50 things to do with the kids this summer in Salisbury

“What are we doing today mama?!” This is my daughters’ favourite question, and one that’s sent me down many a desperate Google rabbit hole and late-night mum group scroll over the years. (I don’t know about you, but going to the same place over and over again makes me feel a little dead inside…)

So, we sat down together and brainstormed our favourite outings in (and around) Salisbury, a go-to list for us, and hopefully a helpful resource for fellow parents in need of fresh ideas.

We came up with 50 easily and I’m sure we’ll be adding some as and when we remember/discover them!

There are ideas for walks, beaches, gardens, animal parks, cafes, indoor places for the odd (haha..) rainy day, and more.

Feel free to drop your favourites in the comments to help us all out next time that question comes up!

I was going to organise them into categories… but then life happened. So here they are, in the order they popped into our heads!

1. Old Sarum - Gorgeous views, great for the kids to run around, climb and explore. We particularly loved it this year on the solstice, and for a sunset picnic with friends.

2. Finkley Down Farm in Andover - Animal encounters, indoor soft play, outdoor adventure zones, and activities for all ages.

3. Rockbourne circular walk - 5 mile circular walk from Rockbourne village. One that we happily go on multiple times a year. We love this one in Spring, it goes through woodland that gets covered in bluebells and past a stud farm where we can see the foals. n.b. lots of snacks required!

4. Figsbury Ring - An Iron Age hillfort. The views from the ramparts reach over Salisbury Plain, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral. Gorgeous at sunset/sunrise (if you’re those kind of people!), especially in spring and summer when it gets covered in wildflowers and long grasses.

5. Hengitsbury Head - lovely walk/scoot/train down to the beach from the car park, with a pit stop at the South African shop in Christchurch for biltong on the way.

6.Jumpin fun (half price after school bounce on Thursdays and Fridays 4-6pm)

7. Burley - A quirky little New Forest village surrounded by heathland where you can see New Forest ponies roam. It has an interesting history with witchcraft and there are a few whitchy shops selling giftware. They have a fairy festival in the summer and heavy horse cart rides from easter - october half term. For a nice caffeine kick I highly recommend Noohn , where you can also book homemade, eco friendly (and delicious) picnic hampers to have in the forest!

8. Five Rivers swimming pool - nice variety with the beach pool, slide, and main pool for proper swimming. The cakes from the cafe are a real treat! Or Salisbury hospital pool - lovely and quiet (and warm!)

9. Warminster lakeside pleasure grounds - Huge lake with lots of ducks, rowing boats and canoes to hire, a cafe where they sell hot drinks, hot dogs, snacks and duck food. There are also several play parks for different ages and a splash pad which is perfect in the summer.

10. Furzey gardens - Enchanting gardens near Lyndhurst, with fairy doors hidden all around for the kids to find, and a nice playground and cafe. It is particularly beautiful in spring when everything is in bloom 🌸

11. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey - beautiful, family-friendly spot with adventurous play areas, treehouses, and peaceful garden walks.

12. The sand dune at Rockford Common - nice to run up and down and have a walk up on the heathland.

13. Eyeworth Pond in Fritham - Possibly our all time favourite New Forest walk. Lots of fallen trees for the kids to climb. We often see deer and horses and there are also duck and water lilies in the pond. Followed by an ice cream in the garden at The Royal Oak.

14. Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary - A great place to spot deer and walk along the Ancient and Ornamental Woodland. The trees there are some of the tallest in the New Forest with Douglas fir, Redwoods, and some native beech and oak.

15. New Forest Water Park - Pricey, but fun!

16. Grovely woods - Our favourite place for bluebells in spring, it gets completely covered in places - heavenly! Lovely walks and great for den making all through the year.

17. Beaulieu National Motor Museum - Brilliant mix of vintage cars, hands-on exhibits, a monorail, and beautiful grounds to explore. Great for kids and grown-up car fans alike.

18. New Forest Wildlife Park in Ashurst. Such a lovely park. We particularly like walking through the deer and wallaby enclosures and seeing the otters up-close.

19. Castle Hill Country Park in Salisbury - lovely sunset walk and a breeding ground for Skylark, also has a bike park.

20. Board walk - river Avon walk from the Riverside Tennis Club to Stratford Sub Castle - we love this one when it’s flooded in winter, the girls cover up in waterproofs and run along the boardwalk in the water. Nice in summer too with a few shallow paddling areas.

21. Longleat Safari Park - So much to see and do, and various events throughout the year. The keepers are friendly and knowledgeable and always keen to answer questions and talk about the animals.

22. Paultons Park - theme park near Romsey that includes Peppa Pig World, rides for various ages, landscaped gardens, and a small collection of animals.

23. Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm - Rare breed animals to meet, pig races, play areas, and woodland adventures.

24. Nicks Farm - Small, family-run petting farm on the outskirts of Bournemouth where kids can meet and feed the animals.

25. Fonthill Estate Lake walk - circular walk with woodland trails, countryside views and a waterside section along Fonthill Lake. The Beckford Arms on the edge of the estate does gorgeous food.

26. Old Wardour castle - Nice to explore the castle ruins and have a picnic in the grounds. It is also the starting point of a 3.7mile circular walk through fields and woodland.

27. Wilton house followed by the Pembroke Arms for Nole pizza and a game of boules in the garden.

28. Outdoor sessions at Charlton Barn - Led by Jayne Godden, a qualified teacher and outdoor mental health education specialist and Megan Taylor, a clinical psychologist focused on holistic wellbeing. Including nature art, feeding the animals, and time to reconnect with themselves and nature. Subscribe to their newsletter for updates.

29. Summer tennis camps at Downton Tennis Centre 5-7 Aug and 19-21 Aug from children and teenagers 5-16 years.

30. Hot chocolate, coffee and cake at The Yard - Equally lovely in summer in the little sunny courtyard, or in winter by the fireplace with Sadie, the resident dog. It’s a family run cafe in a renovated Warehouse with a curated selection of homeware pieces.

31. Pastries and hot drinks at Henderson’s Artisan Bakery on Market day - a weekly tradition for us!

32. Heale House Gardens - pretty gardens with different areas to explore and lovely tea rooms.

33. Clarendon Palace ruins - you can do the 4.8 mile circular walk from Pitton village hall, or park along Queen Manor Road and it’s a 1/2h walk from there. There is usually a flock of Alpacas in the ruins enclosure.

34. Mottisfont - National Trust house and gallery set in idyllic riverside gardens.

35. Woodford Valley circular walk from the Wheatsheaf Inn. This is a fun 3 and a bit mile walk that takes you over some river bridges and stiles, woodland, fields, and through little Durnford Manor where you can see Camels (sometimes on the path!), alpacas, goats and ponies.

36. Moors valley Country Park - Forest play trails, adventure playgrounds, treetop walkway, Go Ape, miniature steam railway, cycle hire, mini‑golf and seasonal ranger‑led activities.

37. Dinton Park walk - Circular walk that takes you through open parkland, past old trees and a lake, with views of the countryside and the Georgian-era Philipps House.

38. Boat hire in Ringwood - Easy to handle little boats that you can drive up and down the Stour river.

39. Stourhead - National Trust beautiful landscape gardens.

40. Langford Lakes nature reserve - Interactive short walk along the lakes with hides to observe the birds from and record your observations.

41. The Newt in Somerset - Lots to explore from the garden and grounds, Roman villa, the beezantium and delicious ice creams. They also host holiday events like tree climing and forest school days.

42. Cockey Down nature reserve - a nice little walk to a small hill with views and a swing - good for sunset picnics!

43. Elizabeth gardens and Lower Bemerton recreation ground - good paddling spots and playgrounds.

44. Salisbury Cathedral and close for a wander and a run around.

45. The Rador Arm in Nunton which has a great outdoorspace overlooking the water meadows (where you can sometimes see our lovely cows), and a playground. They have one of our Nunton Farm Dairy vending machines out front for fresh free range milk and a selection of local produce including honey, cheese and eggs.

46. Dorset Heavy horse farm Park - wholesome, fun and educational place, with passionate and enthusiastic staff. Lots to do!

47. Romsey Rapids - I can’t say I revel in the experience but the kids love it!

48. Golden Gecko in Romsey for a climb.

49. Odeon Salisbury - tickets are now £6 when booking online.

50. Wilton House Garden Centre (and fish) and Porton Garden Centre to see the fish and animals.

51. (just adding one more which we've just discovered) - Wild & Wellbeing at Four Acre Farm in Ringwood. This pop-up will focus on hands-on discovery and experimentation in this amazing space. Each week fuels creativity, problem-solving, and playful discovery, while parents can relax or get inspired alongside the kids, or use the co-working space to get work and jobs done.

    
    

Have fun exploring, and please add your favourites in the comments!