As Magna Carta Day approaches on 15 June, Salisbury Cathedral is marking the occasion with the launch of a brand‑new visitor tour exploring the history, journey, and global impact of one of the world’s most influential documents.
Magna Carta means the “great charter” and was sealed by King John in 1215. It established the principle that no one, not even the monarch, is above the law. Today it remains a powerful symbol of justice, inspiring landmark human rights legislation including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Salisbury Cathedral’s copy is one of only four surviving originals and is widely regarded as the best preserved.
The new tour takes visitors deeper into the story of Magna Carta: why it was created, how it came to Salisbury, and the remarkable episodes in its life at the Cathedral. Highlights include the much‑loved tale of the wartime librarian who cycled home with the document tucked into her bicycle basket for safekeeping.
Visitors will also have the chance to examine a high‑quality facsimile of the charter, learn how it was made, and discover further archival treasures held by the Cathedral.
Kate Saykouk, Bookings and Travel Trade Officer, said:
“After a long period of development, I’m really proud to see our new specialist tour, Magna Carta: Our Salisbury Story, officially launched and to receive great initial feedback from visitors. Created in response to demand insights from our trade partners, this has been a genuinely collaborative project, working closely with our incredibly knowledgeable guiding team, in fact this tour wouldn’t have been possible without them. I’m excited to see interest in the tour continue to grow and to share this unique part of Salisbury’s story with even more visitors.”
Tours run on Wednesdays at 2pm and last approximately 90 minutes, followed by an opportunity to view the original Magna Carta and the accompanying exhibition in the Chapter House. Tickets can be bought online here.
