If you are visiting London and fancy seeing something older than the Egyptian Pyramids, you will certainly be advised to head towards Stonehenge!
What is Stonehenge?
Well, the shortest answer is that… no one really knows!
What we can say for sure is that they are 30 feet (9 meters) tall standing stones, arranged in mysterious circles by farmers who lived around 5,000 years ago.
???
Various theories propose different purposes for it, ranging from religious and ceremonial functions to serving as an execution site, an astronomical observatory, or even a cemetery.
We will probably never know for sure.
The unsolved mystery behind it is what attracts people to it the most, I think.
Around 1 mln people visit it yearly, and almost 90 thousand people follow their page on Facebook alone. I do it myself, and I must admit that this is weirdly relaxing experience. The page mainly publishes photos of the sunrise at Stonehenge and provides the precise time of sunrise and sunset on a particular day; link to their page you will find here.
What will you see when you visit Stonehenge?
You will be able to see the stones from a distance unless you visit the place on the longest or the shortest day of the year, known as the summer or winter solstice.
The coolest thing about this UNESCO Heritage site is that the stones are aligned with the sun on those days, making it a rather amazing spectacle!
On these special days, you will be able to visit the stones for free and even walk into the center of the circle.
To find more information about this exciting opportunity, visit this webpage.
What to see near Stonehenge?
When making the (2-3 hour) trip from London to Stonehenge, it makes sense to also visit the nearby city of Salisbury.
What is there to see in Salisbury?
The absolute top attraction is nearly 800-year-old gothic cathedral, which holds the record for having the tallest church spire (123m!) in the United Kingdom.
That is 12 meters taller than St Paul’s Cathedral in London!
It’s impressive during the day and equally captivating at night.
Click here to see precise location
6 other cool things about Salisbury’s Cathedral
Magna Carta
Inside the cathedral, you can find an over 800-year-old piece of parchment made from sheep skin.
What’s on it?
A written in Latin record of the first attempt to limit the powers of a king, in this case, King John of England.
In practice, the attempt was unsuccessful.
Neither the king nor the barons (forcing him to sign it) stood by their commitments.
However, for the first time in history, individual liberties (read human rights!) were mentioned.
This historical document predates the cathedral itself!
The 5 rivers and… wooden stick!
Salisbury was built in the location where five rivers (Nadder, Ebble, Wylye, Bourne, and Avon) meet.
The city nowadays has sophisticated technology to check and regulate the level of water in all of them, ensuring that the ground under the cathedral (gravel and chalk) is moist enough to maintain the stability of the surface.
However, there is also another way of checking the water level under the cathedral—using a wooden stick!
Ask the lovely guides inside the cathedral to demonstrate how this is done!
How Many Figures Can You Count?
Let me draw your attention to the rather extensive number of sculptures located on the elevations of the cathedral.
Bumping Stone
The cathedral’s choir has an interesting ancient tradition.
Every new boy joining the choir has to have his head gently tapped seven times against one particular stone.
Inside the cathedral, you can see a tangible proof of this lasting custom—a stone suitably shaped by the choir boys’ heads for the last 800 years.
In 1991, Salisbury Cathedral became the first English cathedral to establish a fully professional choir of girl choristers. The tradition of tapping heads on the bumping stone does not apply to them; they get tapped with a bumping book instead!
The Church That Moved
The current cathedral is not the first cathedral that was placed in the city.
The initial cathedral was situated on a hill 2 miles (3.2 km) to the north of the current structure, but it ran out of… water.
Therefore, it had to be relocated.
Today, only remnants remain, some of the stones from the old cathedral were used to build the new one.
There is a legend that the location of the ‘new’ cathedral was decided by the shot of an arrow from the old site. However, the arrow stuck in a deer, and the wounded animal carried it much further than originally expected!
The Cathedral’s Restaurant
I strongly advise you to stop by the cathedral’s restaurant. You can enjoy a tasteful meal while still admiring the cathedral’s spire visible through the sunroof above your head.
Other Things to see in Salisbury
Charming Architecture!
A quick stroll through a few of the streets surrounding the Cathedral will expose you to some interesting architecture.
In this link, you will find a suggested trail to follow.
And below a photo gallery showcasing what there is to see.
Salisbury Museum
Excellent museum with plenty to look at.
Click here to see precise location
Fisherton Mill Gallery/Studios/ Cafe
On the way to Salisbury Station, there’s a little, somewhat hidden, creative hub called Fisherton Mill Gallery.
Click here to see precise location
I don’t think I’ve ever come across a more interesting souvenir shop – all items are handmade and lovely.
The cake and tea were also delicious!
For all book lovers, I encourage you to check out The History Bookshop located in a small studio outside the main building.
This charming bookstore, will make your day! I promise:)
Well, you’ve reached the end of this post!
I hope you enjoyed it.
If you are looking for more inspiration on what to see in and near London, check out my other posts!
And, if you’re looking for someone to navigate you through the streets of London while sharing the most interesting stories of this great city, feel free to get in touch!
I am also a private tour guide.
contact@walkmeblog.com