Excursion Stonehenge and salisbury tour at Southampton

This full day tour includes a guided visit of Salisbury Cathedral, free time to explore the ancient city of Salisbury and a visit to one of Europe's most famous sites - Stonehenge.

Salisbury

Superbly situated in southern England's rural heartland, few destinations can match the quintessential English city of Salisbury with its centrepiece, Salisbury Cathedral. The awesome sight of the Salisbury Cathedral spire never fails to impress; soaring a breath-taking 123 meters (404 feet) into the sky, it is visible from every direction, dominating the landscape for many miles around. Salisbury is unique amongst medieval English cathedrals, built within one century with no substantial later additions. It is arguably the finest example of the Early English Gothic style of architecture in Britain.

Salisbury Cathedral and Time at Leisure

There is much to see and do in and around the Cathedral as you will see on your guided tour. The spacious and tranquil Close with its schools, historic houses and museums makes a fine setting for the Cathedral. In the Cathedral itself you'll find not only the best preserved of only four original Magna Carta (AD1215) - the famous agreement made between King John and his barons at Runnymede, the basic principles of which have been incorporated into the constitution of the USA but also Europe's oldest working clock (AD1386). After your visit to the Cathedral, take some time to explore Salisbury at your leisure before re-joining your coach for your short drive to Stonehenge.

Stonehenge

The purpose of the world's most famous stone circle remains a mystery. Its origins go as far back as the Pyramids. What today's visitor sees are the mighty remains of a sequence of monuments erected between 3000 & 1000 BC. Most well-known are the trilithons, large doorframe-shaped stone arrangements, made up of 2 standing stones, topped by a lintel stone fixed together by mortice-& tenon joints. The stones are aligned so that on the midsummer and midwinter solstices the sun shines straight through the circle onto the central Heel Stone. Stop at Stonehenge to visit this mystical attraction before re-boarding your coach for a drive through to Salisbury.

Following this fascinating day re-join your coach for the return journey to Southampton.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Southampton Suburbs and Countryside, Rural Landscapes, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Cathedral, Historic Buildings, Half-Timbered Houses

Note

Please note: This tour requires an extensive amount of walking to thoroughly explore all sites. It is not suitable for guests with limited mobility. Those utilising a wheelchair must be able to embark/disembark the coach via steps. Not all areas are wheelchair accessible and the pathways at Stonehenge are uneven and unpaved. Due to local average temperatures, not all coaches are equipped with air-conditioning. Tour sequence may vary. The driving time from Southampton to Sailsbury and Stonehenge is approximately 1.5 hour. The tour involves approximately 1.5 hour of free time for lunch at your expense in Sailsbury.