VERDICT: WE GAVE 5 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!
Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.
Salisbury is a historic cathedral city with medieval streets, independent shops, riverside paths, and one of Europe’s most impressive spires. The 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. Our Salisbury guides highlight top attractions, walking routes, dining options, and insider tips.
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.
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 your tour the Magna Carta is presented & protected. 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.
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 four tickets out of five. We highly recommend getting the guide for your tour to hear the history.
With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.
