Total length of interior 449 ft (134.7 metres)Width of nave and aisles excluding transepts 78 ft (23.4 metres)Width north/south main transepts 204 ft (62 metres)Height of nave 85 ft (25.5 metres)Height to vault excluding the Trinity Chapel 85 ft (25.5 metres)Length of nave 230 ft (69 metres)Height of spire 404 ft supported by 6 ft square 4 main piers, and strengthened by further buttresses). Seating capacity of 1900 people.

Planned from 1220 but enlarged and rebuilt with stone vaults in the 1250s and 1260s in the English Gothic style. Largest in area in England. Originally partly glazed. 190 ft (58 metres) of squared walk way - 18ft (5.5 metres) way. The Cloisters were used for daily processions. They were used as a prison in the Civil War period (mid 17th century) after the Dean & Chapter were abolished. The 2 enormous cedars were planted in 1837.

Built during 1285 - 1315. Tallest medieval spire in Europe 404 ft (128 metres) Weight is supported by 6 ft square 4 main piers all made of Purbeck marble and strengthened by further buttresses. You can see the columns bending under the weight. Original wooden scaffolding can be seen inside the spire as well as the 18th century windlass (hauling mechanism). There is very rare medieval ironwork up there, and 18th and 19th century repairs. The lighting strike of 1741 set the spire on fire, the fire was put out, but some scars remain.

There are scheduled tours which can be booked in advance (Tel 01722 555120). No children under 5 and height restrictions apply. You go up 332 steps in stages. Wonderful views across to Old Sarum, the site of the old Cathedral, from the 8 doors level (220 feet above the ground) you reach at the base of the spire. Last 160 ft (49 metres) the stones are only 8 inches (20 cms) thick and the final 50 ft (15 metres) were built from outside. The original iron cross was removed in 1950 when the top of the spire was rebuilt and is on display in the Cathedral. Tower tour bookings telephone 01722 555156.

The West Front was completed by 1255 with the statuary work in 1300. At least 24 medieval statues survived to the seventeenth century but only 10 now. 60 statues were added during the Victorian period. The statues conform to a carefully considered iconography based on the Te Deum: bishops and doctors, saints and martyrs, apostles and evangelists, prophets and patriarchs are ranged in ascending order below Christ in Majesty in the high gable. At the base of the west front was the ceremonial entrance to the cathedral. All the original wooden doors survive here. A book on the West Front (published 2000) and a West Front leaflet are available in the shop. New statues of two angels and St. Aldhelm carved by Jason Battle.

Built during 1250s and 60s. One of 12 surviving medieval Octagonal Chapter Houses. Geometrical Decorated style. Roof supported by single octagonal central column of Purbeck marble with delightful small animal carvings at base. This was replaced in 1855. The original capital and base can be seen in the SW. corner of the Cloister. The Chapter House was the meeting place of the Cathedral clergy or Dean and Chapter who sat on the raised plinth seating, the east end reserved for the Dean, Precentor, Chancellor, Treasurer and Archdeacons and principal officers. The head marking the Dean’s stall has a triple face, sometimes said to represent circumspection - one of the qualities needed in a Bishop. (Some however say it is the Master Mason looking at his completed work). The name 'Chapter' comes from the tradition established elsewhere by Benedictine monks of reading a portion of the Rule of St Benedict before their meetings. (The Bible was only divided into chapters by Stephen Langton [Archbishop of Canterbury 1207-1228] and it was not until the 16th century that a printer introduced verses.)

Around the walls of the Chapter House runs a medieval frieze of 60 stone bas reliefs from 1250 representing scenes from the first two books of the Bible, Genesis and Exodus. These would have been painted and gilded originally. Wonderful depictions of Noah's Ark, Cain murdering Abel, the Tower of Babel etc.

The present glass dates from the mid nineteenth century with newly commisssioned glass in the east window from 1983, all designed and made in the Cathedral workshops. The current tiles are from the mid nineteenth century restoration.

Magna Carta is Latin for “The Great Charter” the famous agreement made between King John and his barons at Runneymede in 1215. (Two of the others are at the British Library in London, and one is at Lincoln Castle). It is beautifully written in Latin on vellum (animal skin) and contains some 3,500 words, many of which have been abbreviated. It established, amongst other principles in law, that no free man may be imprisoned or prosecuted without fair trial before his equals. The basic principles of the Magna Carta have been incorporated into the Constitution of the United States of America.

The showcases contain examples of Church silver and silver gilt, some belonging to the Cathedral but most of it on loan from the parishes of the Diocese.

The Library is open by appointment only. Persons needing to use the Library must apply in writing to The Librarian, Salisbury Cathedral, 6 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2EF. References will be asked for.

This is the oldest working medieval clock in the world. It was made by 1386 and was originally installed in the detached Bell Tower. It is made from hand-wrought iron. As is usual for this period there is no face, the clock being designed only to strike hours.

If you are interested in clocks visit the website of the Greenwich Royal Observatory.

This wonderful organ was built 1876 – 77 by Henry “Father” Willis. There are four manuals, 90 stops and 3852 pipes. Visits can be arranged by appointment only with the Director of Music, telephone 01722 555125. For more details look in the Services section under Music.

Gabrielle Loire from Chartres, France designed the Prisoners of Conscience window in 1980. The candle for Amnesty International and the details on the adopted prisoners of conscience are just below this striking blue glass window in the Trinity Chapel at the east end of the Cathedral.

Paintings of the Cathedral by Constable and Turner are on display at the National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum, and in New York The Frick and The Metropolitan Museums.
In the Cathedral itself is a glass prism by Lawrence Whistler and on the West Walk Elizabeth Frink's Walking Madonna.

Salisbury Cathedral has largest and earliest complete set of canon stalls in the country (13th century) They were made in 1236 with oak given by King Henry III. The tip-up seats(misericords) are 13C, with foliage decoration. The front row of seats are originally 13C but repaired, half being replaced in 17C. Musical angels, grotesque figures and animals date from Scott's restoration (1860-75).

A full list of the month's services is available in the Cathedral News published monthly, available in the Cathedral Shop or by subscription (see News for details).

Unless there are special circumstances, you have to be a member of the cathedral community, or a resident.

The word catholic means universal. Until the Reformation in 1534 the whole church in the west owed its allegiance to the Pope in the catholic tradition. When the King Henry VIII rejected the authority of the Pope, church buildings and property continued to be used. The Church of England as it became known, (now part of the worldwide Anglican Church), did not reject the threefold order of ministry - bishops, priests and deacons, kept the historic creeds and retained the main liturgical structures of the pre-reformation church. In due course, much of its teaching reflected the concerns of the reformers. As a result the Church of England considers itself to be both catholic and reformed with the Cathedral now an Anglican place of worship.

In common with all church buildings a Cathedral church is a place of worship. It is a place where the people of God gather daily to receive Holy Communion and to pray. A Cathedral church is the Mother church in a diocese. Each diocese has a Bishop whose 'seat' the Cathedral church is located. ('Kathedra' is a Greek word meaning seat or chair). Salisbury Cathedral serves the people of Wiltshire and Dorset with both the small and great services of the spiritural year, seating over 1800 per service during our Christmas worship.

There are very few brasses available and you need to provide your own equipment. Contact the Vestry for a booking on 01722 555150.

The Close:Mompesson House, a National Trust property, (summer only) ring 01722 335659. The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment museum ring 01722 414536. Salisbury museum ring 01722 332151Medieval Hall ring 01722 412472Cathedral Close Walks arranged by registered Blue Badge guides ring 01794 3404955 minutes walk awayThe fascinating late 14th and 15th century church of St Thomas with a fine example of a Doom painting amongst other featuresOld Sarum, the site of the Norman Cathedral and castle is only a hour's walk away up a lovely river valley.The Salisbury Tourist board can give you further information on 01722 334956Stonehenge is ten miles away.There are lots of interesting villages within easy reach and good walking and cycling. The whole landscape is peppered with prehistoric monuments, rolling hills and beautiful countryside.

Contact: The County Record Office, The Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Cocklebury Road, Chippenham SN15 3QN. Tel: 01249 705500.
Salisbury Library 01722 330606

The Cathedral Library only holds records of people baptised, married or buried in the Cathedral.

Contact:The Secretary
The Friends of Salisbury Cathedral
52 The Close
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2EL
telephone 01722 335161
email friends@salcath.co.uk
Single annual membership £ 15.00
Joint (2 persons at 1 address) annual membership £ 25.00
Or you can arrange membership at the Front Desk when you visit. The Friends is a good way to keep in touch - there are regular newsletters.

In 2003, The Friends of Salisbury Cathedral agreed to replace all the 1800 chairs in the Cathedral. More information on their website.

We ask all visitors to make a donation. Please
see the Visitors introduction where the current rates are listed.

Our trained volunteer guides will be happy to show you around. Do book in advance for groups, customised tours, other languages and any other special requirements. We have wheelchair access throughout the Cathedral, but not up the Tower. We have a touch model of the Cathedral with accompanying tape (running time 15 minutes), and a touch replica of the Bishop Wyville brass for visually impaired visitors. We also provide large print books for the services.There is a loop system in the main body of the Cathedral for services and we have a self-guided trail leaflet for audio impaired visitors.We have a special leaflet of animals in the Cathedral for children to find and we can arrange tours specifically for students. Please ring 01722 555120.

Salisbury is easily accessible in central southern England. Car: From London, take the M3 then the A303 and the A345, approximately a 2 hour drive. From Dorchester/Weymouth/Blandford take the A354. From Bournemouth take the A338. From Southampton take the A36. From Bath take the A36. From Stonehenge take the A303 and the A345 approximately 25 minutes. From Old Sarum A345 approximately 10 minutes. Car parks include Central, George Mall/New Street, Brown Street, Crane Street. Market days are on Tuesday and Saturdays so parking can be slightly more difficult.
Train: Regular services from London Waterloo taking only 90 minutes with a 10 minute walk to the Cathedral.
Heathrow and Gatwick Airports are only 1 ½ hrs drive from Salisbury and Southampton and Bournemouth International Airports are only 40 minutes by car. In addition Exeter, Bristol and Birmingham are within easy reach. Cyclists: Salisbury is situated in the heart of a rural community making a journey by cycle to the Cathedral both easy and pleasant. You need to book your cycle on the train in advance or hire locally from Stonehenge Cycles on 01722 334915. Cycle parking available in the Cathedral Close.
Bus
Wilts and Dorset bus company: ring 01722 336855 - National Express national coach service: ring 0990 808080

Park and Ride - Salisbury operates a Park and Ride service in 4 different locations. These are Wilton (A36), Beehive (A345, Amesbury), London Road (A30) and Britford (A338, Bournemouth). This offers an affordable and
stress-free way of accessing the Cathedral and the city. For full details, please see the following leaflet.
Park and Ride Guide.

Enjoy a wide variety of freshly cooked meals, snacks and hot and cold drinks throughout the day in the glass roofed Refectory restaurant with views of the spire soaring high above you. Open 0930-1730 daily except for Christmas Day.

Yes, we have a shop by the Refectory Restaurant selling souvenirs, books and music (CDs and tapes, recordings of our Cathedral Choir).

Yes, please contact 01722 555170.

Information and bookings can be made through the Tourist Information Centre, Salisbury 01722 334956 email visitorinfo@salisbury.gov.uk. Website www.visitsalisbury.com

The site was prepared in the 1190s. 1220-1258 main body of Cathedral and free-standing bell tower built in Early English style. 1264-1270 Cloisters built in English Gothic style. 1264 Octagonal Chapter House built in Geometrical Decorated style. Circa 1300-1320 Tower and spire built. C.1445 Library built above the east cloister walk. C1790 Bell tower demolished.

Main stone approximately Jurassic limestone quarried at Tisbury and Chilmark, 18 miles west of Salisbury. Shafts, bases and columns made from tonnes of Purbeck marble. Salisbury has more Purbeck marble than any other Cathedral. Roofs contain tonnes of timber and lead. Windows measure some three quarters of an acre of glass, much of original stained glass removed in Reformation and 17 Century and all the rest during James Wyatt's re-ordering c 1790.There are at least 6 windows with some medieval glass in them put back in the 19th century.

In 2003, the Friends agreed to replace all 1800 chairs in the Cathedral. Anyone can sponsor a chair – or more than one if you wish – which may bear a plaque inscribed with the name requested by the sponsor. This could be your own name; the name of a church or parish, club, school, company, local authority or any other similar organisation; or it might be to commemorate someone.
Those sponsoring a row of eight chairs will become Honorary Life Members of the Friends.
If you would like to support the project but can only donate a small amount, this will be equally welcome. Chairs purchased from such donations will bear a Friends of Salisbury Cathedral plaque.
If possible, please make your contribution under the Gift Aid scheme by completing the appropriate box on the form. This will enable the Friends to reclaim basic rate tax on the amount you give. To qualify, you must pay an amount of UK income tax and/or capital gains tax equal to the tax which we will reclaim.
A list of sponsors and donors will be specially bound and placed in the Cathedral archive.
Should the total of funds subscribed exceed the total cost of the project, any excess will be added to the Friends’ general funds for the Cathedral’s benefit.

The Cathedral regularly hosts visual artworks and exhibitions, typically sculpture as this is most effective in the large spaces of the Cathedral and Close, but sometimes including other types of artwork. To find out more about forthcoming exhibitions view our Special Events page or to read about how we select art and plan exhibitions please view our Arts Policy and Criteria for Exhibiting Visual Art.