Visiting Salisbury Cathedral should be on every traveller’s bucket list. It has so much to offer, from its stunning architecture to its world-famous artifacts like the Magna Carta. On a visit you can gaze at beautiful stained glass windows, climb a spire and look out over the whole of the city, witness a piece of paper that changed the world and listen to the ticking off the world’s oldest clock, all in one place. Come and let English history blow you away!
Climb the UK's tallest church spire
Salisbury Cathedral can be seen for miles around—you won’t be able to miss it when approaching the city! Its magnificent spire is one of England’s most iconic sights, and, at 123 m (404 ft) high, it is the UK’s tallest spire. It is also one of the country’s oldest cathedrals, consecrated in 1220 and completed in 1258. At Salisbury Cathedral you can do more than simply gaze up at the spire from ground level; it is also possibly to climb the spire as part of a tour, where you can look down on the nave from above and see the original Medieval scaffolding inside. You will then be able to gaze upon the whole of Salisbury and its beautiful surrounding countryside, while in the presence of a knowledgeable guide who can answer all your questions. It is definitely an experience you will never forget.
Marvel at the incredible interior
The outside of Salisbury Cathedral is stunning, but the inside is arguably even more so. The high ceilings, beautiful stained glass windows and huge colourful columns will take your breath away. Make sure you take your time and explore every corner, as Salisbury Cathedral is home to a large number of tributes, tombs, statues and models, many dating back centuries. It is truly amazing walking through this enormous building and thinking back to it being built 800 years ago.
Watch the world's oldest clock
One of Salisbury Cathedral’s lesser known attractive features is that it is the home to the world’s oldest functioning mechanical clock, believed to have been made around 1386. It has no face or recognisable hands, meaning it’s a far cry from today’s wall clocks—you’d be unlikely to guess its use if it weren’t surrounded by signs! The mechanics work as well today as they ever have, connected to a rope leading all the way up a bell in a tower above, which marks every hour. It’s not every day you see medieval technology in action!
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Peer into the beautiful font
The modernity of the cathedral’s font stands out among the ancient architecture, but it is equally beautiful. It was installed to mark the 750th anniversary of the cathedral’s consecration, takes the form of a cross and is designed to be constantly overflowing. The font’s best feature is definitely what can be seen in the surface of the water; despite its gentle flow, the surface is as smooth as a mirror, and as a result the stunning stained glass windows create the most amazing reflections in the font below.
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 of Wight, Dorset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, West Sussex and Royal Berkshire. My most popular tours include Southampton (Titanic), the New Forest (hunting ground of the medieval kings of England), Salisbury (home to a 13th century cathedral and an original copy of the Magna Carta), Stonehenge (an ancient wonder of the world), and Winchester (home to an 11th century cathedral and King Arthur's Round Table). Join me on a tour and discover the hidden historical gems of Wessex.
Tours by Andrew
See the famous Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is one of the most famous documents in the world. It dates back to 1215, when King John was convinced to sign it to prevent a civil war, and some of its 63 clauses are still in effect in UK law today such as the right to a fair trial. This is the best opportunity you will have to witness this iconic document for yourself, as Salisbury Cathedral is proud to own the best preserved copy still in existence. There are always experts available to answer any questions you may have, and as the Magna Carta was written in Latin there is an English translation displayed so you can understand everything the King was agreeing to. This amazing document has inspired constitutions and political agreements ever since, including the US Constitution and the UN Declaration of Human Rights, so visiting Salisbury Cathedral gives you the chance to see a real piece of world history.
Visit an important part of English history
All this and much more can be seen in Salisbury Cathedral, which truly deserves its fame and reputation. Come and visit and be surrounded by English history and beauty, all encapsulated in an iconic building.
History
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