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Exploring Salisbury Market Place: Past and Present

Salisbury Market Place, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1

  • Multiple dates available
  • In person
  • Pre-booking not required

Salisbury is unusual in still having a large dedicated Market Place that continues to function. Discover some of its many former uses including changes to its size and buildings with a special trail.

Explore the full extent of the original market place (more than twice its current size!) and visit inside some of the buildings around it. These include shops, the council building and even a cinema set within a very historic house. Discover some of the past uses of the Market Place including the stocks for punishment, cattle and animal markets, and celebratory dinners (typically restricted to men) with vast quantities of food and beer drunk.

Brochure with map will be available online and from the Library + Information Centre. Participating buildings will have posters in their windows with QR codes to access more information, and history leaflets inside. The Library and Young Gallery will also have special displays about the Market Places development. Access to the cinema is limited to a small number of tours. Other buildings will be open typically during shop hours.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Main offer is open access but tours of the cinema MUST be booked in advance. Tickets will be available from the Salisbury Information Centre about a week before the Open Days begin.

Timings & Tours

Friday 06 September:
Trail anytime, Buildings open in shop hours
Saturday 07 September:
Trail anytime, Buildings open in shop hours
Sunday 08 September:
Trail anytime, Buildings open in shop hours
Monday 09 September:
Trail anytime, Buildings open in shop hours

Location & directions

Salisbury Market Place, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1

Directions:
The Market Place is in the centre of Salisbury. The square itself is lined by a number of pubs and other eating places, many with outside sitting spaces. The library, housed in the old Market House is on the western side and the Guildhall on the eastern side of the square. The original market was considerably larger and included several of the streets adjoining the present Market Place.

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:
Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Upper floors of buildings will not be easily accessible to many disabled visitors.

Additional information

Check out our online channels

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