The Best Hotels to Book Near Salisbury Cathedral

Just 3km (2mi) from Salisbury Cathedral is this admirable 19th-century gamekeeper’s cottage. Rooms, with restful views of the cricket field or the village church, are soothingly styled in shades of taupe, light green, inky blue and silvery grey. There are subtle nods to the thwack of leather on willow: rooms, suites and apartments have names such as Captain, Century and Innings. See more of the pitch from the chintzy conservatory, where traditional English breakfasts are based on local produce such as sausages and bacon from the local butcher; non-meat options include pastries and pan-fried vine tomatoes.

A cool and creamy facade of the Merchant’s House gives no hint of the warm beam-and-brick pub space inside, with a cosy log-burning fire holding centre stage. This 15th-century city centre hotel has hosted the likes of Admiral Nelson – hence the room named after him, with framed pictures on rich, cocoa-coloured walls. For something even more showstopping, try the Alfred Bowley room, with open beams in the eaves and illuminated by a fancy chandelier. There are also standard singles, doubles and twins, at rates that include an unlimited breakfast rich in regional sausages and black pudding, croissants, fruit salad and muesli. The spires of Salisbury Cathedral are just a short walk away.

This atmospheric eight-room B&B-with-bar has standard, deluxe and superior rooms. All are serene, with pale-peach walls and soft-blue headboards; some even have perfect period fireplaces. If you’re here to admire the cathedral, book Room 5, with a view of its spindly spire. On weekends, afternoon tea is a diet disaster of delicious apple crumble choux buns, Victoria sponge, cream-loaded sultana scones and finger sandwiches filled with egg mayonnaise or cheddar and onion chutney. Don’t bed down without a visit to the bar, open Thursday to Sunday, for an expertly blended cocktail.

Fans of history and all things fine adore this picture-perfect 13th-century hotel just a short walk from the cathedral. It’s got real appeal and a well-regarded, antiques-laden restaurant. Accommodation is smart and sophisticated, decorated in chic shades of soft grey and mustard, with scarlet wingback chairs and heavy ancient beams. If you’re here for a special occasion, consider the room with the fringed four-poster. Take tea and cakes overlooking the Virginia creeper cloaking the courtyard, and don’t miss the hot breakfast; if you’re rising early to visit Stonehenge, ask for a grab-and-go.

Teffont Evias is a sleepy thatched-cottage Wiltshire village in the Nadder Valley, and this is where you’ll find Howard’s House Hotel, with its ancient cream-coloured stone exterior and arched windows. Guests love it for its bright rooms with classic English-garden views; ask to stay in number three for a four-poster and snug nooks you can cosy up in. Salisbury is a 20-minute drive away, but don’t leave home without a bellyful of breakfast. Here, they lay on everything you’d expect, including honey-roasted ham and eggs and fluffy buttermilk pancakes.

Book into this Grade-II listed Georgian mansion and you’ll be thrilled with the location, a mere five-minute walk from the postcard medieval cathedral and the market square, as well as museums and shops. Rooms range from period-style, with four-poster beds and floral wallpaper, to more contemporary with modern pieces. Make a dinner date to twirl pasta together at softly lit Milano’s Italian, or take to the terrace in warmer weather. Enjoy a massage or a dip in the pool to emerge revived and refreshed, ready to delve into local history.

Scenic gardens and a lovely vine-covered exterior are just two of the big attractions for guests at this 38-room Victorian hotel, with grounds rolling down to the banks of the rivers Avon and Nadder. Rooms are traditional and comfortable, with period-style sconces, drapes, sink-in armchairs and fresh flowers. There are top views of the cathedral from the four-poster rooms and the restaurant. Snuggle up by the open fire in the lounge before dinner at the Bistro on the River.