Salisbury Museum

About

Discover 500,000 years of history - from the archaeology of ancient Wessex to contemporary art - all in a stunning medieval building set within the glorious setting of the Cathedral Close.

The main strength of the museum rests in its internationally important archaeological collections, with a world-class gallery of archaeology housing one of Europe’s most extensive collections of Stonehenge and prehistoric artefacts. 

The History of Salisbury Gallery includes the ‘Drainage Collection’ – a group of every day objects discovered in the open sewers which once flowed through the streets of Salisbury – and Britain’s oldest surviving medieval giant. There is also a Ceramics Gallery, and the newly re-displayed Fashion Gallery which explores how we interact with clothes, and tells the stories of some of the items in the museum’s collection.
The main exhibition galleries feature regularly changing, nationally important exhibitions, whilst the events programme has illuminating talks, workshops, courses and family events.

The museum is based in the King’s House, a Grade I listed building located opposite Salisbury Cathedral, which formerly housed a teacher training college and was the inspiration for an episode in Thomas Hardy’s novel Jude the Obscure.

There is a gift shop in the museum, with a carefully curated range of gifts and books for all ages, and a café open for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea – which also happens to have the best view of the Cathedral in town!