Recipient of the Purple Flag status in 2012,Salisbury is one of the most beautiful and fascinating cathedral towns in all of England. It’s most prominent landmark, the medieval Salisbury Cathedral adorns the skyline with the tallest church spire in the country, and is home to the oldest clock on the entire planet as well as the one of the best preserved of the four remaining original Magna Carta. The Close has even more treats for history aficionados, with local history museums and quirky homes nestled between greens that call out for sunny day picnics. And between its rolling plains eulogised by Wordsworth and Early English church façades, there is now a buzzing modern core, laden with a palimpsest of old Tudor homes, bubbling with hearty country pubs, the student spots of Fisherton Street, and earthy regional farmer’s markets (held bi-weekly on the Market Square) to boot.
As any Salisbury tourist guide will tell you, this city’s major pull however lays just to the north, encompassed by the lush green fields of Salisbury Plain, at Stonehenge. This 2,500-year-old spot is easily accessible by car or bike from the centre, and stands as one of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites in all of England.