Salisbury & Stonehenge
Superbly situated in southern England's rural heartland, few destinations can match the amazing diversity of Salisbury and Stonehenge - with over 5,000 years of history there is no shortage of places to visit, all conveniently located within an hour or so's drive of each other.
Situated high on Salisbury Plain, the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument of unique importance. Its orientation on the rising and setting sun has always been one of its most remarkable features, yet its origins remain shrouded in mystery. During the day you can view Stonehenge from the paths around the perimeter; but for a really special experience, pre-bookable Stone Circle Access tours are available early in the morning or in the evening, in which you can walk within and around the stones.
Ten miles south of Stonehenge lies medieval Salisbury. The city's five rivers are the source of its glorious water-meadows and the awe-inspiring sight of the Cathedral, rising from these lush, green fields, has been described as 'Britain's best view'.
Salisbury Cathedral is Britain's finest 13th century cathedral. Completed in AD1258, it offers one superlative after another, from the tallest spire in Britain and the oldest working clock in Europe, to the world's best preserved original Magna Carta and the largest cathedral cloisters in Britain. The Tower Tour offers a fascinating chance to explore the roof spaces, while choral evensong is a concert in itself - open to all, free of charge!
Outside the city lies a natural landscape of exquisite beauty, where rolling hills, chalk downlands and tree-lined river valleys combine with charming country towns and villages to epitomise rural England at its very best. This is great walking, cycling and horse riding country, where a fantastic range of stately homes, beautiful gardens and award-winning museums are waiting to be discovered.
When you need a break, south Wiltshire offers plenty of choice, from town pubs to country pubs, pubs with gardens to pubs with ghosts! Salisbury itself boasts a superb selection of restaurants and is renowned for its cosmopolitan pavement cafés and cosy tea shops.
One of the great things about shopping in Salisbury is the compact nature of the city centre. Yet with speciality shops, major chains, shopping malls and markets we've got all the range and variety you could wish for. Just down the road you'll find the factory outlets of Wilton Shopping Village, while many of our smaller towns and villages have interesting and quirky retailers which are well worth seeking out.
Salisbury embraces the arts in the broadest sense of the word, with first-class venues such as Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury Arts Centre and the Studio Theatre offering quality, year-round entertainment. The city also takes enormous pride in its gardens and is fortunate to have many acres of parkland and riverside settings where you can take time out to relax and recharge.
All of which makes south Wiltshire an unbeatable destination for day trips and short breaks alike!
Salisbury and Stonehenge
Nice church... great rocks
Fact Box
Visit the Salisbury website
Visit the Stonehenge website