This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Salisbury.
Salisbury is popular with tourists because of its close proximity to Stonehenge. Both the bus and train station are stops for the shuttle bus that can take you from your Salisbury hostel to Stonehenge (for a pretty steep fee), so it is not difficult to reach the ancient site. However, be sure to spend some time checking out the city of Salisbury itself, as it is home to plenty of history.
The must-see sight in Salisbury has to be the cathedral; not only does it have the tallest spire in the UK, but it also has the world's oldest working clock. The cathedral survived the London bombings in World War II because the Germans used it as a landmark to find London at night. It's also home to one of the four copies of the Magna Carta, which is on display as well. Aside from Stonehenge, Old Sarum is another interesting historical landmark -- you can see the city of Salisbury from the site of Old Sarum, as well as some great scenic views of the surrounding countryside.
There are a few shopping centers and grocery shops in the city, which isn't too large (mostly everything is within walking distance). Driving around the city is a bit problematic, since there aren't any major motorways leading to the city, so it can get fairly congested during peak driving times, but there are a few parking lots, so parking isn't ever too difficult.
The attraction of Stonehenge siphons off a good deal of tourists from the city so it's not always very crowded (especially when the weather is bad), so take time to explore the various historical sights around the city.
Written by local enthusiast for Salisbury hostels
Emily Schreiber