Day Trip to SalisburySalisbury is the county town in Wiltshire, 83 miles west from London. The rivers are calm and beautiful as they pass this medieval town and its famous cathedral.
Made famous by John Constable (whose painting can be seen at the National Gallery in London if you can't make this trip), classic Salisbury Cathedral (The Close, off North Walk), consecrated in 1258, is the pinnacle of English cathedral architecture. It was made even more beautiful by the addition of a majestic spire (circa 1320) rising above the water meadows beside the Avon. At 404 feet high, it is the tallest spire in England, enchanting the eye with its deceptively light appearance-in reality, the 6,400 tons of stonework have put such a strain on the four load-bearing columns that they are slightly bent.
I have sat on the banks of the Avon, which marks the western side of the cathedral's grounds, and a 14th century wall of stone from Old Sarum, part of the city that was razed in 1331 to provide building materials for the Cathedral Close, borders the other three sides. This is a great place to have a picnic while listening to the river pass you by.
The interior of the cathedral is not as breathtaking as the exterior I seem to remember, this is due in part, I understand to James Wyatt's renovations (1788-1789), in which he removed the screens and chapels and re-arranged the monuments in rows. You don't notice this, because it seems to have stood there for ever. Happily, the restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1859 minimized the damage. The cathedral contains tombs of the Crusaders and those who fought at Agincourt. Other reasures include windows with patchworks of glass from the 13th and 15th centuries and a 14th century wrought-iron clock that was restored to working order in 1956 and is now possibly the oldest working clock in the world believe it or not.
The Cloisters and the beautiful, octagonal Chapter House, built between 1364 and 1380, were modeled after those of Westminster Abbey. Many of the cathedral's treasures are displayed in the Chapter House, including one of four existing copies of the Magna Carta, brought here for safekeeping shortly after 1265. The Cathedral Close contains the medieval Bishop's Palace and Deanery. Admission. Daily.
As you can tell, the city is loaded with history and difficult to walk about the town without running into some other memrobilia. The Close is open to the public including Malmesbury House which was built in 1327 and restored in 1749, and the 18th century Mompesson House. Malmesbury House (tel:01722-327027) features a Queen Anne facade and several rooms decorated with period furnishings, including a grand hall, a music room, and a drawing room. (Take your shoes here). Part of the structure dates as far back as 1399. Admission. Tu-Sa, Apr-Oct. Mompesson House by the way (tel: 01722-335659) is operated by the National Trust and boasts an elegant oak staircase, antiques, a collection of china and glassware from the 18th century, and a lovely walled garden. Admission. M-W; Sa-Su.
For your travel information, The Salisbury Tourist Information Centre (Fish Row, at Queen St. tel: 01722-334956) is open Monday through Saturday; it's also open Sunday between May and September.
Just 3 miles west of Salisbury is Wilton Village you'll find the splendid Wilton House, information at tel:01722-746720. The village can easily reached by bus or car using the A30 from Salisbury. The home of the Earl of Pembroke for more than 400 years, it features 17th century staterooms by Inigo Jones. I should mention, the incomparable art collection includes 16 works by Van Dyck, which are hung in the famous double-cube room (60 feet long by 30 feet high and 30 feet wide) where General Eisenhower viewed plans of the Normandy invasion. Admission. Daily, Apr-Oct. Buses take the 18 minute journey from the station (Windsor Rd. off Fisherton St.) to Wilton House every half hour; if you're driving, again, take the A30. Salisbury is 83 miles from London and can be reached via a picturesque, 90 minute railway journey, which leaves from Waterloo Mainline Station every hour. There are at least two National Express Bus trips daily from Victoria Coach Station that take about 3 hours, but the bus service in the afternoon from Salisbury is often not that convenient so I recommend the train. The station is a short 10 minute walk from the center of Salisbury. If you're driving from London, take the M3 and continue on the M27 and then the A36.
Click to Leave Salisbury for London
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Because it's too far from London for commuters the community is very fortunate as traffic by passes on major roads. The area rests on a plain where the Rivers Nadder and Bourne flow into the Avon. Interestingly, the old city center is virtually intact 
