The
City of Salisbury is a medium sized town of around 120,000, a regional
centre for a mostly agricultural hinterland. Salisbury is an agreeable
city with no high rise blocks, the industrial revolution bypassing
this particular city. Salisbury
Cathedral, the single most popular visitor attraction dominates
the skyline.
Salisbury (for England) is a new settlement, only getting started
about 800 years ago and grew around Salisbury Cathedral. The original
Old Salisbury (where Celts built a classic Iron Age Hill Fort) and
the Romans and Norman's had settlements is at Old
Sarum, up on the hill above modern day Salisbury.
Salisbury had its hey day in the medieval ages when it was a classic
wool town, drawing in wool from its hinterland and using its market
to sell on to London amongst others.
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Poultry
Cross Salisbury |
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of the wooden buildings from this golden age still populate the core
centre of town around the market, which still operates twice a week..
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The
structure pictured right is typical of the centre, a traditional wooden
beamed building still used for everyday retail purposes.
The central shopping centre is immediately accessible through the
High Street gate from Salisbury Cathedral. Apart from the concentration
of wooden historic buildings the shops are the same mix of chains
and independents you'll find in countless other towns of a similar
size in the UK.
The centre is very compact reflecting its medieval history and parking
is expensive, many use the park and ride schemes on the edge of town.
Because of the influx of visitors there are some tea rooms that otherwise
wouldn't be there, particularly on the trek from the coach park to
Salisbury Cathedral.
For most people the town is just a pass through on the way to the
Cathedral or a place to grab supplies going to nearby attractions
like Stonehenge. However, for those who want to explore the Tourist
Centre is in the heart of the town centre and during the summer months,
blue badge guides conduct regular walking tours.
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There
is a theatre too and a full range of restaurants across all budgets,
plus a large Sainsbury supermarket by the coach park.
Salisbury Market takes place Tuesday and Saturdays with about 150
stalls.
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