Salisbury is worth visiting year-round. The cathedral and its close are at their most atmospheric on winter mornings when the lawns are frosted and the crowds are thin. Spring and early summer bring good walking weather on the chalk downland nearby.
The Salisbury International Arts Festival runs for two and a half weeks in late May and early June, filling the city with theatre, music, and outdoor events. The Salisbury Food and Drink Festival takes place in September. Market days — Tuesday and Saturday — add life to the Market Place from morning onward and are the best time to shop for local produce from Wiltshire farms.
Summer weekends can feel crowded around the cathedral and on the road to Stonehenge. If you are visiting Stonehenge, arriving at opening time (9.30am) reduces the queues considerably.