Things to do
With its atmospheric ruins and romantic lakeside setting,
Old Wardour Castle is without question one of the region's
must-see visitor attractions. Fans of the 1991 film Robin Hood:
Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, will immediately
recognise it as Locksley Castle, Robin's family home. Located on
the northern edge of Cranborne Chase, the castle dates back to 1393
and is noted for its hexagonal tower house.
Home of the Earls of Pembroke, Wilton House was designed by
Inigo Jones in the 17th century, replacing the original house,
which was destroyed by fire, and later remodelled by James Wyatt.
Inside is the Double Cube Room, which contains a famous collection
of Van Dyck paintings. Look out, too, for the former riding school,
a Tudor kitchen and a Victorian laundry.
Salisbury
Cathedral's soaring spire is the tallest in the country,
immortalised in John Constable's famous painting Salisbury
Cathedral from the Meadows, painted in 1831. The cathedral was
begun in 1220, finished about 1280, and includes a medieval frieze
and an original copy of the Magna Carta. From every perspective,
the cathedral is a breathtaking reminder of the skill of those who
built it nearly 800 years ago.