Salisbury, UK, is a pretty big city, so there are a lot of things that can be done. But, there are some activities and places that should be visited before any others. Before you check out the best things to do in Salisbury, UK, if you don’t know where to stay yet, we suggest that you book one of the top Airbnb vacation rentals.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 04, 2024.
1. Join an off-road tour (from USD 223.0)
Done with the Stonehenge? It might be time to see Salisbury in a different light and book a private tour of the city. By joining this tour, you will get to see some of the best and vastest terrains in the city, including the Salisbury Plain Safaris, that most visitors do not get a chance of seeing. You’ll ride an all-terrain vehicle, which will take you to hidden gems out in the boonies that other vehicles won’t reach. A host will be serving snacks and refreshments, and you will be picked up and dropped off at convenient meeting points.
Private Salisbury Plain Off-Road Tour
Duration: 2 hours
2. Conquer your fear of heights with GoSkydive
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by GoSkydive on Monday, January 4, 2021
Only the brave at heart will be able to conquer this extreme activity. If you’re adventurous enough, cross skydiving off your bucket list and make it happen during your trip to Salisbury. A highly recommended skydiving center in the area is GoSkydive, which is located on the outskirts of town and is close to the iconic Stonehenge. The ultimate option is the 60-second freefall, with a drop of 15,000 ft. (4572 meters). To capture one of the best moments of your life, you can also choose from a few camera options: instructor handcam, free-fall photographer, or both!
GoSkydive
Address: Old Sarum Park, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6EB, United Kingdom
Website: GoSkydive
Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)
3. Geek out at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
For the aviation enthusiasts out there, you will actually find plenty of things to do in the city that is right up your alley since Salisbury is home to Old Sarum Airfield, an aerodrome used for passenger transport and flying lessons. Case in point: Boscombe Down Aviation Collection. The exhibit includes aircraft, cockpits, model weapons, and trial equipment that tells the origin of flight testing in the United Kingdom. Feel like a captain yourself, explore the insides of the cockpits, and fire up the control system!
Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
Address: Hangar 1 Old Sarum Airfield, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6DZ, United Kingdom
Website: Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
4. Explore the historic Old Sarum
History buffs will find joy in this next attraction in the city. Old Sarum is where the oldest settlement in Salisbury was located, and evidence of these prehistoric settlements in Old Sarum was recorded in 3000 BC. It has become of the most popular historical landmarks in the United Kingdom and is considered an English heritage property. If you’re coming on a budget, this attraction should be next on your list as there is no entrance fee. It is close to the site of the Stonehenge, so squeezing in a visit shouldn’t be a hard feat!
Old Sarum
Address: Castle Rd, Salisbury SP1 3SD, United Kingdom
Salisbury Tour Guide
Andrew Wheeler
Greetings. My name is Andy, and I am a Blue-badge Tourist Guide, accredited through the Institute of Tourist Guiding in London since c.2014. I live in the New Forest, a national park, famous for its wild ponies, located in Hampshire. The nearest city to me is Southampton. I conduct both walking tours and coach tours in the area known as Wessex, which includes the counties of Hampshire, Isle ... Read more
Tours by Andrew
5. Take a stroll down Queen Elizabeth Gardens
The tranquility of Salisbury is one of its greatest assets. Enjoy a quiet day for yourself and visit Queen Elizabeth Gardens. This riverside park boasts vast green fields, colorful flowerbeds, and towering trees. Access to the park is completely free, so if you’re following a tight budget on your trip, this should be on your list of places to visit. Nearby attractions include the cathedral and River Avon. Feel free to just sit by the benches, marvel at the scenery, have your own picnic, and watch the day go by.
Queen Elizabeth Gardens
Address: Cranebridge Rd, Salisbury, SP2 7TD UK
Website: Queen Elizabeth Gardens
Opening hours: 24/7 (daily)
6. Salisbury Cathedral
#FactFriday The traumas which befell Europe in the beginning of the 20th century, with two World Wars bracketing a Great...
Posted by Salisbury Cathedral on Friday, 24 February 2017
Don’t know where to go or what to do in Salisbury? One of the treasures in Salisbury, this church is was finished in the year 1258 and is one of Britain’s finest medieval cathedrals. The architecture of the cathedral is amazing and all its statues are marvelously carved, too. There is also a part of the cathedral where the Magna Carta of 1215 is housed. There’s a lot of history in this church, so if that’s an interest to you, it’s a great experience and should definitely be checked out. Fun fact: For Harry Potter fans, this is the building they used for a lot of the Hogwarts scenes, in all eight movies.
Salisbury Cathedral
Address: The Close, Salisbury Wiltshire, UK
Website: Salisbury Cathedral
7. Wilton House
Posted by Michelle Whittaker on Sunday, 16 April 2017
The Wilton House is an old country house that has been around since 1544. It’s a remarkable masterpiece to behold, as you walk towards the enormous building. The house sits on 14,000 acres (5665.6 hectares) and there are also well-maintained gardens, a racecourse, and a golf course, on the property. The house has been open to the public since about 1958 and continues to bring in people from all over the world.
Wilton House
Website: Wilton House
8. The Salisbury Museum
Love ceramics? We are open from midday tomorrow for all sorts of inspiration...
Posted by The Salisbury Museum on Saturday, 6 May 2017
Tah dah!
Posted by The Salisbury Museum on Saturday, 15 April 2017
The Salisbury Museum is a great place to take kids because of the interactive exhibits and activities. This is a museum though, so being respectful of all the exhibits is a must and you must not use flash photography, as it can harm the pieces in the museum. There is a lot of history here and the exhibits are interesting, so be sure to check out the Salisbury Museum, when in Salisbury.
The Salisbury Museum
Address: The King’s House, 65 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire UK
Website: The Salisbury Museum
9. Arundells
Posted by Arundells on Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Another historical place in Salisbury, Arundells is open to the public on a daily basis. It reflects Sir Edward’s time in public office and contains his collections of paintings, sailing and musical memorabilia, Oriental and European ceramics, cartoons, bronzes, Chinese and Japanese artwork, photographs and so much more. There is a lot to see in this Salisbury attraction, and there is even access to the 2 acre (.8 hectare) garden behind it, that everyone can enjoy. This is definitely a day trip as it could take a few hours to get through everything.
Arundells
Address: 59 Cathedral Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
Website: Arundells
10. High Street Gate
This is the main opening to the Cathedral Close, in Salisbury. Built between 1327 and 1342, it housed a small jail, for those convicted of misdeeds within the Liberty of the Close. The gates are open from six in the morning to eleven in the evening, so there is plenty of time to explore the old grounds, within a day. It’s been closed several times for repairs since it is so old but they never last too long and people can continue to explore the gate and the grounds, within.
High Street Gate
Address: High Street, Salisbury UK
Website: High Street Gate
11. The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum
You may still be asking what is there to do in Salisbury. The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum is a great place to visit for those who have an interest in guns. This museum tells how the many different guns work, how and when they were used and they even have old guns that have been refurbished enough to display. They don’t just share the guns themselves, but also the history that surrounds the different pieces. Learning about the Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiments is also pretty interesting.
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum
Address: The Wardrobe, 58 The Close, Wiltshire, Salisbury UK
12. Harnham Water Meadows
Posted by Paul Zinger Harwood on Monday, 7 November 2016
This is a beautiful park that would make a lovely and relaxing afternoon trip. Try to take a picnic basket full of goodies or a nice little walk with the family. Visitors can get some wonderful pictures of the park when it’s a bright, sunny day.
Harnham Water Meadows
Website: Harnham Water Meadows
13. Mompesson House
Posted by Katrina Hadjimichael on Saturday, 13 May 2017
An 18th-century house, Mompesson House is open to visitors who wish to learn what the inside of an English townhouse looked like. They have rooms that are open for everyone to look through but be sure not to touch anything and be mindful not to use flash photography. Be sure to stay long enough for tea and cakes, as they are a specialty of the house.
Mompesson House
Address: The Close, Wiltshire Salisbury, UK
Website: Mompesson House
14. Larmer Tree Gardens
We’re so excited for the return of the Salisbury International Arts Festival next week (26 May-10 June). There’s...
Posted by Larmer Tree Festival on Friday, 19 May 2017
After a truly amazing 26th festival, which we were all incredibly proud of, we have made the very difficult decision...
Posted by Larmer Tree Festival on Wednesday, 31 August 2016
The Larmer Tree Gardens are actually the grounds for a festival that takes place every year. They have music performances, games and other activities, and even jugglers, among other street performances. It’s a great time for those who are able to attend. Travelers can book their vacation around this particular event, as it’s one of the fun things to do around Salisbury.
Larmer Tree Gardens
Address: Larmer Tree Gardens, Wiltshire, Salisbury UK
Website: Larmer Tree Gardens
15. Stonehenge (from USD 196.0)
Tick Stonehenge off your bucket list in 2017! http://buff.ly/2hNRAM8
Posted by Stonehenge on Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Stonehenge has been around for thousands of years and is definitely the main attraction of Salisbury. Visitors of Stonehenge will take a little bus to the actual monument, with a tour guide explaining all kinds of things along the way. They then walk the group up and around the monument, to get a good look at every angle and take photos with the huge stones. The only drawback of visiting this area is that visitors can’t get very close to the creation as there are ropes all around the structure. They want to preserve the monument for as long as possible, which is a great idea, as it is a fascinating place with an even more fascinating history.
Stonehenge Inner Circle Access, Bath, and Lacock from London
Duration: 10 hours 30 minutes
Great place to visit
Salisbury, in the United Kingdom, is a great place to visit. The city has so much history and there are so many activities to do here, that travelers will never be bored. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring your camera, when visiting Salisbury.
Frequently asked questions about the best things to do in Salisbury, UK
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