Discover over 750 years of history, including Britain's tallest spire, the world's best preserved original Magna Carta and Europe's oldest working clock, on a tour with one of our volunteer guides. Built between 1220 and 1258, in one architectural style, Salisbury is Britain's finest 13th century Gothic Cathedral.

A beautiful and historic building, Salisbury Cathedral is an impressive stage for major services, concerts and art installations, yet also a place for private prayer and reflection. The Cathedral and surrounding Close are visited by over 500,000 people a year. Many come as tourists or to worship, while others attend some of the many events taking place here. The Cathedral is open to all and seeks to provide facilities for, and a warm welcome to, all our many visitors.

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Watch the Salisbury Cathedral DVD

Salisbury Cathedral has produced a beautifully filmed Welcome to Salisbury Cathedral DVD as a short introduction for anyone planning a visit here, be it as pilgrim or tourist. See it here in English (6 minutes) and in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese (3 minutes)

What is special about Salisbury Cathedral?

• Britain's finest 13th century Cathedral
• An important heritage attraction and a beautiful and historic building
• An iconic building recognised by Britain's tallest spire (123m/404ft)
• Britain's largest secular Cathedral Cloisters with newly landscaped garden
• Stunning setting in the largest and perhaps most lovely Cathedral Close in Britain (80 acres)
• The best preserved of only four surviving original Magna Carta (AD1215), listed on the UNESCO ‘Memory of the World’ with huge worldwide recognition
• Spectacular flowing ‘living water’ font by William Pye (2008)
• A unique 13th century stone frieze of bible stories in the Chapter House
• World's oldest working clock (AD1386)
• The largest and earliest set of Quire stalls in Britain
• Regular major art exhibitions/installations
• A choir which continues a tradition of daily sung worship that goes back hundreds of years
• Participates in Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service

Facilities

Guides

There are volunteer guides on duty most days. They will be pleased to provide free guided tours of the cathedral and answer your questions. Alternatively you can explore the cathedral at your own pace using self-guiding leaflets which are available in

Some guide teams include foreign language speakers. Subject to availability, these may be requested for visiting groups. The Cathedral also has a special children's leaflet and ‘Explorer’ activity packs for younger children.

Tower Tours

Climb to the top of the Tower by walking through the spectacular roof spaces, accompanied by a fully trained guide. There are 332 steps in easy stages of spiral staircases and interior roof walkways, to reach the base of the spire which is 69m (225ft) above ground level. Discover the hidden medieval structure that supports the amazing spire and see the breath-taking views over Salisbury and beyond. For further information, prices and safety restrictions click here.

Accessibility and facilities for those with disabilities

View our Access Statement

• The Cathedral floor, Chapter House, Cloisters, Refectory Restaurant and Shop are wheelchair accessible.
• Three wheelchairs are available to borrow for use during your visit.
• There are toilets for wheelchair users.
• Assistance dogs are welcome.
• "Touch and Feel" model with linked commentary for those with sight difficulties.
• Large print self-guiding leaflet.
• Large print hymn books and service sheets.
• Hearing loop system available during services.

Cathedral Shop and Refectory Restaurant

Housed in a modern glass roofed building with views of the spire soaring above the Cathedral Shop and Restaurant are open every day of the year except Christmas Day.

Photography

You are welcome to take videos and photographs for your personal use during your visit to Salisbury Cathedral, except in the Chapter House and during services.
Commercial photography within the Cathedral and Close is not permitted without prior arrangement.
Please telephone: 01722 555 148.

Opening Times

Salisbury Cathedral is open every day of the year, usually 7.15am - 6.15pm.Because of daily services, recommended visiting times are 9.00am – 5.00pm (Monday to Saturday) and 12 noon – 4.00pm (Sundays).
The Chapter House, Shop and Restaurant are open every day except Christmas Day.
Services take place daily and opening times can vary at short notice depending on services and events - especially around Easter and Christmas.
To check opening times for your planned visit please click here.
For information regarding closures and restricted access, click here.

Chaplains

You will usually find a volunteer chaplain on duty. Prayers are said most days for a few minutes on the hour each hour between 11am and 3pm.

Group Visits

Salisbury Cathedral provides a dedicated group booking line to assist with any arrangements for special group visits, please telephone (01722) 555 120 or email groups@salcath.co.uk .
For full information on group visits, click here.
For full information on day out packages for groups, click here

Donations

The Cathedral receives no subsidies or financial help from the Government or from the Diocese.
To cover the £4m it costs to run the Cathedral each year, we ask visitors to make a suggested voluntary donation. Please note there is no charge for the tours of the cathedral floor provided by the guides.

If you are a UK taxpayer, please ask for a Gift Aid form. Through Gift Aid we can reclaim from the government the tax you have already paid on this donation, which represents an additional 25% on top of what you give during your visit.

Special rates are recommended for groups, please click here for details.

Tour Operators featuring Salisbury Cathedral

Day trips out of London

Golden Tours and Evan Evans both bring visitors from London to Salisbury Cathedral on a daily basis as part of a one day package which also includes visiting Stonehenge and Bath. Visit their websites for booking details.
Golden Tours - Book here.
Evan Evans - Book here.

Other places to visit in and around Salisbury

There are five other attractions within the historic Close of Salisbury Cathedral.

Mompesson House - A perfect example of a Queen Anne style town house. Notable plaster work and an elegant carved oak staircase. Fine period furniture and collection of 18th Century drinking glasses. Charming walled garden and tea room. National Trust Property. Information line: (01722) 420 980.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum -Award winning museum with archaeological collections of National importance. Home of the Stonehenge Gallery, Warminster Jewel and Monkton Deverill Gold Torc. Displays of pre-history, Romans, Saxons, the medieval history of Old Sarum and Salisbury, the Pitt Rivers collection, ceramics and costumes. Pictures throughout including Turner watercolours. Temporary exhibitions all year round. Gift and coffee shops. A friendly museum in a Grade 1 listed building.
Open all year Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm (July/Aug Sun 2pm - 5pm) Tel: (01722) 332 151 www.salisburymuseum.org.uk

The Rifles (Berkshire & Wiltshire) Museum - The museum, housed in a splendid Grade 2 listed building, tells the story of the County infantry regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire. Riverside garden gives views across the watermeadows. Bernières licensed tearoom.
Open: 10am - 5pm Daily: Apr-Oct and Tue - Sun: Feb, Mar & Nov. Last admission 4.30pm. Tel: (01722) 419 419 www.thewardrobe.org.uk

The Medieval Hall - An historic 13th Century banqueting hall.
Open: All year for pre-booked groups. Occasionally open to the public. Tel: (01722) 412 472

Arundells - the home of the former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, with collections of his sailing and musical memorabilia, Oriental and European ceramics, paintings, original political cartoons, bronzes and photographs. Open: 26 march - 29 October 2012. Visit www.arundells.org For bookings call 01722 326546, email: info@arundells.org

Things to see in the area

Salisbury and South Wiltshire - with world famous attractions such as Stonehenge, Stourhead and Wilton House there are plenty of things to see and do within the Salisbury area.
Visit www.visitsalisbury.com for further information or call (01722) 334 956

If you're planning a visit, then these maps may be useful.