Salisbury Cathedral
Britain's tallest spire, the finest Magna Carta, and 800 years of extraordinary history
Salisbury Cathedral is one of the most magnificent Gothic buildings in the world. Built between 1220 and 1320 in a single sustained burst of medieval energy — unusually for an English cathedral — it has a remarkable architectural unity. The spire, at 123 metres, remains the tallest in Britain, an astonishing achievement of 13th-century engineering.
Inside, the Cathedral houses one of the four surviving original copies of Magna Carta (1215) — arguably the most important document in the history of democracy. The Chapter House where it is displayed also contains some of the finest medieval sculpture and carved friezes anywhere in England.
The Cathedral Close surrounding the building is the most complete and extensive in England — a walled precinct of 80 acres containing medieval and Georgian houses that include Mompesson House (National Trust), Malmesbury House, and the residence of the Bishop of Salisbury. Walking around the Close at dawn or dusk, with the spire towering above, is an unforgettable experience.