Salisbury

People have lived in the Salisbury area for 8,000 years. As a result, the Salisbury area is brimming with historical attractions for all to see from Iron Age monuments Roman Villas to medieval castles. Probably the best known monument is the world famous Stonehenge which is just 8 miles from the city centre. The town is very accomodating to tourists, and you'll want to plan an extended stay just to see it all. Another way to save money is to purchase a Gret British Heritage Pass which gives you access to all of the world heritage sites of the area for one low price.

Stonehenge stands impressively as a prehistoric monument of unique importance. It is a huge tourist destination, and as such, it is fairly accessible to most people, with an audio tour in 9 languages, easy disabled access, hearing loop and Braille guide available. Many of the earthworks, burial mounds and other circular 'henge' monuments are accessible by road or public footpath. You might want to make a special trip during the solstices where you can see Stonehenge's orientation on the rising and setting sun. If you do this, you'll want to book as early as you can because there are many others who do the same thing. The Summer Solstice is very popular, and recently, Stonehenge has been opened up on these days to public festivals held around the monument. The reason Stonehenge was built remains a mystery. Some believe the builders were from a sun-worshipping culture, and others believe the circle and its banks were part of a huge astronomical calendar. Stonehenge is open year around except on December 24 and 45, however, the hours vary. Cost of admission is £5.90 for adults.

Another ancient monument you won't want to miss is the Rockbourne Roman Villa. The site has a fascinating museum which showcases many of the objects found on the site and see what life was was like for the Roman Britons who lived here over 1600 years ago. You can also walk around the remains of the villa including bath houses, living quarters, farm buildings and workshops. Of particular note are the mosaics and a unique underfloor heating system for many of the Villa's rooms.

Or, if you don't want to venture far from the city centre, you can take a ghost tour. Due to the age of the city, many of the local buildings are said to be haunted.Stop by the tourist information centre in the middle of town for more information.

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See a Map of Salisbury