Sarum College

I was a bit disappointed by breakfast. There wasn’t much for a vegetarian, and the eggs were vile, with a disgusting smell and sickening taste. Most guests seemed to leave theirs on the plate. Hopefully it was just an off day. Still, I loved staying here as a solo traveler. My little en-suite room was cute, bright, comfortable, and very clean. One of the women at reception was lovely and friendly. The cathedral views are amazing, the center is an easy walk away, and parking is free. It was one of the quietest, most peaceful places I’ve stayed. The shower was brilliant too. Maybe a bit pricey for what you get, but with breakfast included it felt worth it. I was quite sad to leave.

The location is wonderful and quiet, the breakfast was nice, and the staff were incredible. Huge thanks to them for trying to help in a sketchy situation. The shared bathrooms were okay, though not perfectly clean, and the building isn’t soundproof. From my bed I could hear most of the toilet noises. The problem was the windows. I was put in a room where they were completely broken and stuck half open, letting cold air in. A staff member was super lovely and moved me, but that room’s window was broken too. After calling again, I was moved to a third room. It took ten minutes of struggling, and literally climbing into windows in several rooms with staff, before that one finally closed normally. I was even asked if I really wanted windows, in rainy September England. After an hour of unpacking, moving, and repacking, I finally had a room. For £75 a night, with a shared bathroom and toilet, this was outrageous. I could have understood the experience at £25 or £40, but for the same £75, fellow travelers, go somewhere else. Guests should know they might get a room with huge cold-air leaks. College managers, if you’re renting rooms to visitors, please make sure the basics like windows and heating work. The soap was nice and breakfast was lovely, but basic needs come first.

We had a two-day break here and found the staff helpful and friendly. There was plenty of free parking, and our clean, functional room was nicely decorated, though the mattress was a little hard. The location was perfect, with a fantastic view of the cathedral from our room and other historic houses nearby. Breakfast was self-service, with full English, including great sausages, or continental options. Salisbury itself is beautiful, with lots of shops. We visited some lovely historic places and walked by the river, both well worth doing.

We chose Sarum College because we wanted to stay near the Cathedral, and its GBP profile said it was LGBTQ friendly. The location inside the cathedral close felt special, and the staff were very friendly. Our room had an amazing cathedral view, and the breakfast buffet was really good. It made for a memorable stay. Thanks, Sarum College. I hope to return.