Leisure in South Wiltshire
South Wiltshire has a tremondous choice of cultural entertainment. Music, theatre, dance, art, literature and exhibitions all play an important role in the life of the city. There is Salisbury Playhouse (a 500-seat repertory theatre), Salisbury Arts Centre and the 1000-seat City Hall, in addition to the cinema, bowling alley, shops, markets, cafe's and nightlife, not forgetting the great street entertainment that can be found throughout the year.
A huge amount of professional and amateur arts activity takes place in South Wiltshire- both fine arts and performing arts- and there are plenty of contemporary and traditional galleries. Just outside Salisbury city, is the renowned sculpture park, New Arts Centre at Roche Court and in the heart of Cranborne Chase- the annual Larmer Tree Festival, famed for some of the world's most innovative and inspiring music.
Salisbury is also home to the world famous Salisbury Internation Arts Festival, which takes place every year presenting international arts events, both traditional and contemporary across 17 days of celebrations each summer. It has placed itself at the heart of the community working with residents and businesses alike, to promote Salisbury and South Wiltshire.
For more information click here to go the VisitWiltshire website.
Shopping, Eating and Drinking
Salisbury is a thriving market city with over 150 markets a year, including the 800 year old Charter Market, plus regular farmers' markets, craft markets and French markets. The Market Square also hosts the annual Salisbury Food and Drink Festival and many other community events.
In addition, Salisbury also boasts over 200 independent and specialist shops displaying a mix of high street names and antique businesses. Other major shopping opportunities in Southampton at West Quay Shopping Centre and Castle Point in Bournemouth are also convieniently located.
Outside the city, there are many farm shops and studios where you can buy fresh produce from a wide variety of high quality, independent, rural producers and original works from local artists and craftspeople.
A cosmopolitan cafe culture is found around the city's famous Market Square, and throughout Salisbury there are many interesting restaurants and traditional English inns, the oldest originating from the 12th century. The city scene, is also complemented by some lovely country pubs, offering great food and delightful views across the rolling countryside.
