Hey there, fellow adventurers! Today, let me take you on a journey through my recent day trip to Salisbury, a quaint yet vibrant city nestled in the heart of Wiltshire, England. From ancient cathedrals to scenic gardens, let’s relive my most recent adventure together.

How to get to Salisbury from London

As always, I started my trip in London. This time, I hopped on the direct SWR train from London Waterloo to Salisbury. The journey was a breezy 1.5 hours, and before I knew it, I was stepping into the historic city.

As the train chugged through the picturesque countryside, I eagerly anticipated the adventures that awaited me in Salisbury. With its rich history dating back thousands of years, Salisbury boasts a wealth of cultural treasures just waiting to be discovered. From its iconic cathedral to its charming streets lined with timber-framed buildings, Salisbury exudes an irresistible charm that draws visitors from near and far.

A visit to Salisbury Cathedral

After I got to Salisbury, I headed straight to the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral. From my experience, the best time to visit cathedrals on weekends as a tourist is basically as early as possible – right after they’ve opened. That way you can take beautiful photos without having other visitors in the shots.

Salisbury Cathedral, built in the 13th-14th century, was designed in a gothic style similar to most cathedrals I’ve visited in the UK. To me, it’s probably my favourite architectural style, boasting tall arches, intricate stone decorations and large stained glass windows. Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire of all UK cathedrals, at 123 metres from ground level to its peak.

In order to visit the Salisbury Cathedral, you need to purchase a ticket. I booked mine online, but you can also buy them at the door.

Salisbury Cathedral – opening times, tickets, facilities

You can check the opening times, prices and facilities on the website: https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/. You can also pre-book your tickets there.

Salisbury Cathedral – World’s Oldest Working Mechanical Clock

Salisbury Cathedral is home to a fully functional clock, dating back to the middle ages. There are debates whether it is the world’s oldest working mechanical clock, or just one of the oldest ones. What we know for sure is that the clock has survived centuries and is still fully functional to this day. What’s interesting is that the clock has no face. Its sole job was to chime every hour – ringing the bell once for 1 o’clock, twice for 2 o’clock and so on, until 12 chimes – then going back to 1. I was lucky to see a short presentation by one of the Cathedral’s guides, who explained the mechanism to us. The design seems simple, with just a few cogwheels – but imagine building it yourself, in the 14th century, with great accuracy!

Magna carta

Salisbury Cathedral is home to one of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta – an important document in the English history, which was originally issued in 1215 by King John of England in response to grievances from his barons. Magna Carta established the principle that the king was subject to the law, rather than above it, and guaranteed certain rights and liberties to nobles and freemen. It laid the groundwork for constitutional governance and the rule of law in England and has had a lasting influence on legal systems around the world. Magna Carta is located in the Chapter House, at Salisbury Cathedral’s premises. The entrance to Chapter House is located in the cloisters of the Cathedral. You need to have a valid ticket for the Cathedral to be able to visit Chapter House.

You can’t take photos of Magna Carta, but you can admire it displayed conveniently in a lit up glass panel. It’s amazing how well preserved it is! Also, imagine writing all that document with a feather, in absolute perfect handwriting!

Farm visit fiasco

The next point on my trip’s agenda was supposed to be a farm visit. I recently posted about Mudchute Farm in London, which is one of my favourite places for a weekend walk. I was excited to learn that there was a farm I could visit in Salisbury to diversify my trip. I followed Google Maps, got halfway there… and reached a narrow road with no pavement on either side, but fenced with stone walls on both sides. There seemed to be no alternatives without taking a longer detour. The road didn’t have too much traffic and it probably would have been fine to walk along it, but I gave up. It’s not something I do very often – on my daytrips, I make sure to see as much as I can. Seven museums, two parks and a cathedral? No problem! A missing pavement won’t stop me. But this time, I just couldn’t be bothered. I got about 3 hours of sleep the night before, thanks to a random bout of insomnia. Instead of persevering and following Google Maps on a questionable route in a city I’m not familiar with, I turned back and decided to do something I never do on my daytrips.

I had a sit down meal.

However, if you’re in Salisbury and fancy a farm visit – check out their website: https://www.riverbournecommunityfarm.org.uk/.

Lunch at Boston Tea Party cafe

I don’t normally include food and drink breaks on my trips. It feels like a waste of time to me, and I much prefer to walk all day, sightseeing as much as possible. Food to go or snacks brought from home are all I need. But this time, I sat down for lunch. I saw the Boston Tea Party cafe on my way to the farm and was instantly tempted to break my usual rule and have a meal there. The cafe is part of a small chain; they have their branches in a few cities in the south-west England, but none in London. I ate breakfasts at the Boston Tea Party cafe when I was in Birmingham a couple of years ago, and I loved it. It was the first time since my visit to Birmingham in 2022 that I had a chance to eat at that cafe and it was tempting indeed.

Perhaps the missing pavement was just the final straw I needed to give in and accept “wasting” 45 minutes on sitting down during a trip. But I did, and I have no regrets.

I had some delicious poached eggs with smoked salmon and sourdough toast and a cappuccino, and they hit the spot big time. 10/10!

Charity shops and Salisbury High Street

I was really impressed with Salisbury’s High Street. There’s a wide array shops including the most popular brands, but also – an absolute paradise! – a large amount of charity shops. I’m sure I’ve seen at least 10 of those in close proximity of each other. I didn’t have time for a charity shop treasure hunt during my daytrip, but if I go to Salisbury again, I’ll make sure to factor it into the plan.

A stroll through Elizabeth Gardens and Salisbury Watermeadows

Making the most of the sunny weather, I had a stroll through Elizabeth Gardens and Salisbury Watermeadows. Green, quiet spaces where River Nadder meets River Avon were perfect for a quick afternoon stroll. It was also a great place to fully realise the challenges of building Salisibury Cathedral. The city is located pretty much at water level. An interesting fact I learnt about the Cathedral is that its foundations are only 1.2m deep. Below that, it’s all water. And yet, the 13th century engineers were able to construct such an enormous building. Impressive, to say the least.

The stretches of two rivers dissecting the park were almost level with the pathways, with floodings in some areas.

The Watermeadows were full of grazing sheep. Now that’s a modern, eco-friendly lawnmower every city should have!

The Salisbury Museum

After the quick stroll, I visited The Salisbury Museum, located just next to the Cathedral. The Museum was undergoing renovations, with parts of the exhibition closed – but at least my ticket was 50% off, so that’s a win. On top of that, I was offered one of the official Museum photobooks for free, as they were in the process of getting a new edition printed. How about that!

The Museum isn’t huge, but it’s still home to many archaeological treasures and artistic masterpieces which deepened my appreciation for Salisbury’s cultural tapestry. I would definitely recommend popping into the Museum if you’re ever in Salisbury. If you’d like to visit The Salisbury Museum, check out their website: https://salisburymuseum.org.uk/.

Other museums near Salisbury Cathedral

The Cathedral Close, apart from The Salisbury Museum, is also home to other notable places.

You can learn about the infantry regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire in the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum (website).

If you’ve watched the film Sense and Sensibility, you may be interested in visiting the Mompesson House – an 18th century town house with magnificent plasterwork, fine period furniture and a tranquil garden. Check out its website for visiting information.

In the Salisbury Cathedral Close you’ll also find Arundells, a former home of Sir Edward Heath KG MBE, Prime Minister and Statesman. With paintings by Churchill and Sargent, Chinese ceramics from Chairman Mao, David Lloyd George’s writing desk and memorabilia from Nixon and Castro, it’s one of Salisbury’s popular tourist destinations. Check out its website for visiting information. 

Salisbury Cathedral Tower Tour

The last point of my daytrip itinerary was the Tower Tour at Salisbury Cathedral. The Cathedral offers a few types of guided behind-the-scenes tours, and I chose to climb the tower. After all, who doesn’t love panoramic views from a tower on a beautiful day!

The tours are paid extra, on top of the regular Cathedral ticket, but it was totally worth it. Our guide shared a lot of interesting facts about the Cathedral and how it was built, focusing on the tower with the highest spire of all UK Cathedrals. After climbing some 320+ steps in narrow stone or wooden staircases, we reached the tower terraces and were rewarded with breathtaking views.

The tour lasted over 90 minutes and was 100% worth the money. If you’re visiting the Salisbury Cathedral, do consider joining a Tower Tour. Make sure to book it in advance on their website as there may be no slots left on the day. I absolutely loved the tour and would love to join some of the other behind-the-scenes guided tours next time I’m in Salisbury.

Time to go back home

And just like that, the daytrip came to an end. With memories of towering spires and historic wonders dancing in my head, I bid farewell to Salisbury and boarded the SWR train back to London, already dreaming of my next adventure. As the train whisked me away from the city, I reflected on the beauty and the magic of Salisbury, grateful for the opportunity to explore its hidden treasures. If you’re looking for your next UK daytrip – consider paying Salisbury a visit!

Also see:

• Travel