Salisbury Cathedral

The sight of Salisbury Cathedral and its majestic spire greeted medieval travellers long before they arrived in the city. The same goes for visitors today. At 404 feet, or 123 metres, the spire is the tallest in Britain and rises high above the city skyline. The cathedral is a remarkable feat of medieval ingenuity and energy. Work began on 28 April 1220 and it took just 38 years to build this magnificent example of an English gothic cathedral. By the 1260s a detached bell tower, the cloisters (the largest in England) and Chapter House were completed. The spire was added in the 1300s. Give yourself plenty of time to explore the Cathedral and make sure you see the world's oldest working mechanical clock and, in the Chapter House, an original 1215 Magna Carta. Take a turn around the Cloisters, and before heading off on the rest of trail take in the peace and tranquillity of the Cathedral Close. This is the area surrounding the cathedral and is the largest in Britain covering over 80 acres (32 hectares). Take in the views of the Cathedral and contemplate the skill of the stonemasons, carpenters and glaziers who laboured to build this amazing structure; and the skill of those who continue to look after this historic building today.