If you’re contemplating a move to Salisbury, you’re no doubt drawn to the world-class attractions such as the soaring medieval cathedral, or the indie shops and outstanding schools, plus the glorious surrounding countryside. No wonder the Wiltshire city has topped Sunday Times polls of best places to live in the UK – the paper says Salisbury ‘remains a divinely attractive and welcoming place’.
But one decision you’ll need to make early on is whether to confine your property hunt to Salisbury proper, where there are some wonderful centrally located homes including medieval properties, or whether to look outside the city boundaries at outlying towns and villages.
- Salisbury city centre
in the historic heart of town, houses such as those in Salisbury’s iconic Cathedral Close come with premium price tags. Prices range from £355,000 for a two-bed flat, typically, while smaller terraces kick off from £180,000 minimum. Renting a three-bed city-centre property generally starts from around £1,500 a month.
City-centre homes yield great benefits, such as being able to walk to most places including the train station. From here, you can commute to London (90 minutes), while direct services also run to Exeter, Bristol and Southampton. Plus there’s closeness to the best schools and you can enjoy Salisbury’s diverse cultural and culinary scene without worrying about driving home afterwards or cutting the evening short to run for the last bus. This may offset the fact that some pubs, restaurants and so on may be slightly pricier in the city centre.
Just eight miles north of Salisbury, Amesbury is probably the town nearest prehistoric Stonehenge; indeed, it’s known as the gateway to the stones. It’s right on the River Avon, and home to some gorgeous traditional pubs and independent shops.
It’s more affordable than a city-centre address, with typical property prices between £311,000 and £321,000. Meanwhile, terraces hover around the £275,000 mark. Average monthly rents come in at between £1,300 and £1,500 a month. Amesbury’s high proportion of new builds helps keep it relatively budget-friendly.
For trains, you’ll need to drive the 15 minutes to Salisbury, while there’s a strong bus, coach and community transport network.
Wilton lies just a few miles west of the city centre, and you could well find you love the intimate feel of this market town. There’s no train station here, but you can bus it into town within 20 minutes. You’ll also probably love The Guild, a former carpet factory transformed into a creative hub of local brands and eateries.
Wilton is generally slightly more affordable than the city itself, although it does depend on property type. Detached homes here typically cost £460,800 – in town you’d pay around £504,050. But terraces average some £322,400, slightly above the equivalent average in Salisbury of just over £309,000.
At the same time, property prices in Wilton have risen slightly more quickly than those in Salisbury recently.
- Broad Chalke
Located eight miles south-west of the city in the Chalke Valley, Broad Chalke is a chocolate-box village with the River Ebble flowing through its heart. It’s known for its Queen’s Head pub, and for hosting the Chalke Valley History Festival.
It could be perfect if you’re after a quiet, English countryside lifestyle. Again, Salisbury is the closest railway station, with regular bus services running between Shaftesbury and Salisbury hourly Monday through Saturday. The journey takes around 35 minutes. By road, you can drive in within 20 minutes.
Sought-after Broad Chalke is generally more expensive than central Salisbury, with average prices at £500,000 to £750,000, while some homes here (such as those on South Street) have gone for around the £1.5m to £1.8m mark.
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Winterslow
Winterslow lies six miles north-east of Salisbury and, again, is a sought-after rural village with average property prices between £465,000 and £538,000, while large detached homes regularly fetch up to £1m. So it is pricier than in the city centre.
There are buses into Salisbury, alongside a local volunteer car scheme, but no train station.
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Tisbury
Stylish Tisbury is in the Nadder Valley some 14 miles west of Salisbury and steeped in two millennia of history. Like Salisbury, it has featured in Sunday Times ‘best places to live’ polls. There’s a train station here (London is just under two hours away), plus art galleries, boutiques and some great walking.
Again, the sought-after village feel means prices are high, with average property values coming in at between £340,000 and £420,000. Much of the stock comprises bigger, detached homes, another factor behind the elevated prices.
Carter & May for Salisbury and the surrounding areas
Award-winning independent estate agent Carter & May covers Salisbury and the surrounding areas whether you’re looking for property to rent, selling or buying. We love our part of the world and know it well. So we’re very aware of different property values in different areas and the various pros and cons of living in particular parts of the city and outside, according to whether, for example, you’re a family, young couple, downsizing pensioners or a single professional.
Browse our website to learn more and get in touch: we’d love to hear from you and will gladly answer any questions you may have.