Salisbury. Welcoming visitors since 1227.
Salisbury is a wonderfully intimate city, a city made for group visits. It is set in beautiful Wiltshire countryside, with five rivers, the Cathedral Close, medieval buildings, green spaces and water meadows to discover.
The Salisbury team is keen to work with group travel organisers to develop stand out and unique itineraries.
You can find more information about Group Travel to Salisbury by downloading our Travel Trade Guide here.
If you require further information you can email inspire@experiencesalisbury.co.uk
Salisbury is a city on a human scale, a city made for exploring. Being smaller, it is easy to get around without the big crowds that can so often drown larger cities. There is space to breath, but still plenty to see and do. Attractions here offer something for everyone, whether you want history, arts and culture or shopping.
We have put together some new group itineraries for 2024 to help you make the most of our modern medieval city.
Salisbury Rediscovered is a two-day, one night itinerary during Spring - Summer 2024, including a behind the scenes tour at Salisbury Cathedral’s Library and Salisbury Museum along with time to enjoy one of the oldest Charter Markets in Britain. Click here to download.
Salisbury’s Green and Open Spaces is a two-day, one night itinerary during Summer 2024, including a brand-new art exhibition in the Cathedral and time to explore Salisbury’s beautiful gardens, walks and outside spaces. Click here to download.
Salisbury’s History and Heritage is a two-day, one night itinerary full of historic insights, all within easy walking distance - including the city’s must-sees, stunning vantage points, unique places to eat and drink and the best independent retail for miles around. Click here to download.
Salisbury is The City of Stars this Christmas is a two-day, one night itinerary during December 2024 for organised tours, including stargazing from Salisbury Cathedral and time to get festive with our exclusive illuminated city of stars trail and pop-up market. Click here to download.
There are many reasons to visit our beautiful, timeless city. Find more information below or contact us by emailing inspire@experiencesalisbury.co.uk
Location
Salisbury is located close to both the coast and countryside. The New Forest is just 30-minutes from the city and offers a protected forest with roaming ponies, deer and cattle, whilst Dorset is an hour drive and provides access to Bournemouth and the stunning Jurassic Coast with 250 million years of the earth’s history to discover.
Old Sarum, an iron age hillfort and Stonehenge, the UNESCO World Heritage Site are located just outside the city of Salisbury.
Travel
Our beautiful medieval city lies in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside. It is a short drive to the A303 (which takes you straight to London or down to the South West) and lies on a main train line, making it the perfect location for a group stop.
Salisbury train station lies on the direct route from London to Exeter. There are also direct lines to Southampton and Bristol. If you do come by train, the station is just a ten-minute easy walk to the city centre.
If coming by car, there are five Park & Ride sites on the outskirts of Salisbury that provide a regular bus service into Salisbury city centre running every 15 minutes.
Salisbury’s Central Car Park also offers long-stay tickets for those wanting to drive into the city centre. For coaches, there are two areas to park, one within the city centre at Millstream Coach Park with an overflow on the A338 at Britford.
You can find more information on our travel page.
Experience
Salisbury has become known for its medieval history and charm. It is a traditionally original city and its wonderful architecture can be seen on every corner. For those groups that want to dig a little deeper there are plenty of places to do just that.
Salisbury Cathedral is one of England’s must-see attractions. Sitting in the Cathedral Close it dominates the skyline and you can’t help but be impressed by its towering design. On a visit here you will also get to see the best-preserved remaining copy of the Magna Carta and the world’s oldest working clock.
The Cathedral Close has much to offer. Groups are welcomed at Salisbury Museum, Arundells (the former home of Sir Edward Heath), The Rifle's Museum and Mompesson House - or why not picnic on the Cathedral lawn. Please note group bookings for many of our attractions do need to be made in advance. Please check with them direct.
Whether you are part of a group of adults, or mixed with children, you can head to Salisbury Playhouse for top-quality theatre productions. They offer a range of productions for all ages.
Salisbury is a city brimming with imagination. The breadth of creativity here is on show through our many art galleries, including Fisherton Mill, the largest independent gallery in the south of England. Art lovers should also try The Vanner Gallery, Gallery 21 and the Young Gallery.
Prefer to hit the shops? Then make sure to take advantage of Salisbury’s wealth of independents. With over 200 across the city centre, they offer an array of unique products from clothes to jewellery and art. You can see more details here.
In March 2022, the city was named in the top 10 family-friendly travel destinations in the UK, by travel guide Bounce. Salisbury came 7th, when judged on criteria including family attractions, weather, affordability, safety, and restaurants that were welcoming to families.
Tours
If you really want to delve into the medieval history of Salisbury then a guided tour is a popular choice for groups. Whether it’s learning more about Salisbury Cathedral, the spooky side of Salisbury or a tour that takes in Old Sarum and Stonehenge, there are plenty of options. Find out more here.
Taste
For those looking to recharge the batteries during a day of sight-seeing, Salisbury has a range of food establishment to suit all tastes whether it’s an inviting café, traditional pub or fine-dining restaurant you would prefer.
Make sure to check our historic offerings, from Europe's oldest purpose built hotel The Red Lion, or the Haunch of Venison, a pub that's full of political secrets and a mummified hand!
A full list of restaurants in Salisbury can be found here.
Sleep
There are plenty of options for those wanting to stay in Salisbury for a night, or longer. From B&Bs to camp sites and luxury hotels, we’ll make sure your whole group gets a good night sleep after a long day exploring. Many of our larger hotels offer group rates if you contact them direct. You can see a list of accommodation in Salisbury here.
Disabled Access
Disabled access is available to many of our attractions here in Salisbury, and if you need a little extra help to get around then Shopmobility hires out vehicles and aids to those with walking difficulties. Find all the information here.
Public Toilets
If you're caught short during your visit, don’t worry, there are plenty of public toilets dotted around the city centre. You can find them here.
Further Information
There are so many things for groups to see and do in Salisbury we just don’t have room to list them all here! For ideas and inspiration – from top picnic spots to the best pubs for a Sunday roast - head to our blog and itineraries pages.
We look forward to welcoming you to our modern medieval city very soon!