A BRAND NEW WELCOME FOR FAMILIES THIS SUMMER AT SALISBURY CATHEDRAL

Salisbury Cathedral is offering a brand new welcome for families this summer. There’s a new trail around the cathedral with accompanying activity leaflet for 8-12 year olds, new ‘Explorer’ bags for the under 8s, and for three weeks during the summer holidays there are special art and craft sessions from Tuesday – Thursday.

David Coulthard, Director of Marketing, said “We’ve given a lot of thought on how to ensure that children have lots to keep them active and interested during a visit here with their parents or grandparents, and hope these new initiatives are a good start! The new activity trail is aimed at primary school aged children. Called ‘Spires, Stones and Saints’ it has been devised by our innovative Education Centre working closely with children’s illustrators and other education professionals. The accompanying trail leaflet is bright and attractive with lots for children to think about, discover and do as they walk around our beautiful historic building.

“The ‘Explorers’ pack (available from mid-July) is for younger children and contains a selection of objects from telescopes to jigsaws which can be used to complete tasks around the cathedral! The idea is that the youngsters will enjoy working through the challenges with their families and learn as they go. The packs are collected at the main visitor entrance and returned at the end of a visit.

“During the last week in July and first two weeks in August, we are running a variety of workshops for a nominal charge. On Tuesdays 27 July, August 3 and 10, from 10.30am – 12 noon, parents and children can be creative together at drop-in workshops with different craft activities all inspired by objects found in the cathedral from dragons to gargoyles! On Wednesdays 28 July, August 4 and 11, there are drop-in Art in The Close workshops – again for families - from 2pm – 3.30pm. Bring a picnic, sit on the grass and make large pieces of artwork together. On Thursday 29 July, August 5 and 12, there are junior craft workshops from 10.30am – 12 noon. Suitable for children aged 7 years upwards, parents can leave their children knowing they are safely cared for whilst they have fun clay modelling, printmaking, marbling and bookbinding. Pre-booking at the cathedral for these Thursday workshops is essential.

“We hope these new initiatives will be enjoyed both by local families and those visiting the city.”

Visitors are welcome to this beautiful and historic Cathedral which is a dynamic working church where daily worship has continued since 1225AD. Largely completed within 38 years and built in the early English Gothic style, Salisbury Cathedral is Britain’s finest 13th century cathedral. The awesome sight of its spire soaring a breathtaking 123 metres (404 feet) into the sky never fails to impress. There is much to see including the finest of the only four surviving original (1215) Magna Carta (recently inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World), the largest and perhaps most beautiful Cathedral Close in Britain, the world’s oldest mechanical working clock (1386) and Britain’s largest non-monastic medieval Cloisters. To help cover day to day running costs, Salisbury Cathedral operates a suggested voluntary donation scheme for all visitors.

Trained volunteer guides offer tours around the floor of the Cathedral and Chapter House (with Magna Carta) free of charge. For further information email visitors@salcath.co.uk or telephone 01722 555120.

Salisbury Cathedral opens at 7.15am and closes at 6.15pm. On Sundays services are held at 8.00am, 9.15am, 10.30am and 3.00pm (4.30pm from 29 May – 29 August); recommended visiting times are 12 noon until 2.30pm (winter months) and 12 noon until 4.00pm (29 May – 29 August). For further information check the cathedral website or email visitors@salcath.co.uk or telephone 01722 555120.