IT’S on us. Finally. And rather suddenly. After all the planning, the meetings, the funding applications, 2015 and the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta has arrived. And it’s going to be a very busy and special year for the cathedral and for Salisbury, writes David Coulthard marketing and communications director, Salisbury Cathedral.

This week the four original 1215 copies of Magna Carta, from Lincoln Cathedral, the two from the British Library and of course, from Salisbury Cathedral, come together in London. It’s probably the first time they have ever been in the same room. At the British Library 1215 lucky ballot winners and some equally excited academics will see the celebrated documents, before they move on to the Palace of Westminster for a further fleeting visit.

The unification in London is the first of many events to celebrate the world famous agreement between monarch and barons, sealed (not signed!) by King John. What strikes me most, as we at the cathedral pilot our way through the preparations, is the international nature of the interest; the many nationalities who entered the public ballot, the list of media craving access and interviews.

This truly is an international event and a document which is celebrated around the world. Of course it’s not really the document that is celebrated so much as the ideals of fairness, justice, and limits to power that it has come to represent. So while we tend to think of the Magna Carta as a very English document, these ideals have a resonance way beyond this country.

The Lonely Planet Guide’s listing of Salisbury as one of its Top 10 Cities to Visit worldwide this year was both great news and an acknowledgement of the level of interest we might expect. Already, group bookings at the cathedral are 50 per cent higher than this time last year. So from the start of March Salisbury can expect to play host to many, many visitors who come to the city to celebrate Magna Carta and see the cathedral’s copy in its new exhibition. And they will go on to discover the rest of Salisbury as well – great news for many local businesses.

It certainly feels like Salisbury is gearing up to enjoy its time at the centre of things. There has been no shortage of partners keen to be part of the celebrations, and the cathedral has had to call a short pause in its recruitment of Magna Carta volunteers because it can’t process them quickly enough!

There are plenty of opportunities to join in during the year, look out for a leaflet or go to the events area of the Cathedral website to find out more.

The Magna Carta may have become the property of the world, but the finest copy is on our doorstep.

Let’s celebrate that.