Wiltshire Salisbury Stonehenge

Information about the county of Wiltshire with Salisbury and Stonehenge

Salisbury, is in the county of Wiltshire and lies on the banks of the River Avon. It is a charming town full of quaint, lovely old houses and medieval streets. Famous due to its closeness to Stonehenge and for its wonderful 13th century cathedral.

Salisbury Cathedral is one of the finest British cathedrals and has one of the tallest cathedral spires in England and has one copy of the Magna Carta. Close to the cathedral is The Medieval Hall also from the 13th century. Here visitors can enjoy a 40 minute introduction to medieval life in Salisbury. Market days every Tuesday and Saturday are lively times to see the city. Near by, and high above the Salisbury Plain, is Old Sarum.

It is the site of the ancient city of Salisbury and is a fascinating hodgepodge of Iron Age, Roman, Saxon and Norman ruins. The Normans built a castle and a cathedral there in the 11th century. The site was eventually abandoned in 1219 when the bishops moved to Salisbury, or New Sarum. Now much of what was there has collapsed. Only the foundations of the castle and cathedral can be seen, along with a few other remnants. However, it is a journey through ancient times to go there and a wonderful place for a picnic.

The weird prehistoric ruins of Stonehenge stand on the Salisbury Plain a few miles away. Archaeologists date the standing stones to have been erected about 2,500 - 2,000 BC. The earth bank that circles the standing stones is thought to have been built around 1,000 years before this.