Salisbury Cathedral — Attraction in Great Britain

One of the most stunning British cathedrals. Graceful and elegant. Unmissable. More detail: Salisbury Cathedral is impressive enough as you approach it from any distance. You see the spire rising high above the city. It is in fact the highest spire in Britain, 360 feet from bottom to top. And this impressive and magnificent cathedral is stunning, both from the inside and the outside. There is an admission charge, as is customary in most British cathedrals nowadays, but people are allowed in to pray or contemplate or reflect on spiritual matters free of charge if they say so at the admission desk: quite rightly so, because after all, this is a place of worship and prayer. Those of you who have visited any English cathedral will know how stunningly attractive the ancient mediaeval cathedrals are. Salisbury is no exception and it is an absolutely beautiful cathedral in the early gothic style, where you see the soaring  slender columns going up, it would seem, towards heaven. And the vast height and length of the nave leading into the chancel are astounding. As are the many historical artefacts, which never fail to impress: the tombs, the clocks, the funereal monuments, and so on. But what may be even more interesting and impressive for many visitors is a tour around the inside of the cathedral, in particular the tower tour, which is absolutely astounding. You will see the parts of the cathedral that one would never normally be able to visit. That is exciting and thrilling, but to look down on the nave from the vantage point of the triforum high above can be quite breathtaking. That is not, however the end of the visit, because visitors on the tower tour then ascend a further four staircases, going right up to the the top of the tower, the base of the steeple. This  gives you a commanding view of the lands around the city of Salisbury, including a view across to Old Sarum, the original site of the cathedral and settlement. More impressive still on this tour is the view of the ceiling of the nave from above in the roof space, and of course, the very old timbered roof of the cathedral with its many, many 800 year old oak beams. How many trees must have been cut down and carted to Salisbury to build this cathedral defies the imagination. However, the tour guides are friendly and knowledgeable. They will explain to you in detail how the cathedral was built using wooden scaffolding and the labour of men hauling blocks of stone on the backs of their necks up hundreds of feet into the upper reaches of the building. It's an amazing tour, which gives you so many insights and surprises that you can't begin to imagine simply by visiting the cathedral and floor level. From the top of the tower, the views across the land around Salisbury in all directions are delightful. And if it's the right season of the year, you might even be lucky enough to see the cathedral's resident peregrine falcons swooping by as they raise their chicks in the nest box provided by the cathedral. Looking down on people from this vantage point gives you a very different perspective of the world below and of the cathedral itself. I recommend the tour very strongly, and it is very reasonably priced, considering that you get 90 minutes of insight and experiences you would never otherwise have. One cautionary note, however: this is certainly not a tour for people who are overweight or "large", or  who experience breathlessness, are unfit, or have mobility problems. You need to be reasonably fit and certainly you need to have a head for heights, but if you can do it, this tour is definitely something not to be missed. Booking is essential.I've attached some photos to give you an idea of how...

Salisbury Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the finest examples of Early English Gothic architecture in the United Kingdom. Constructed between 1220 and 1258, it was completed in just 38 years—a remarkably short period for a structure of its scale—which gives the cathedral a rare architectural unity not commonly found in other major ecclesiastical buildings.

Its spire, added in the early 14th century, reaches an impressive 404 feet, making it the tallest in the country. That this was achieved despite the cathedral being built on shallow foundations is a testament to the ingenuity and skill of its medieval builders.

The interior is equally awe-inspiring. The use of slender Purbeck marble columns and pale Chilmark stone gives the nave a graceful and uplifting quality, while the overall symmetry and light contribute to a serene, contemplative atmosphere. One of the cathedral’s most important treasures is its beautifully preserved Chapter House, where visitors can view one of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta—a document of immense historical importance.

Also of note is the cathedral’s medieval mechanical clock, dating back to the 14th century and considered one of the oldest working clocks in the world. It operates without a dial and continues to function today, offering a direct connection to the rhythms of centuries past.

The cathedral sits within the largest cathedral close in Britain, surrounded by 80 acres of green space and historic buildings. This tranquil setting greatly enhances the experience, inviting visitors to pause and reflect amid peaceful surroundings.

Whether your interest lies in architecture, history, or spiritual heritage, Salisbury Cathedral offers a deeply rewarding and enriching experience. Its scale, craftsmanship, and historical significance make it an essential destination in southern England. Highly...

The vast majority of our visit was very enjoyable, spoilt only slightly by one fairly condescending and rude volunteer. So starting with positives it is a really beautiful Cathedral with lots to see; so much history to learn about, beautiful stain glass windows, amazing organ and quire and much more. You do have to pay (unless it’s a service), but your ticket allows you to return for a year after you’ve bought it so it’s not too bad. We would certainly return but think it’s only fair we offer some feedback for an unfortunate experience which luckily didn’t spoil our visit but marred it slightly. On a recent visit prior to this one, we asked a different volunteer where we could leave our pram so it was out of the way whilst we took our young child around the cathedral and he was very obliging, showing us where to place the pram. Today, we placed the pram in exactly the same place as directed previously only to have a lady volunteer approach and speak to me in a very condescending, unfriendly manner, informing me I could not park my pram there. When I informed her that I had previously been told I could place it there and if not could she please direct me to where I was allowed to place the pram, she very rudely told me that as far as she was aware I couldn’t put it anywhere. No help at all. Just a scowl and she succeeded in making a woman in her thirties feel like a naughty schoolgirl. She watched as I took the pram back to the reception desk where they couldn’t have been more opposite to her in attitude. They kindly let me keep my pram with them there, and two of the volunteers there apologised to me for what I had just experienced. It’s all about the attitude as far as I was concerned. All it would have taken was perhaps a smile and a polite request I didn’t put the pram there and maybe a suggestion of what I...