Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral is an Anglican (Church of England) cathedral located, unsurprisingly, in Salisbury, England. It was built from 1220 through 1258, a span of 38 years, and later expanded. This expansion came to fruition in 1549 when the cathedral’s spire was constructed–and, to this day, this remains the tallest church spire in all of the United Kingdom, standing at 123 metres (404 feet) tall. That’s almost the same height as The Great Pyramid of Giza!

In 2008, Salisbury Cathedral celebrated its 750th birthday. But it almost wasn’t built at all. According to popular legend, Bishop of Old Sarum, upon wanting to re-site the cathedral, shot an arrow, blindly, in the direction the cathedral should be constructed. But, amazingly, it hit a deer! The next few days they struggled to find the wounded animal, until eventually a good Samaritan came across it. It was here, after much waiting, that they placed Salisbury Cathedral.

Whether a follower of history, music, or religion, Salisbury Cathedral is a must visit. From its world-famous spire, to its historical significance, this cathedral is a staple of British culture. You can visit Salisbury Cathedral as part of a tour of Salisbury.