Salisbury

Cathedral spires pierce the Wiltshire sky above water meadows that flood naturally each winter. This is Salisbury proper - a medieval city where narrow streets funnel tourists between timber-framed shops and the soaring Gothic masterpiece that houses one of only four surviving copies of Magna Carta.

The cathedral dominates everything. Its 404-foot spire, completed in 1320, remains the tallest in Britain and draws visitors from across Europe. But step away from the Close's manicured lawns and you'll find a working market town with Wednesday and Saturday markets that have traded here for over 750 years.

Harnham Hill offers cracking views back over the city, while the chalk downs roll away in every direction. Longford Castle, a triangular Elizabethan oddity, sits just outside town - though it's privately owned and glimpsed only from the road. The surrounding countryside is classic Wiltshire: vast fields, copses like Speirs Lynch Plantation, and footpaths that connect ancient settlements.

Getting here is straightforward. Salisbury sits on the main London-Exeter railway line, with direct trains from Waterloo taking 90 minutes. The A30 and A36 make driving equally simple.

Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you within easy striking distance of both city sights and countryside walks. Stonehenge is barely eight miles north - though you'll want to book timed entry well ahead. The New Forest starts just south, while Bath and Winchester are both under an hour's drive for day trips.