit most budgets and tastes.
On the 'must see' list for the area are the World Heritage site of Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, and Wilton House.
Mystery shrouds the 5,000 year old monument of Stonehenge. Decide for yourself whether Stonehenge was a sacred burial site, a place of sun worship, or something other by taking a guided tour. Stonehenge is a powerful link to the once-great peoples of the late Stone and Bronze Ages who went to great efforts to build the monument. Some of the stones were carried hundreds of miles over land and sea, and bones were used to dig the pits that now hold the stones. The stones still inspire wonder and are impressive to see for real.
Salisbury Cathedral is one of the finest medieval Cathedrals in Britain and is the Mother Church of the several hundred parishes of Wiltshire and Dorset. Built from over 60,00 tons of Chilmark stone and 10,000 tons of Purbeck stone the cathedral was built in just 38 years. For over 750 years people have come to Salisbury to seek inspiration and peace in the building and surrounding Cathedral Close. Whether you go to worship, climb up Britain's tallest spire (404 feet) or to be awed by the beauty and scale of the cathedral interior you will not be disappointed. The Chapter House contains the original Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter") - one of the most important documents in English history. It has become recognised as a cornerstone of liberty, greatly influencing much of the civilized world. Three of the original clauses are still used in law today.
Wilton house is a beautiful stately home that has been lived in by the Pembroke family for over 450 years. It is still first and foremost an ancestral home to the family. The Single and Double Cube Rooms are now recognised as the grandest rooms of their period in England. The buildings and land were granted to Sir William Herbert in 1544 by King Henry VIII and the house has been passed down the family line ever since. The house opened its doors to the public on the 1st May 1951 and visitors can now enjoy the history, architecture, art collection, gardens and Palladian bridge.
With these and many more sites of interest, why not visit Salisbury and find out for yourself?