Inspired by Salisbury
The historic city of Salisbury has an impressive past in itself; add to this
the iconic status of Stonehenge and the many other attractions in the surrounding South Wiltshire countryside and your group will find plenty to occupy an inquisitive mind. Abbe Bates discovers more.
At the confluence of five rivers; the Avon, Nadder, Ebble, Wylye and Bourne, the city of Salisbury and the South Wiltshire landscape that sits around it, provides an impressive example of rural England. Situated 90 miles from London and within an hour’s drive from the major ports of Portsmouth, Southampton and Poole, the area is easy to get to from many parts of the UK and makes an ideal choice for a group visit.
Staying in Salisbury
At the heart of South Wiltshire, the medieval city of Salisbury is well set up for visiting groups, with two main coach parks; the Millstream Coach Park in the city centre and Britford Park and Ride around a mile from the centre, whilst a designated drop off and pick up point is available close to the city’s Cathedral Close. A Coach Drivers’ Ambassador meets and greets coach passengers and drivers here during the summer to give information and directions.
The Cathedral Close is home to a cluster of historic attractions, the most famous and easy to spot being Salisbury Cathedral. Began in 1220, the Cathedral is built in almost entirely one style, Early English Gothic, and boasts the tallest spire in Britain at 404 feet and the best preserved original Magna Carta in the world. Groups are offered plenty to do on a visit with several packages including ‘Afternoon Delight’, which includes a guided tour of the Cathedral, afternoon tea in the Refectory Restaurant and a chance to enjoy choral evensong in the Quire, sung by the Cathedral Choir. ‘Close Encounters’ is another popular package, which involves a guided tour of the Cathedral, vouchers to gain entry to three other attractions in the Cathedral Close, Mompesson House, The Wardrobe Military Museum and the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, and vouchers for tea and coffee in any of the four restaurants in the Close. New for this year are Private Evening Tours of the Cathedral, which allow your group to enjoy a private tour of the site after it has closed to the public, followed by dinner in the Refectory Restaurant. Add on options include a private Organ Demonstration by one of the Cathedral’s musicians or a talk on the Cathedral’s history and archaeology by the Cathedral’s Archaeologist. In December, the Cathedral also puts on two Carol Concerts exclusively for groups, including mulled wine and mince pies after the service.
Also in the Close is the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, set in a Grade I listed building. The attraction includes displays on Early Man, the Romans and Saxons, the history of Old Sarum and Salisbury, pottery, porcelain, costume, lace and embroidery. Art including Turner watercolours can also be found throughout the museum. Group rates are offered to 12 or more people.
Also in the Close is The Wardrobe Military Museum, which dates from the 13th century and is also known as just ‘The Wardrobe’, as it was used as a clothing and document store by bishops in the 14th century. Now the museum of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and groups are offered discounted rates.
Sandwiched between the two, you will find the Medieval Hall, a 13th century banqueting hall, which can open especially for groups throughout the year. Here, you can learn about the history of the building and can also watch a 30-minute film, ‘Discover Salisbury’, all about the city.
In one corner of the Close, you will also find The National Trust’s Mompesson House. An 18th century building, it featured in the 1995 film ‘Sense and Sensibility’ as Mrs Jennings’ London home and as well as featuring period furniture, it also includes a walled garden. Group rates are offered to 10 or more people, with a free introductory talk offered and out of hours tours available.
Away from the Close, Salisbury has several arts venues such as the Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury Arts Centre and the Studio Theatre, which together offer a mixture of theatre, dance, music and exhibitions. Group rates are offered at all.
For keen shoppers, there are a number of possibilities in Salisbury including The Maltings Shopping Centre, offering products such as fashion, books and furniture, and the Old George Mall Shopping Centre, home to high street names such as Marks & Spencer, BHS and Next, whilst Salisbury Charter Market is held in The Market Square nearly every Tuesday and Saturday, with everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to carpets and jewellery for sale. Fisherton Mill – Gallery, Cafe, Studios, meanwhile, was built in 1880 as a grain mill and now exhibits and sells work by artists, sculptors and furniture makers.
For those interested in horse racing, Salisbury Racecourse has been host to the sport since the 16th century and pre-booked groups receive discounted admission.
On the subject of events, a number of annual ones take place in and around Salisbury including the Salisbury International Arts Festival in May and June, where group rates are offered discounted rates, the Salisbury Food and Drink Festival in September and the free events St George’s Day in April, the Downton Cuckoo Fair in May and the Salisbury Show in July.
For further insight into the city and area as a whole, there are a number of guiding options for groups including Foot Trails, offering walking tours around the countryside and historical monuments of Salisbury and South Wiltshire, Salisbury and Stonehenge Guided Tours, that explain further the landscape of Stonehenge on a walk, Salisbury City Guides and Wessexplore, which can both provide guided walks or a guide for your coach.
History outside the city
Outside Salisbury, South Wiltshire is home to an array of historically important sites.
Known the world over, Stonehenge, near Amesbury, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an intriguing monument, whose use still remains somewhat of a mystery today. Now in the care of English Heritage, one of its most significant features is how it is orientated on the rising and setting sun and there are a number of theories why including its possible use as a huge astronomical calendar. Nowadays, you can only walk around the perimeter of the stones, but groups are able to book Stone Circle Access outside normal opening hours, early in the morning or in the evening, to get closer to the impressive structures. These need to be pre-booked well in advance.
A few miles away is another important historical site, Old Sarum. Also an English Heritage attraction, here you will find the remains of the former site of Salisbury before it moved to its present location in the 13th century. Used by the Romans, Saxons and Normans, it was built in the Iron Age, around 5000 BC, and features the ruins of a castle, cathedral and royal palace. Group rates are offered to 11 or more people whilst guided tours are also available. A joint ticket with Salisbury Cathedral is also possible.
Further west, near Tisbury, Old Wardour Castle is a third English Heritage site in the vicinity. Used in the film ‘Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves’, the 14th century castle ruins are surrounded by landscaped grounds. A free guided tour of the site is available and should be pre-booked.
In the nearby market town of Wilton, Wilton House is the home of the Earl of Pembroke, currently the 18th. Begun in the 16th century, the house has seen various alterations over the years, with the Single and Double Cube Rooms described as being widely recognised as the finest surviving examples of 17th century Palladianism in England. Groups are offered a coach welcome on arrival, before exploring the Old Riding School, built by the 10th Earl in 1755, now converted into an exhibition hall and film theatre and featuring a new exhibition this year on the 17th Earl’s filmwork and the current Earl’s design work. This is followed by a free flow tour of the House or, for more insight, a guided tour whilst the grounds include open parkland in the style of Capability Brown. To combine a visit to the House with Salisbury Cathedral, a Squires and Spires Package is available, which includes refreshments. New for this year, Wilton House is also offering bespoke guided tours for groups, focusing on subjects such as sculpture, paintings and architecture.
The nearby Wilton Shopping Village, meanwhile, offers a wide range of discount factory outlet shops selling goods such as textiles, china and glassware and includes The Wilton Carpet Factory Shop.
Just outside South Wiltshire, Breamore House and Countryside Museum includes a 16th century manor house, still the family home of the Hulses, and the Countryside Museum featuring replicas of buildings such as a blacksmith’s shop and a dairy. The site is also home to a Saxon Church and the Great British Maze. Visits to the House are by guided tour only and group rates are offered on entry to the site.
Nearby, Rockbourne Roman Villa is described as the remains of the largest Roman villa in the area and the attraction also includes a museum displaying artefacts excavated at the site. Group rates are offered to 10 or more people.
Further north in Middle Wallop, the Museum of Army Flying looks at 100 years of British Army flying, tracing its development from pre-World War I to the present day. It is home to a national collection of military kites, World War II gliders, aeroplanes and helicopters as well as a replica 1940s house. Situated next to Middle Wallop Airfield, you can also watch the Army Air Corps in flight. Guided tours are available as well as, new for this year, a joint ticket with The Wardrobe Military Museum.
The natural world
Also located around the picturesque South Wiltshire countryside are a number of attractions focusing on animal life or gardens.
Longleat in Warminster has become synonymous in recent years as the location for the popular BBC series ‘Animal Park’ and one of its main draws is the Safari Park, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. Home to a variety of exotic wildlife including giraffe, zebra, rhino and tigers, it also plays a key role in the conservation of these animals. As well as the Safari Park, there are also a number of other attractions on the estate, including Longleat House, built in 1568 and set within Capability Brown landscaped grounds, and the Longleat Hedge Maze. The best option for groups is the Longleat Passport Ticket, which gives entry into all the site’s attractions and means that you can return at a later date if there are certain ones you have not visited. Groups of 12 or more receive discounts on this ticket.
Not far away, Bush Farm Bison Centre provides room for herds of bison, elk and red deer and also has a gallery full of native American and wildlife artefacts along with groups of prairie dogs, chipmunks and raccoon. Groups of up to 20 at a time can book a tractor-pulled trailer ride through the herds and cream teas and barbecues can also be arranged.
Further to the east, Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm Park, as the name suggests, is concerned with the conservation of British rare breeds such as Exmoor ponies. The attraction is also home to Rabbit World, where around 50 rare breeds can be found. At certain times, you can even enjoy the spectacle of pig racing! A recreated Iron Age roundhouse is also within the grounds, a new visitor centre and 120-seat restaurant opened at the end of last year where meals can be pre-booked and free guided tours and talks are available for a more indepth look at the attraction’s work and environment. New for 2007 are special activity days for groups looking at growing, preparing and cooking with herbs including lunch and presentations.
On a horticultural theme, The National Trust’s Stourhead in Warminster has an 18th century garden, which was laid out between 1741 and 1780. A central lake, classical temples and a collection of exotic trees all help to form the landscape, whilst the Palladian mansion here features furniture by Chippendale the Younger. King Alfred’s Tower, a 160 foot folly at the site, gives great views of the surrounding area. Groups rates are offered, special interest tours are available and a selection of menus including Stourhead Brunch and High Tea can be pre-booked by groups. A new conservation exhibition will be running at the attraction between March and October featuring the newly restored Pope’s Cabinet, believed to date from the late 16th-century, which was bought by Henry Hoare in the 1740s and brought to Stourhead.
Further south, Larmer Tree Gardens in Tollard Royal were created by General Pitt Rivers in 1880 as public pleasure grounds and contains a collection of ornate buildings and trees. New for this year, guided tours are available, included in the price of a group visit, with 15 or more people offered discounted rates. Cream
teas and light lunches can also be arranged.
Our thanks to the Salisbury and Stonehenge Tourism Partnership for its hospitality to Abbe Bates during her visit to Salisbury and South Wiltshire.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Salisbury and Stonehenge Tourism Partnership
3 Rollestone Street, Salisbury
Wiltshire SP1 1DX
Telephone: =44 (0)1722 434238
Fax: 44 (0)1722 434440
E-mail: salisburytourismpartnership@salisbury.gov.uk
Web: <a href=“http://www.visitsalisbury.com” target"_blank">www.visitsalisbury.com