Parks & Open Spaces

Salisbury is fortunate to be home to a number of parks, green spaces and children’s play areas, all providing residents and visitors with opportunities for sport, leisure and recreation.

Salisbury City Council takes great pride in these parks and open spaces and is dedicated to keeping the city green and in bloom throughout the year.

Parks in Salisbury

Salisbury City Council manages and maintains the three main parks in Salisbury: Churchill Gardens, Queen Elizabeth Gardens & Victoria Park.

Other parks and open spaces

Additionally, Salisbury has a variety of green spaces offering further opportunities for sport or just taking a little time out. These largest of these spaces are Hudson’s Field; Harnham Recreation Ground; Bourne Hill grounds; the Greencroft; and the Ashley Road play area/Fisherton Recreation Ground.

Play areas

Salisbury City Council is responsible for approximately 20 children’s play areas and sports walls in and around the city.

Nature reserves

Salisbury City Council works in conjunction with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in nurturing areas of the city with a view to supporting wildlife and improving biodiversity, including the Avon Valley Nature Reserve & Bemerton Folly.

We also support the work of the Friends of Harnham Slope group in maintaining and improving the stretch of woodland that runs behind Harnham junior school and the nearby houses.

Future developments

Salisbury City Council is currently reviewing the management and development needs of the parks, open spaces, play areas and allotment sites in Salisbury. As a part of this, we have drawn up dedicated plans for a number of the sites listed above.  Please contact us on 01722 34267 for more detailed information..

Queen Elizabeth Gardens

Opened in the early 1960s to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth Gardens is one of Salisbury’s most cherished and celebrated parks.

Situated just outside of Salisbury city centre, Queen Elizabeth Gardens combines formal planting with a relaxed atmosphere to offer something for everyone.

With famous views of the cathedral to the east and the River Avon to the south, Queen Elizabeth Gardens is perfect for those looking to appreciate the scenery or to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre; continuing this, the park also provides access to the Town Path and a pretty walk past the water meadows out to Harnham. To complement these features, the creation of a sensory garden just off Mill Road has added further variety to the landscape.

With a dedicated play area and a stream running close by, the park is also very popular with children and parents alike – thankfully, there are benches for those who prefer a quiet sit down in the sun to jumping across to the island!

Music in the Parks

Queen Elizabeth Gardens hosts the popular Music in the Parks festival between June and August each year (subject to the weather). With free entry and bands playing a variety of music, you might even get to see your next favourite band for nothing! For more information about Music in the Park, please contact us on 01722 342860 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Alternatively you can contact our partners and view here for more information.

Churchill Gardens

Churchill Gardens is located just over a mile to the south of the city centre, within walking distance of the shops, the cathedral and Salisbury College. Framed to south and the east by the River Avon, Churchill Gardens is home to a wide variety of shrubs and trees, adding considerable colour and texture to the landscape.

With a crisscross of pathways running through the park, Churchill Gardens is a popular setting for a relaxing walk alongside the river; the same paths are equally good for running and cycling if you’re feeling more energetic!

Churchill Gardens also showcases a large and popular skatepark – one of the largest free to use skate parks in the county, as well as a street sports area (for basketball, football, rollerblading & street hockey) and a children’s play area. Alongside this, the numerous grassed areas in the park are suitable for impromptu sports or just taking in the scenery.

In recent years, Churchill Gardens has also benefited from improvement works carried out in conjunction with the Living River Project – these changes can be seen in the north-east corner of the site, where the introduction of coir rolls and a variety of planting has helped to encourage wildlife and improve biodiversity. This has created areas ideal for curious botanists and those looking for a peaceful five minutes. For more information on this, please visit the Living River project’s website at http://www.livingriver.org.uk/ or call 01722 334856.

• Free entry
• Open day and night, throughout the year
• Free public toilets
• Limited free parking; Pay & Display parking off Southampton Road
• Skatepark and street sports area
• Children’s play area and slide

Victoria Park

Dating back to 1887, Victoria Park is the oldest park in Salisbury and perhaps the most traditional: from the large gates to the perimeter fencing, Victoria Park reflects its heritage and history throughout.

Roughly, Victoria Park can be split into two areas:
The southern part of the park is typified by pretty flower beds, formal planting and established shrubs and trees, lending itself to pleasant walks and lazy afternoons. To complement this – offering something different, the northern part of the park features a large children’s play area and a variety of sporting facilities, including a football pitch, a crazy golf course and a pavilion.

Notably, the park is also home to the Victoria Park Community Tennis Centre (a joint venture between Salisbury City Council and Victoria Park Tennis) and to Salisbury’s Victoria Bowls Club. For more information about these sports – including availability and prices - please use the relevant contact details below:

From friendly games and fun days to coaching and tournaments, the Victoria Park Community Tennis Centre is perfect for players of all ages and abilities. Please feel free to contact the centre direct on 01722 415089 to book your court. This number can also be used to book a round of crazy golf on the adjacent course.
Salisbury Victoria Bowls Club manages the bowling greens at Victoria Park, but rinks are usually available for casual visitors to play. For further information about the club or to make a booking, please contact Barry Guyer on 01722 507117. For more information go to www.salisburyvictoriabowlsclub.co.uk

• Free entry
• Open day and night, throughout the year
• Free public toilets
• Tennis courts
• 18-hole crazy golf course
• Bowling greens
• Pavilion & Café

Contact details for more information:

Telephone: 01722 342860

Post:

22 Bedwin Street
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 3UT