If you’re planning a weekend break in Salisbury, here’s some stuff you might think about doing1, in no particular order.
Salisbury – what to do on a weekend break
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral – The ‘Big Church’ is, to my mind, one of the wonders of the world. If you’re in Salisbury for any length of time, I think it’s worth spending an hour or so in the Close getting views of it from different angles.
I’d be slightly more hesitant in recommending paying to go inside the Cathedral. I’m very fond of many of it’s features – especially the Chapter House, the new font, Magna Carta and the ‘Prisoners of Conscience’ stained glass window – but it may depend on how interested you are in churches and church architecture.
Old Sarum
Old Sarum – Old Sarum is the hillfort to the north of Salisbury where the city started.
Pepys said something like ‘it was so prodiguous as to frighten me’, which was quite something from someone who witnessed the Great Fire of London.
There’s more on the history of Old Sarum on my post about Old Sarum Business Park and details about visiting hours etc on English Heritage’s Old Sarum page.
I should mention that if you get the tour bus to Stonehenge, entrance to Old Sarum is included in the price.
Salisbury Playhouse
Salisbury Playhouse – Salisbury’s theatre is one of the reasons I love living in Salisbury. The Playhouse puts on about a dozen plays a year in the Main Theatre including a pantomime, and probably more than that in the Studio.
The shows don’t often feature big ‘stars’, but the plays are intelligently selected and staged.
Details are on the Salisbury Playhouse website
Stonehenge
Stonehenge – people’s reactions to Stonehenge vary enormously.
I’ve sporadically monitored what people who blog about their visits have to say. My estimate would be that about 80% thirds of bloggers enjoy their visit, whereas about a 20% seem to be disappointed for one reason or another.
The best way to get to the Henge is probably on the Stonehenge Tour Bus, which picks up from the city centre and the railway station. Entrance to Old Sarum is included in the price.
Salisbury Museum
Salisbury Museum – Bill Bryson wrote in ‘Notes from a Small Island’ that ‘The Salisbury Museum is outstanding and I urge you to go there at once’2.
I think it’s fair to say there’s an element of hyperbole in this, but it is good. As well as typical museum-y stuff, they have a very good Stonehenge gallery, and the the processional giant Christopher and his side-kick, Hob-nob.
….to be continued
Footnotes
- This list is very subjective. I’ve enjoyed all of these, and I think that it’s likely that other people would enjoy them too [↩]
- Bryson has an unusual link to Salisbury Museum. A very good local blog ‘Travelrat’ has the details at Travelrat’s Travels [↩]