Salisbury: Britain's Tallest Medieval Spire and the Gateway to Stonehenge
Salisbury Cathedral holds the tallest spire in Britain and one of four surviving copies of Magna Carta. A guide to the city and nearby Stonehenge.
Why the cathedral moved off the hill
Salisbury Cathedral was not always in Salisbury. Its predecessor stood two miles north at Old Sarum, an Iron Age hillfort later fortified by the Normans, where cramped conditions, poor water supply and reported friction between clergy and the garrison eventually made the site untenable. In 1220, the diocese began construction of an entirely new cathedral on open water meadows below, and the move was decisive enough that Old Sarum was largely abandoned within a few centuries, leaving its earthworks as one of England's most complete deserted medieval sites.
A single architectural vision and Britain's tallest spire
Because Salisbury Cathedral was built in one sustained campaign between 1220 and 1258, rather than accumulating additions over centuries like most English cathedrals, it stands as the most architecturally unified example of Early English Gothic style anywhere in the country. Its spire, added slightly later and completed around 1320, reaches 123 metres, making it the tallest church spire in Britain, and its weight required later engineers to add reinforcing arches inside the crossing to stop the tower from buckling, a fix that has held for seven centuries. The cathedral's chapter house holds one of only four surviving original copies of Magna Carta, the 1215 charter that first established the principle that the monarch was subject to the law.
Stonehenge, eight miles away
Salisbury is the standard base for visiting Stonehenge, the Neolithic stone circle roughly eight miles to the north that was built in phases between about 3000 and 1500 BC. The bluestones at its centre were transported from the Preseli Hills in Wales, some 150 miles away, a feat of Neolithic engineering that remains only partly understood. Stonehenge is aligned with the solstices, and the monument draws its largest crowds each year around the summer solstice on 21 June, when the rising sun lines up with the Heel Stone outside the circle.
Visiting Salisbury
Salisbury's population of around 45,000 keeps its cathedral close and market square compact enough to see in half a day, with a full day recommended if a Stonehenge visit is included. April through October offers the most comfortable weather for the outdoor walk around Stonehenge's perimeter path, and pre-booking a timed entry slot is required at the monument year-round. Mompesson House, a National Trust property on the cathedral close, and the Water Meadows walk south of the city offer quieter counterpoints to the more heavily visited sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Salisbury Cathedral move from Old Sarum?
Old Sarum's hilltop site suffered from poor water supply and conflict between clergy and the military garrison, prompting the diocese to build an entirely new cathedral on open ground below in 1220.
How tall is Salisbury Cathedral's spire?
At 123 metres, it is the tallest church spire in Britain, completed around 1320 as an addition to the main cathedral structure.
How far is Stonehenge from Salisbury?
Stonehenge is about eight miles north of Salisbury and is most commonly visited as a half-day trip from the city.
Does Salisbury Cathedral really hold a copy of Magna Carta?
Yes, its chapter house holds one of only four surviving original 1215 copies of Magna Carta, on public display.