Stonehenge is Europe’s most famous prehistoric monument, whereas Salisbury, with the lofty spire of its cathedral commanding attention for miles around, is always thought of as a medieval city.
WHAT YOU VISIT
Stonehenge - Stonehenge remains as compelling today as it was to the people who built the first phase over 5,000 years ago. Walk through the short tunnel and onto the field site; the stones are fenced off for protection but your guide will accompany you along the encircling pathway for close up views, and will describe what has been concluded from observations and archaeological evidence about the builders, their beliefs, tools and methods.
Salisbury - Walk with your guide through the town center to view the charming 13th-century cathedral that enshrines 700 years of English history. See the fine buildings within Cathedral Close which compliment the beauty of the cathedral, and the black-and-white half-timbered houses of the nearby streets.
WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY
Travel past Southampton Water heading towards the open countryside viewing rural landscapes divided by hedgerows and onto Woodford Valley – home to peaceful villages with thatched, stonework cottages sheltering in the lee of protecting slopes. The narrow road winds along the valley following almost every twist and turn of the west bank of the River Avon. As you travel towards Stonehenge, view meadows with lines of willow trees that complement the picture-postcard English countryside scenes. After visiting Stonehenge, you will travel the short distance to Salisbury.
I really like Old Sarum, just outside Salisbury - you would need a car (or taxi) as the public transport is just local buses or you could walk (the first link says it is (only?) 2 miles from Salisbury train station).
Have you read Edward Rutherfurd's book, Sarum? Born and raised in Salisbury close, he has included a lot of the history of Sarum and Salisbury. When we toured the Cathedral we were fortunate to get our own private tour with a docent who knew him and showed us some of the areas he wrote about.
Sarum is a wonderful book! By dumb luck, I took it as my travel book, not expecting to go to Salisbury. But as we were touring the south of England, that turned out to be one of our overnight stops. We did do the drive out to Old Sarum, too. Then, as I finished the book, I could picture some of the places, especially the cathedral.
We stayed in a neat hotel. It ws part of a chain that no longer exists, as far as I can tell (Chef & Brewer). Their rooms weren't numbered, they were named. Because of Salisbury's relationship with the Restoration, three of the rooms on one landing were named for King Charles, his wife (we had that room, can't remember her name, Catherine of Braganza maybe?) and the third was "Nell Gwynne's Parlor.' Very cute.
Kathy
Have you read Edward Rutherfurd's book, Sarum? Born and raised in Salisbury close, he has included a lot of the history of Sarum and Salisbury. When we toured the Cathedral we were fortunate to get our own private tour with a docent who knew him and showed us some of the areas he wrote about.
Susan
My nephew was the organ scholar at the Cathedral last year, and had a tiny little house in The Close. One room downstairs and one upstairs. Ted Heath (late ex-Prime Minister) also had a house there.
When we went to visit Tim, we got charged £2.50 to get into the Cathedral. I have, of course, taken this off his birthday money
I just did a search in our Cruise Gallery on the word Stonehenge, but found nothing. (sigh)
It's one of the things I have always wanted to see.
Folks, if you see nothing else in UK, go see Stonehenge. Older than the pyramids, and nobody has worked out why it's there or what's for. Many theories. It's beyond ancient. Why? HOW? When?
Go, be prepared to be creeped out, fill the gaps for yourselves..............the grave near the site - who, when, why? The stones - from Wales - HOW? The apparent alignment with celestial events - why?
Then if you have time, step back - the whole country is full of little Stonehenges. Why? What was going on? Why this effort? Is Sir Martin really a cat?
Fill the gaps folks, fill the gaps..................
Hic.
Tonight, Matthew, I'm being the British Tourist Federation.
My nephew was the organ scholar at the Cathedral last year, and had a tiny little house in The Close. One room downstairs and one upstairs. Ted Heath (late ex-Prime Minister) also had a house there.
When we went to visit Tim, we got charged £2.50 to get into the Cathedral. I have, of course, taken this off his birthday money
Mary
Yes, Ted was late for my christening AND my graduation. Well known for it.
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Centrum Deck
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Cruise Places
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Europe
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Northern Europe
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United Kingdom
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Stonehenge & Salisbury
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