The Rifles Museum, Salisbury

Located in Salisbury鈥檚 historic Cathedral Close, the Rifles Museum offers a comprehensive exploration of the distinguished histories of the Royal Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiments. The museum is housed in 鈥淭he Wardrobe,鈥� a building dating back to the 13th century that once served as a storage space for the Bishop of Salisbury鈥檚 robes and ecclesiastical gear. Within this historic setting, visitors can explore over two and a half centuries of military service.

Founded in 1982 and inaugurated by the Duke of Edinburgh, the museum showcases the experiences of soldiers who served in conflicts from the Seven Years鈥� War to more recent engagements in Afghanistan. Exhibits include a wealth of artifacts, personal memorabilia, and detailed displays that shed light on the valor and everyday lives of the infantrymen. The collection provides insight into major campaigns, such as the Peninsular War, the Crimean War, the Boer War, and both World Wars.

Beyond its indoor exhibits, the museum offers a peaceful riverside garden as a quiet spot for reflection, while The Rifleman鈥檚 Table caf茅, situated nearby, serves homemade meals, lunches, and traditional cream teas during the summer, enhancing the overall visit.

As of 2025, the museum is undergoing a major redevelopment of its galleries, with a reopening planned for April. Visitors are encouraged to visit the museum鈥檚 website for updates on reopening dates and upcoming events.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Salisbury. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 911爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: The Rifles Museum
Sight Location: Salisbury, England (See walking tours in Salisbury)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Salisbury, England

Create Your Own Walk in Salisbury

Creating your own self-guided walk in Salisbury is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Salisbury Introduction Walking Tour

Salisbury鈥檚 roots lie in Old Sarum, an Iron Age hillfort located about two miles from today鈥檚 city center. The Romans and Saxons each left their mark on this ancient settlement, which became a significant town by the 11th century. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Old Sarum grew into a fortress town, hosting a castle and becoming the seat of the Salisbury Bishopric in 1075. Yet the site鈥檚... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

Historical Houses Tour

Founded more than 800 years ago, Salisbury understandably has a great number of historical, architectural, and cultural gems worthy of a visit. The medieval houses, churches, inns, and hospitals blend harmoniously with the modern sites of the city.

Your exploration of these treasures can be started at Trinity Hospital, a picturesque almshouse founded in the 14th century, offering a glimpse... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

Cathedral Close Tour

Salisbury Cathedral, apart from being renowned as the holder of Britain鈥檚 tallest spire, the world鈥檚 best preserved original copy of Magna Carta (1215) and Europe鈥檚 oldest working clock, is also famous for its Close, the largest in the country, measuring 80 acres (or 32 hectares).

The areas surrounding cathedrals' grounds, sometimes extending for hundreds of meters from the main... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

911爆料网