Experience Salisbury during English Tourism Week
Salisbury is a wonderfully intimate city, set in beautiful Wiltshire countryside. Five rivers, the Cathedral Close, medieval buildings, green spaces and water meadows – Salisbury is a city on a human scale, a city made for exploring. What better time to discover how special our city is than right now, during English Tourism Week (18th to 27th March 2022).
Whether you are a local resident or a visitor, there is always something new to experience. With a wide range of entertainment venues, delicious foodie venues and world-class attractions, Salisbury has a lot to offer all year round.
Here are some of the things we think you should experience in our modern medieval city, no matter when you visit:
Historic attractions
Salisbury Cathedral. The iconic building has towered majestically over the city for 800 years and its spire (the tallest in the UK) still acts as a beacon, guiding visitors to the city, to this very day. Here you will be able to see one of the four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta and the world’s oldest working clock. Take a tour up the tower for amazing views of the city and surrounding countryside, visit the historic library or learn from the stonemasons. There’s so much to see and do! Residents from the SP1, SP2 and Laverstock areas have free entry to the cathedral with proof of residence.
Explore Britain’s largest Cathedral Close, reflecting architectural styles from the 13th to 18th century. Here you will find:
Mompesson House, an 18th Century Queen Anne masterpiece of a townhouse, and location for the film Sense and Sensibility
Mompesson House in the Salisbury Cathedral Close
Arundells, the former home of the late prime minister, Sir Edward Heath
Salisbury Museum, showcasing impressive historic collections, from Stonehenge to fashion
The Wardrobe, a museum that details the fascinating history of the Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiments
An adventurous city
Salisbury is a city that can be explored by traditional or more original means! Make sure to check out our amazing green spaces, especially Queen Elizabeth Gardens where the Town Path meanders through the water meadows to Harnham. Here you’ll get to see the famous view of Salisbury Cathedral painted by Constable. It’s also a good route for taking the family out on bikes.
Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury
If you want something a little different, take to the water in a punt! Enjoy the unique Salisbury Punting experience from May to September. If adrenaline is your thing, you could also try skydiving, off-roading on Salisbury Plain or a hot air balloon trip over southern Wiltshire.
Take on a challenge
We’ll help you challenge your brain, your friends and your family! Salisbury has three escape rooms that offer fun for all ages.
Salisbury Escape Rooms on Fisherton Street is the only escape room in the country to be devised and built by UK detectives. If you play ‘Death at the Lab’ you’ll get to investigate a murder and work out who did it.
At Live Escape Rooms Salisbury, you can choose between their two sites. Book their Castle Street location to play Spectre, a game where you have to work out what happened to the scientists at a research station. Or, in their new building in the Cross Keys Shopping Centre, you’ll get to become a pirate and play their new Pieces of Eight puzzle or attempt to escape The Brig!
Live Escape Rooms Salisbury in their new 14th century home in the Cross Keys Shopping Centre
Festivals
Salisbury is a vibrant city and embraces the arts, with first class venues offering quality entertainment throughout the year. They might not be on this week during Tourism Week, but these festivals are definitely on the ‘not-to-be-missed' list:
Salisbury Cathedral’s Flower Festival will see thirty thousand gorgeous blooms decorate the iconic cathedral building, with a fabulous array celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the end of Cathedral’s 800th anniversary year.
Salisbury International Arts Festival, held at the end of May to mid-June, features a diverse programme of music, theatre, film, dance, spoken word, visual arts, family and free events across the city.
Celebrate Voice, held in October, brings together leading international singers and the local community with a diverse 10-day programme of inspiring celebrity performances, and uplifting singing.
Chalke Valley History Festival was founded with the modest intention of funding the local cricket club and has rapidly developed into a much-loved national event. Situated in beautiful countryside the summer festival attracts some of the best-known history experts in the UK.
Salisbury Cathedral’s Organ Festival returns after a two year delay, with seven evening concerts, all of which will showcase the famous Father Willis organ, some of the country’s best-known organists and cathedral musicians.
Shops
In Salisbury we celebrate the unique and the quirky, the local and the original. Salisbury is unlike any other high street, with 200 independent shops. We feel it is important to champion our artisans – whether they make jewellery, clothes or sausages! Their craft and care are the signatures of our city. Find out more about our shops here.
Dine out in style
For over 800 years Salisbury’s hospitality businesses have offered a warm, friendly welcome and we take pride in continuing that tradition. Today, we offer a mix of traditional and original, from historic pubs and tea rooms, modern cafes, fine dining experiences, delicious independent foodie venues and restaurants. When the sun goes down Salisbury comes to life with stylish cocktail bars, riverside terraces, live music and nightclubs. Click here for a full list of fabulous foodie venues.
Thai Sarocha in Salisbury
Beyond Salisbury
Salisbury is located close to both the coast and countryside, making it an ideal location to base yourself for longer trips. 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 also located just outside the city of Salisbury. We’re also got some of the prettiest villages and wide-open countryside to explore. Find more about those here.
Wiltshire's prehistoric stone cirlce, Stonehenge
Our big tip
Book a Guided Walking Tour. The Blue Badge Guides know our city inside out, from historic events to ghostly tales, they’ll explain our 800 years of history!
There is a lot to discover in and around Salisbury. Experience Salisbury is here to help you make the most of your trip, whenever you visit. if you are part of a larger group, make sure you take a look at our Travel Guide for more Salisbury inspiration.
Experience Salisbury.....
Featured
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral has been a place of worship, welcome, and hospitality for over 800 years. The story of this great Cathedral is a tale of defiance and ingenuity that begins back in 1218.
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City Centre Location
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Dog Friendly
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Disabled Access
Arundells
Arundells is a Grade II Listed home in the heart of Salisbury Cathedral Close. It is the former home of the late Sir Edward Heath – Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974.
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City Centre Location
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Dog Friendly
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Disabled Access
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Venue Hire Available
Fisherton Mill - Gallery | Cafe | Studios
Fisherton Mill is so much more than an amazing art gallery located in one of Salisbury's most beautiful restored buildings.
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Independent Business
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City Centre Location
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Outside Seating Available
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Dog Friendly
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Disabled Access
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Vegetarian Options
The Vanner Gallery
The Vanner Gallery is a new space in the heart of the city of Salisbury, dedicated to making contemporary art and craft accessible.
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Independent Business
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City Centre Location
Salisbury Cathedral Close
800 years of history is on show in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close. At 80 acres it is Britain’s largest Cathedral Close and reflects architectural styles from the 13th through to the 20th Century.
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City Centre Location
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Dog Friendly
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Disabled Access
Her Salisbury Footprint
A Heritage Trail and Walking Tour of Salisbury that highlights the homes and other locations associated with some of the historical women who have made a significant contribution to the city.
Free
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City Centre Location