Salisbury, a compact city in Wiltshire, is being hailed as an ideal autumn destination for Londoners seeking a short break, with the added appeal of property prices at roughly half the London average. A home in Salisbury costs about £334,613 on average, compared to London's average of £663,348.
The city, reachable in just over an hour from London via South Western Railway, has also been home to notable figures over the years. These include 'The Chase' star Mark Labbett, who attended school there, actor Ralph Fiennes, known for playing Lord Voldemort, and 'Peep Show' actor David Mitchell, who was born in the city. In 2019, Salisbury was named the winner of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
Historic attractions and natural beauty
Salisbury Cathedral is a major draw, featuring Britain's tallest spire at over 400 feet. It also houses four copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, a significant draw for history enthusiasts. The city is also home to the world's oldest working mechanical clock, which dates back to 1386.
Approximately eight miles north of the city lies Stonehenge, the famous prehistoric stone monument on Salisbury Plain. Visitors can also explore the two markets held weekly in Market Square.
Local councillor Chris Taylor, who has lived in the city for 30 years, described the area as having a 'village in a city' feel, a sentiment echoed by locals who have informally dubbed it 'Smallsbury'. He noted the presence of 'interconnecting social networks', saying, "Very quickly, if you find yourself talking to somebody, you will often have friends in common or people you know in common." He believes this interconnectedness helps build a sense of community, stating, "If you're all interconnected and have overlapping, social networks and connections, that all helps build that sense of us all being one team, and on the same side."
Community, schools, and local life
Cllr Taylor attributes this community spirit to shared schooling, with 'two good grammar schools' in the city and other good schools 'in the peripheries'. He also highlighted that Salisbury has the 'third lowest crime rate county in England'. He mentioned that new homes being built are a sign that it's 'a place where people make their home'.
The city is 'blessed' with nature, featuring a river and water meadows that stretch around it. Cllr Taylor noted that this natural beauty is 'one of the reasons' the city 'didn't have a bypass built many years ago'. He said, "There are lots of walks, there's lots of bridleways, and we've got five rivers running in and out of Salisbury. There are lots of nice scenic valleys, lots of chalk streams, and the rural area is very pretty. We've also got lots of things to see, like Stonehenge."
Cllr Taylor encouraged visits to Salisbury Cathedral, which he called 'a centrepiece of the city'. He noted it was the tallest building in Europe until the Eiffel Tower was completed. The city centre also offers shopping, with 'people coming in to shop, better than Winchester just down the road', and around '12 restaurants scattered across the main square'. He praised the 'rule' preventing buildings from being too high, which protects the skyline, allowing locals to 'see the Cathedral spire from pretty much anywhere in town'. The city is also easily accessible from Exeter and Devon, he added.
Cohesion and environmental concerns
Cllr Ted Last, who has lived in Salisbury for seven years and represented his ward for about 18 months, also spoke positively about the area, describing it as a 'cohesive community'. He said, "The community has a good understanding that we're all the same. We all share the same desires and wishes for ourselves and others. It sounds silly but the spire on the cathedral is a central point of the community. When I see that spire as I drive back, I think, 'I'm home'."
He attributed the inclusiveness of the locals to their education and travel experience, contrasting them with people from places like Kent who may not be as well-travelled and might view refugees arriving on Kent shores as 'different from us'. He said, "They want a life where they're secure, that's all they're searching for. They're no more the aggressor than we are. In fact, many of them are far less. They just want safety and security."
Cllr Last also raised concerns about the local green spaces, saying the surrounding area is 'great' but 'being destroyed'. He lives near the 'great community asset the Lime Kiln Reserve' and spoke highly of Harnham Woods and the 'merging rivers'. He noted that 'many people don't realise that there are salmon in those rivers'. He feels some of the local nature 'that is worth preserving' is under threat from 'development down on the flood plains'. While he acknowledges that building homes is necessary, he worries that relevant infrastructure isn't being built alongside it, which could strain local resources.
