1 day at Stonehenge (free!) e Salisbury: guide the Wiltshire countryside
Just like for the visit to Oxford, I could not find an unbeatable offer on site Megabus ( http://uk.megabus.com/ ): a train ride London Waterloo-Salisbury-London Waterloo to… 1£!
A ben vedere, book with the right advance, They can find a good deal’ of dates and times for that price.
At that point, after the purchase, Just show your receipt (with the reservation number) the guy that controls access to the tracks, that will let you in on the train (operated by Southwest Trains).
In an hour and twenty I got to the train station in Salisbury (in which cathedral is the best-preserved copy of the The Magna Carta!), from which all the visits to the famous Stonehenge.
in fact, these are far from the city, there is no public transport, and the only alternative is a bus-robbery TheStonehengeTour that, the modest (sic!) figure of £ 14 payable on board, will take you to the site.
I had considered renting a bike (Some shops in the center will rent to £ 15 for 24 hours) but, It is a place where the rain-soaked and gusts of wind can be violent, I decided to let it go.
In alternative, at a cost of £ 27, you can buy the bus ticket and entrance to Stonehenge but, as I will tell you later, you can avoid paying the ticket, I (and not only) notice, From really excessive cost.
The bus will settle Which (click to see the exact location on Google Maps), just a stone's throw from the new (and expensive) visitor centre di Stonehenge. At that point, you are free to ignore the beautifully visitor center, and shuttle buses that are back and forth from there to the actual site.
Stay right, and walk with his back to the visitor center, for a couple of km. If you are feeling bold (and do not fear the droppings of sheep), you can cross one of the many gates, and continue through the meadows.
Ciao Visitor Centre, I'm going to Stonehenge walk! 🙂
Arrived at a crossroads, you can no longer go straight, because you must show your ticket.
Do not worry: turn left, and look for a gate that will allow you to enter the lawn (more or less here). Pay attention to possible droppings, let the nice (and con un large intestine) British sheep!
Da which, you will enjoy a perfect view (and Free) su Stonehenge, a few meters away from the visitors who make the circular path.
And here, in all their grandeur, i monoliti di Stonehenge
Spent half an hour, read the guide, made the usual photos, It only has to go back to your bus (read on the site of TheStonehengeTour times of transition), and return to the center to Salisbury.
Optionally, you can stop at the old settlement Old Sarum but, sincerely, I've seen enough of such, both in England, that in Scotland, that in Ireland, and I preferred to devote more time to the main course: the The Magna Carta!
Having taken a few steps in the city center (really cute, and where I recommend you take a ride), I came to the Salisbury Cathedral, equipped with tallest church tower in England, and ancient origins.
Which, with a “donation request” (Read “ticket”, with so much cash before the front door) about 7 pounds, I entered the imposing structure: I must say it is worth every single penny!
Volunteers, always with a smile on his lips and with a typically British accent, offer of visits lasting about one hour (English only), that allow you to have an overview of the history of the Cathedral.
I am reminded of the joke of our guide: “…A 12 feet from the floor, About 4 meters, for our continental friends, water flows”. 🙂
The nave of the Cathedral of Salisbury
The visit culminates with visit to the Magna Carta, suitably sheltered from light, in a species of “dark camera”.
All of us we remember, some more than others, for having studied it at school or university, and now he was there, in all its solemnity. 🙂
The Magna Carta was a embryo of democracy, It has determined that a process should have a fair duration, that it can not be imprisoned without cause, and that… even the king must obey the law!
Concepts so revolutionary, 500 years after, were the basis on which was written the Constitution of the United States of America.
I spent over two hours in the Cathedral, hours of which I do not regret at all. perhaps, It is one of the most interesting Anglican churches I've ever seen.
I leave a video, I shot while the choir was the evidence… very exciting. 🙂
Before returning to take the train to London (verso le 19:30), I ate at the excellent “The Cloisters”, su Catherine Street, in a historic building, what tradition says, It was a pub (public house) more than 500 age.
Photos of the day, They are in my gallery, to this address.
We route, in textual form, I followed in my visit to Salisbury and surroundings:
- Starting at 8:20 da Waterloo Train Station
- all 10, outside the station the bus "The Stonehenge tour", which at a cost of £ 14 it is back and forth between Stonehenge and Salisbury Station. Back from Stonehenge every hour to :43. The TKT you can buy online or at the station. Not worth buying the ticket-robbery entrance: Just take the 2km road walk, and you will have the monument in full view.
- Salisbury Cathedral and Cathedral Close (Open 9-17, home to the best copy of the Magna Charta. It was built between 1220 and the 1258. A 123 meters, It has the tallest spire in the UK, and the largest cloister. Donation "request")
- Mangia da “The Cloisters”, its 83 Catherine Street, cooking traditional food
- The Parish Church of St Thomas and St Edmunds (it advances time, It may be worth a visit)
- Starting at 19:26 da Salisbury Train Station per Waterloo, arriving at 21:04
GOOGLE MAP ON THIS TOUR: link
In short, I think it's a day trip that anyone, finding by the parties in London (o di Bristol, little more to the west), should do.
and, if you fail to pay the £ 1 train, and It avoids paying almost £ 15 for access to Stonehenge, so much the better, not? 🙂