Historic and Mystical Southern England

There are many places of interest: bath with its Georgian architecture, Salisbury for its imposing cathedral... and then again there's mysterious stonehenge, or the legendary Glastonbury. There's really something interesting for every taste.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Well, right now English trains are expensive, dirty and often delayed or on strike: once they blame it on the snow, once on the wind, once (no kidding) on the sun. So if you must use public transportation, I would suggest taking the bus.

It''s a small cosy B&B/youth hostel near the main square (Market Square). The Coats'' are a young informal and very nice couple. They also know the area well and can give you all sorts of tips and advice. They also live near a little park with children''s playground, for those of you travelling with small kids.

It''s a nice family-run hotel only 2 minutes away from the major sights - the pump room, the roman baths, and so on. It also has a pub on the premises - and a delicious restaurant.

why salisbury?
The reason why visitors go to Salisbury is mainly to visit the majestic cathedral, which is one of England most beautiful churches. The reason is simple: while others sacred buildings were built over a long span of time and therefore ended up presenting a jumble of different styles, Salisbury Cathedral was built fast, in 46 years (1220-1266), and using over 70'000 tons of stone, and its architecture therefore remains pure. The only unplanned addiction is the steeple, but it was added not long after the completion of the cathedral so that the style remains largely compatible.

short intro about the cathedral
The reason why such a jewel came into being is due to the curious folly of a Bishop: Bishop Poore. Two miles north, up on a hill by the fortified settlement of Old Sarum, the Normans had build a pretty cathedral. Bishop Poore, however, thought that, in the present times of peace, it was no longer necessary to keep a religious building near an army post, so he wrote to the Pope, pleading for permission to remove the Cathedral to New Sarum where the people lived. His arguments were that, in the present location, water was scarce, the wind excessively noisy and the weather very poor. The Pope agreed and the old Cathedral was demolished.

the cathedral The present Cathedral stands exactly as it was originally built, except for some necessary restoration. Inside it is all beauty, especially the double arches built between the choir and the presbytery. Attached to the building there's a cicister that leads to the Chapter House, where one of the 4 original surviving copies of the Magna Charta is preserved and displayed. Not only is it important because it is the agreement that limited the Monarch’s powers signed in 1215 by King John and the Earls, it is also a wise code of conduct and hygiene for the entire population.