Getting Around, Salisbury Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK)
The historic city of Salisbury is well served by public transport system and has a large bus station and a major station train, with excellent connections throughout
England.
Salisbury is situated nearby many other towns, cities and tourist attractions. Many visitors also travel outside of the city, and renting a car is often the best method of transport, with many major roads situated close by. These include the A338 to Ringwood (south), the A36 to Southampton (south-west), the A354 to Blanford Forum (south-west), the A36 to Warminster (north-west) and the A360 to Stonehenge (north).
Airports / Arriving by Air
Salisbury has excellent connections to a number of major airports in the area and
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is just 90 minutes away, and
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is around two hours drive away. Other popular airports in the area include
Bristol Airport (BRS),
Bournemouth International Airport (BOH), with regular flights arriving from
Dublin, the Channel Islands,
Alicante,
Faro,
Malaga,
Limassol, Maderia and the Grand Canaries, and Southampton Airport, which has regular flights arriving from Bradford,
Leeds,
Manchester,
Newcastle, Aberdeen,
Edinburgh,
Glasgow,
Belfast and Cork.
Bournemouth International Airport (BOH) Guide
Flying into
London you will arrive at one of the capital's four international airports,
London Heathrow Airport (LHR),
London Gatwick Airport (LGW),
London Stansted Airport (STN) and
London City Airport (LCY). They are all less than an hour from London city centre and you can travel into London by either express trains, coaches, buses or by car. Salisbury is also easy to reach from all of these airports or from the centre of London.
Car Rental
The city of Salisbury is served by a number of major roads, including the M3, M4 and M5 motorways, which travel to cities such as
Bristol, Swindon, London and
Cardiff in
Wales, across the Severn Bridge. Although the traffic in and out of Salisbury can be heavy during peak commuting hours (07:30 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 18:00), driving in the city centre is fairly easy.
Many tourists staying in the Salisbury area choose to rent cars and these are the best method of transport when travelling outside of the city, to explore the surrounding, scenic countryside and nearby Wiltshire towns. There are plenty of parking garages and off-street parking areas available in Salisbury, although many areas are restricted to residents only and parking permits are required. A large park and ride area is available to the north of the city on the A345, known as the Beehive Park and Ride. With around 400 secure parking spaces and regular shuttle buses, this provides a useful way to reach the centre.
Buses and Coaches
Regular coach services are available in Salisbury, and travel to London airports,
Bath, Bristol and the Midlands. The Wiltshire and Dorset Bus Company provide many local bus services that travel to a variety places in and around Salisbury, including Stonehenge, Wilton, Old Sarum, Avebury, Bath and Bristol. Many useful bus leaflets and bus timetables are available from the Bus Station on Endless Street, and also from the Tourist Information Centres.
Bus passes can be purchased for set periods and these are often particularly convenient when travelling in Salisbury. Most buses and coaches depart from the centre and there are also bus stops throughout Salisbury, with bus timetables and route information.
Trains
The train station is just 90 minutes from London's Waterloo train station and regular trains travel to Bath, Bristol, London and
Portsmouth, with at least 15 trains travelling to each of these destinations every day. Other train destinations include Cardiff,
Exeter and
Southampton and this is the quickest way to travel from Salisbury to these nearby areas. Advance seat reservations can be booked if required and cycle racks are available outside the Train Station.
Taxis
Taxis in Salisbury are one of the most convenient ways to travel around the city and are usually reasonably priced. They can be easily caught from the taxi rank next to the Train Station. Also in quieter areas of Salisbury, taxis can be ordered by telephone and there are a number of reputable taxi firms that your hotel can recommend. Additional charges are often made for luggage, late-night trips, extra passengers and travel on public holidays.
Bicycles
Bicycles are a popular way to travel around recreational areas of Salisbury in particular, and much of the city is generally very flat, although there are some steep hills on the outskirts. There are also numerous cycle trails and pathways throughout Salisbury and pathways next to the River Avon, which is particularly charming.
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