Camping in Salisbury

Salisbury itself has no campsites within the old city, but the surrounding Wiltshire countryside more than makes up for it, with sites scattered across the chalk downland and river valleys within a few miles of the centre. Much of the land here is gently rolling farmland and water meadow rather than dramatic scenery, which makes for easy, sheltered pitches and straightforward walking and cycling routes rather than technical terrain, and several sites sit close enough to the city to cycle or bus in for an evening rather than driving.

The chalk soil drains well, so sites around Salisbury tend to stay usable even after heavy rain, though the open downland can be exposed to wind and there is little shelter from the prevailing south-westerlies on higher ground. Wild camping has no general legal right in England and Wiltshire is no exception, so campers should stick to the established sites in the area or seek a landowner's permission rather than pitching on the plain or near Stonehenge, which sits within a protected World Heritage Site with no informal camping tolerated.

May to September gives the most reliable weather and the longest daylight for exploring, with June's arts festival adding an extra reason to combine a stay with a night or two under canvas. Many of the smaller, family-run sites close over winter, so anyone hoping to camp outside the main season should check opening dates before setting off, while a handful of touring parks with hookups and hard standing stay open year-round for caravans and motorhomes.