Stunning Salisbury Cathedral 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⎮ 14th Century England ⎮ Surprise Sounds Of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

A row of five gold ticket stubs with 'Admit One' and 'my return ticket' printed on them.

VERDICT: WE GAVE 5 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!

This guide forms part of our complete UK Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United Kingdom.

This article is part of our English Counties Travel Guide. We’ve explored some of England’s most popular counties and regions, from Cornwall and coastal Dorset to Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Merseyside and Greater London. Along the way, we’ve discovered historic cities, royal landmarks, spectacular coastlines and unforgettable road trips. Explore our firsthand county travel guides to help plan a better, more informed English vacation.

A Little History Before Our Guided Tour

Salisbury is a historic cathedral city with medieval streets, independent shops, riverside paths, and one of Europe’s most impressive spires. The Salisbury Cathedral houses the best-preserved copy of the Magna Carta, making it a must-visit for history lovers. Its location near Stonehenge and the New Forest makes Salisbury an ideal base for exploring Wiltshire and beyond.

Salisbury Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, known for its Early English Gothic architecture, the tallest spire in the United Kingdom(404 feet high), and being home to one of the four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta.

TAKING A TOUR OF SALISBURY CATHEDRAL

We decided to take a tour of the cathedral. We always find we learn so much more about the places we visit when you have an interesting and and knowledgable guide. In this particular case the guide was amazing. Well worth the money and time.

The cathedral’s main body was constructed remarkably quickly (in 38 years) beginning in 1220, with the iconic spire added in the 14th century

One crazy fact among many: the cathedral’s foundation is only 4 feet deep due to the soft ground, which is supported by the surrounding rivers.

Another: the Salisbury Cathedral houses the world’s oldest working mechanical clock, built in 1386, which you’ll see inside when on your tour.

Last, but certainly not least, it contains numerous medieval tombs, including that of William Longespée, the first person to be buried there.

In another special section on our tour the Magna Carta is presented & protected. Hard to believe we actually got to see it! The Magna Carta limited the powers of the monarchy. It said that the King or Queen was subject to the law and could not exploit their position and power to rule just as they wanted to. Magna Carta also stated that individuals had specific rights.

Although Magna Carta is over 800 years old it is still today a powerful symbol of social justice. Many of its clauses are no longer relevant to modern life but the concept of a document proclaiming the freedoms and rights of individuals under the rule of law has been adopted across the globe. Magna Carta established the right of trial by jury and ensured that no one, including the king, was above the law.

This tour was fascinating & we were awed by the beauty of the cathedral & its surroundings. Sue, our guide, was knowledgeable & humorous but also easy to listen to.

Surprise: Sounds from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

We couldn’t believe our luck when we could hear an orchestra practicing during our tour (the acoustics – unbelievable! We realized later when we saw a large marked truck, that it was the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra! They were playing a song we’ve long enjoyed by U2 called “With or Without You”.

There was a lovely cafe (& gift shop) at the end of the tour. We decided a cup of tea & a Victoria Sponge was in order.

We would give the overall venue & tour five tickets out of five. We highly recommend getting the guide for your tour to hear the history.

Watch Video Below >

@myreturnticket.ca
Visiting Salisbury Cathedral during our time in England. Home of one of four Magna Cartas. Built by King Henry VIII. 800 years old. Tallest spire in UK. #salisburycathedral #historytok #england🇬🇧 #tourismuk🇬🇧
♬ Ordinary – Alex Warren

Continue exploring Wiltshire

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