Salisbury, United Kingdom

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Coordinates : 51.064961, -1.796588 (Open in Google Maps)

Subjects : Salisbury is a Medieval city in the mid south of England that has almost totally grown up around its medieval wool trade and its wonderful elegant Gothic style Cathedral. With the tallest Spire in the UK, at 123m, which when you consider was added over 500 years ago, before mechanics and cranes etc, was a true engineering achievement. The foundations of the Cathedral are only around 1.3metres deep and it was built on a flood-plain! Celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the ground-breaking Magna Carta have just taken place as one of only four copies is held in the Cathedral's Chapter House. The Magna Carta is seen as one the most important movements towards democracy in European history. We have the world's oldest working clock here too! The Cathedral Close is an enclosed space that is locked at night and has some wonderful old buildings. Also in the Close is Mompesson House, a National Trust "18th century spacious and elegant house". Also, Salisbury Museum and the Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum are located in the Close, as is former UK Prime Minister Edward's Heath residence 'Arundels', which is open to the public on occasion. Mr Heath is buried in the Cathedral. There are plenty of old half timbered 'black and white' medieval houses in the city and cosy and characteristic pubs and restaurants. St Thomas' Church predates the Cathedral and was where many of the builders and stonemasons worshipped whilst working on Cathedral. It features unique and important early medieval 'Judgement' paintings. Huge windows help with a rather dark interior. There is good local walking and cycling with good road links to attractions in nearby places, such as Bath or Bournemouth. Salisbury International Arts Festival is held across various venues in the city, including the cathedral, for two weeks, every May. With a wide variety of music, classical and rock/pop/folk/world, literary performances, street theatre, film and dance. Some public area events are free, others can be expensive.

Recommended equipment : For general sightseeing, your standard kit will suffice. Inside the cathedral, faster lenses no doubt, but not absolutely essential as most areas are surprisingly bright. Tripods are NOT allowed. You are free to photograph for amateur use, included in the entrance (see 'Visits')

Best months : Like any city (Salisbury is actually the size of a town) there is something all year round, but May is probably the best, as the International Arts Festival comes to town, bringing two weeks of culture and entertainment. This also creates a buzz as locals get excited and we have people from all over the world visiting and of course, adding to the local economy. Christmas around any cathedral city is always rather special too and there is a Christmas Market with pretty wooden chalets in the Market Square.

How to get there : Salisbury is 13km south of the A303 (which goes past Stonehenge further west), the main road from London (via the M3) to the south west of England. Salisbury is served by the main railway line between London and Exeter and there is a half hourly/hourly service from London between 5 a.m in the morning and 11pm at night. Airports - Southampton or Bournemouth, but internationally, Heathrow.

Visits : Entrance to the Cathedral is via a mandatory donation of a 'suggested' ten Euro, (actually 6.50 pounds) but you can pay less, if you have to (or more, if you are able to!). Mompesson House is about 8.50 Euro. Salisbury Museum is 8.00 pounds sterling. There may be offers on all inclusive tickets or discounts provided by travel or other companies on all attractions. Outside of Salisbury is Old Sarum - a huge hillfort 3km north of the cathedral which was the original city, before it expanded and moved into the valley below. It's run by English Heritage and is well worth a visit, especially on a fine day, if nothing else, for the views alone. Entrance is about five Euro. Six km west is the large and grand stately home Wilton House, that has been featured in costume drama films. And Stonehenge, too, of course, almost all weekend visitors include this iconic world-famous World Heritage neolithic stone circle in their tour, 13 km north west of Salisbury.

Notes : I have lived in Salisbury for the past 15 years and went to school (in the Cathedral Close) for six years as a boy. That is why I have taken rather a lot of photos in Salisbury and can write this text from personal experience.