Summer Holidays 2026 What's On in Salisbury
The school summer holidays are here and Salisbury has lots to keep the little ones entertained. Whether you're a resident looking for regular activities or a holiday maker planning their visit to Salisbury, in this What's On Guide you'll find the details of a whole range of activities!
11 Jul - 05 Sep // Salisbury Bear Hunt @ City Centre // FREE
100 teddy bears have been hidden in shop windows across the city, find and name as many bears as you can!
17 Jul - 06 Sep // Fayre on the Square @ Guildhall Square // FREE (Additional cost for some activities)
The seaside is in Salisbury! This year's summer pop up includes a wide range of activities, food & drink, and live music & entertainment. Activities include mini golf, boules, skittles, Swingball, table tennis, table football, chess, sandpits, giant Jenga and Connect 4.
18 Jul - 06 Sep // Great British Summer @ Stonehenge // Included in general admission
Activities inspired by timeless holiday traditions and a fun day out for the whole family. Knock down the tin can alley at the fairground games, pick up new tricks at the circus skills station and dive into some puppet antics. Kick back in a deck chair with a delicious ice cream, then grab a bucket and build an epic sandcastle.
24 Jul // Summer Crafts: Cyanotype Pencil Cases @ The Rifles Museum // £4
Discover the magic of cyanotype, one of the earliest forms of photography, in this fun, hands-on family craft session. Using natural materials such as leaves and flowers, you'll create beautiful blue-and-white prints before transforming your design into your very own personalised pencil case to take home.
25 Jul // Open Day @ Salisbury Fire Station // FREE
Watch Fire and Rescue demonstrations throughout the day and have a go at fantastic free activities including a fire engine simulator, fire house experience, have a go at CPR, throwline experience and airport crash tender.
25 Jul // Harnham Fun Day and Parish Fete @ Parish Hall // Optional £1 donation for adults
A fun day for all ages, with free or low cost activities for all the family, stalls and sideshows, arena performances, cream teas, burgers and a licensed bar. There'll be a climbing wall and free face painting, and of course a raffle and bottle tombola.
26 Jul // Art Asia - Music on the Lawn @ Salisbury Cathedral // FREE
The Cathedral lawns come alive with colour, rhythm and the rich tapestry of South Asian performance as Art Asia brings an afternoon of free, family‑friendly music and dance to Salisbury.
28 Jul // Create a Creature @ Salisbury Arts Centre // £40
Join this interactive art workshop where you will make, draw and imagine new and exciting species of animals! Using real and fantastical animals you will experiment to create exciting drawings and sculptures of these new creatures. (Age 7-11)
28 Jul // Rude Science Live @ Salisbury City Hall // From £16.50
The naughtiest, funniest, most revolting science show in the world. On the surface it’s a riot of disgusting experiments built to delight young audiences but under the bonnet it’s a brilliantly-constructed curriculum-driven adventure designed to inspire Britain’s kids with a lasting fascination for science.
29 Jul // Nature Detectives @ Rose Cottage // £9 per child or pay what you feel
A nature play session for families with children aged between 3 and 10 years*. Come and explore Rose Cottage garden at Harnham Water Meadows and take part in fun and creative hands-on activities. *Older siblings are welcome to come and join in too.
30 Jul // Mural Workshop @ The Young Gallery // FREE
Join artists J Masson & David McDiarmid for a free drop-in creative activity to help us design a community artwork for The Young Gallery. Suitable for adults, families and children of all ages. Please note children must be accompanied by their responsible adult throughout the workshop.
31 Jul // Bemerton Heath Family Fun Day @ Sarum Academy // FREE
Join us for an afternoon of family fun at Sarum Academy this summer. Play a round of mini golf, have a go learning some circus skills, get your face painted, conquer the giant inflatable obstacle course, be creative with our art workshops and have a boogie with Disco Dion.
05 Aug // Explorer Dome - Science and Sound @ Salisbury Cathedral // Adult £6, Student £8
The inflatable six-metre Mobile Planetarium returns with a show about science and sound! Explore and question the world of vibration, sound waves, frequency, pitch and hearing. How fast is sound? Why do astronauts need radios, and how do bats see in the dark? With thunder and lightning, pops and pipes, make music with our hands-on guide to the nature of noise!
05 Aug // Friary Family Fun Day @ Churchill Gardens // FREE
Join us for an afternoon of family fun at Churchill Gardens this summer. Play a round of mini golf, have a go learning some circus skills, get your face painted, be creative with our art workshops and have a boogie with Disco Dion.
06 Aug // Moth Morning @ Secret Garden // Adult £15.50, Child £10.50 or pay what you feel
We’ll begin with a short introductory talk exploring the lives of these often overlooked and extraordinary insects, before gathering around a moth trap to see which species have flown in overnight. Alongside the moth-watching, enjoy a relaxed breakfast of hot drinks, orange juice, pastries and home-baked muffins while soaking up the peaceful atmosphere of the garden on a summer morning.
06 Aug // Travelling Monsters Workshop @ The Young Gallery // FREE
Join artist Emma Kerr for a free drop-in creative workshop. Make monster collages and adventure books inspired by the Mick Maslen Urban Scene's exhibition in Gallery 2. Activities will include collage, drawing and book making.
08 - 09 Aug // Living History Festival @ The Rifles Museum // FREE - but donations are welcome!
Take a journey through more than 1,000 years of military history as our Living History Festival returns for another action-packed weekend. This free family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and engage with history in an immersive and interactive way.
08 Aug // Salisbury Card Collectors Show @ St Elizabeth’s Hall // £6
For collectors of Pokémon and other trading cards like Magic The Gathering, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Lorcana. Our monthly card show in Salisbury.
09 Aug // Salisbury Mela @ Guildhall Square // FREE
This much-loved event will once again showcase the rich diversity of Salisbury, bringing together residents and visitors to experience and celebrate cultures from around the world in the heart of the city. Expect a lively programme of cultural performances, authentic international cuisine, arts and crafts, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the day.
09 Aug // Salisbury Bat Night @ Churchill Gardens // Adult £10.50, Child £7 or pay what you feel
Join us to learn about and look for bats in Salisbury. We’ll meet at the Friary Centre and start with a short introductory talk about bats. Then we’ll set off on a guided mini adventure around Churchill Gardens, hearing and seeing bats (and more!) along the way.
11 Aug // Travelling Monsters Workshop @ The Young Gallery // FREE
Join artist Emma Kerr for a free drop-in creative workshop. Make monster collages and adventure books inspired by the Mick Maslen Urban Scene's exhibition in Gallery 2. Activities will include collage, drawing and book making.
11 Aug // The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny @ The Wardrobe // Adult £18, Child £14
Quantum Theatre's much-loved adaptation of two of Beatrix Potter’s best-loved Tales, The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny is back in 2026.
16 Aug // Swing Unlimited: Music on the Lawns @ Salisbury Cathedral // FREE
Grab your dancing shoes and a picnic blanket because Swing Unlimited are returning to Salisbury Cathedral. With a bar, BBQ, and ice cream available, what better way to spend your Sunday than soaking up the sun and the music on the Salisbury Cathedral lawns?
23 Aug // Sports Day Street Sellers @ Market Place // FREE entry
Join us at this sports-themed market - take part in free interactive workshops, traditional sports day activities and enjoy live demonstrations.
29 Aug // Kids' Slime Making Workshop @ Hobbycraft // £8
Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in with our slime making workshops! You'll have everything you need for getting creative with DIY slime and make your very own batch choosing from a range of colours and textures, making your goo unique.
Weekly Events
Every Wednesday // Joyful Noise Craft Activities @ Salisbury Cathedral // Included in admission
Get creative at the Cathedral with hands-on craft activities inspired by the Joyful Noise programme. Each week there is a different craft to get involved with.
Every Tuesday // Discovery Days @ The Salisbury Museum // Included in admission
Participate in a range of different activities hosted weekly by Salisbury Museum. Each week there is a different theme and activity.