Everyone knows about Stonehenge: an iconic engineering marvel of prehistoric stones arranged in a circle. For all its fame, some might call it overrated.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, but I will say that nearby Salisbury Cathedral is definitely underrated. It’s home to the tallest church spire in England, one of the oldest working clocks in the world and an original copy of the 1215 Magna Carta.
The cathedral’s interior is as gorgeous as its exterior. Local prominent figures throughout English history were even buried under the its floors. Adjacent to the cathedral, the Chapter House is a grand, arc-ceilinged chamber that dates to 1266, features huge stained-glass windows as delicate as lacework and displays the Magna Carta.
Queuing outside the tent containing the centuries-old document felt a bit like waiting to meet a celebrity — at least for an English history nerd like me. In the main body of the cathedral, the oldest working clock in the world (allegedly) was no slouch, either. I recommend visitors do what I did: Round off a visit to Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral with a pint of ale and a Sunday roast, and enjoy what is easily the most quintessentially British day ever.
The Details
Salisbury Cathedral
www.salisburycathedral.org.uk
