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The innovative Sarum Lights is returning to Salisbury Cathedral this week, an immersive show which fills the ancient medieval walls with sounds, lights and imagery, this time with the theme of the Renaissance. Created by Luxmuralis, a company which specialises in large scale installation artworks, it is a spectacular show which provides a whole new way of looking at the cathedral. Sarum Lights first debuted at Salisbury Cathedral in 2020, its walls filled with lights and music commissioned to celebrate 800 years since its founding. Visitors shuffled through in silent amazement, seeing the history of their city projected onto the medieval walls both inside and out, immersed in lights, colours and sound. The event proved to be a huge success and swiftly sold out. Last year saw Sarum Lights II: Heaven and Earth, and this year the theme is Renaissance, that time in history which marks the transition between medieval and modernity, a time of great change in society, culture and politics, which was also characterised by a creative explosion in literature, architecture and of course, art. Many will start their visit to Sarum Lights by watching the display on the west front, which starts with the slight scribble of an artist, rough painted lines which slowly transform into the stunning art of the Renaissance, snippets of which people may recognise. There are few complete works of art in the projection, it is mostly sections and parts of them which form a kaleidoscope of imagery through which the colours and faces of the era emerge - huge Renaissance eyes looking at you as they rise and fall over the west wall in a myriad of the rich reds, golds and blues of the art of that time. It is all accompanied by a soundtrack of atmospheric music, what I thought of as 'Renaissance Chillout', as above you the clouds race across the night sky and the moon and stars occasionally make a fleeting appearance. The normally monotone and silent grounds of the cathedral close at night are transformed into something vibrant, illuminated and entrancing. Inside the cathedral, the nave falls under a single image, emerging from the far end and growing in stature to encompass the whole area. It is most unusual to see the nave without any seating in it, just the font part way down, but the empty space is filled with colours, lights and images in abundance, many of them of maps, writing, and architectural plans highlighting the other cultural arts which were reborn during the Renaissance. The light bounces off the marble memorials, round the pillars and flashes off the recumbent tombs, focusing your attention on details that you may well miss on a normal day time visit. The north and south transepts are also filled with imagery and standing at the crossing of the nave and the north and south transepts gives you a visual down each path where you feel truly immersed in the experience, with the different images, colours and sounds reaching a crescendo as they surround you entirely. The Mona Lisa, da Vinci's Vitruvian Man and other iconic images flash to the sides of you, while in front is the huge kaleidoscope of colours, texts, drawings and patterns spreading across every surface. I spoke to Peter Walker, the artist behind Luxmuralis, to find out more about the installation and what the thought processes were behind its creation. Peter is a sculptor and artist, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, who has years of experience in large scale installations. He told me that the whole installation can take several months to put together, compiling the artwork and setting it to the musical compositions of the other creative half of Luxmuralis, David Harper, a composer who has worked in both film and theatre. They curate the imagery of the show to suit the space it is being displayed in, as although the show is debuting in Salisbury Cathedral, it will soon tour around other venues in the UK. Peter explained that the pictures are carefully chosen, "I don't like things to be proscriptive but there is a message in there for people to find if they know the artworks. They are picked to lead into one another ... we are creating a new artwork with them. This type of artwork is the stained glass window of the time, a new way to take people around buildings like this. In a fast moving world it stimulates the brain in the same way stained glass windows used to, it's just in a contemporary way for the modern audience." The Renaissance (French for re-birth) was selected as a theme as it replicates where Peter feels we need to be as a world culture - we need change and a rebirth of ideas. We need to think again and it is art, culture, science and religion which can drive this forward because we live in such a heavily commercial world. This sentiment is echoed by Revd Dr Kenneth Padley, the Canon Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral. He told me that the Renaissance theme is very timely after the pandemic as just as in the 15th and 16th centuries, we need to celebrate life and to look at it anew. Churches are about breaking down the myth of science versus religion, "science is the language which God talks, and art is the creative expression of that." The cathedral itself is integral to the experience. As Peter explained, "We have a strange fixed idea of faith, yet it is actually very complex. These buildings have seen hundreds of years of history, philosophy, thought and change and they are still a part of that. Putting artwork on the cathedral walls adds to that discourse." Revd Dr. Padley agrees, as Salisbury Cathedral has a strong association with art, particularly modern art, which goes back some decades, from the installation of the modern stained glass east window in the 1980s, to the recent exhibition of Grayson Perry tapestries which were displayed in the cathedral over the summer, the first time they were ever displayed in a religious setting. "Modern and contemporary art stretches people's thinking and can encompass the whole of the building. It tells a story using the big themes of creativity and modernity." The display is not just about the cathedral but also the participants. Peter explained, "We often say one third of the installation is the building, one third is the art and then we need the public to come in and fill it in. Walking through the light; it goes on your body, your clothes, the people in front of you are immersed in it and you are really part of that." There is no need to know anything about the Renaissance to enjoy the experience. Some of the visitors may enjoy spotting works of art they recognise, others will look at it just for the beauty of being immersed in the light and colour, an appreciation of being a part of the palette. Everything is on a loop so people can take as long as they want to just stand or to walk through it. Visiting Sarum Lights is a unique and unforgettable experience and I very much hope that it will become a regular feature in the cathedral's event calendar. It takes place when the days are short and the nights are long, providing much needed light and vitality to an otherwise dark and gloomy time in the year. As the Rev Dr Padley said, "Sarum Lights works well as a prequel to the Christmas themes of light and darkness - it is a pivotal time of year with the winter solstice when the light declines and hope starts to grow. The cathedral is there to welcome people from the whole community." Sarum Lights Renaissance runs from 8th - 12th November Book tickets on the Salisbury Cathedral website>> Find out more about Luxmuralis >> My thanks to Peter Walker and Revd Dr. Kenneth Padley for talking to me about the installation.

Located in the midst of all the railway heritage of Swindon in northern Wiltshire, it is thought to be

out, there is still time to get tickets for what promises to be a fantastic week of history in the Wiltshire The Daily Mail Chalke Valley History Festival takes place at Church Bottom, Broad Chalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire

One of the most fascinating late Medieval buildings in Salisbury is the house of John Halle, a wealthy local wool merchant. Built in the 1470s and now in use as an Odeon cinema, this building is a truly unique blend of old and new. Visitors can take behind the scenes tours to explore this huge building and learn more about its Medieval origins, its heyday hosting stars of the 20th century and its current incumbency as modern multi-screen cinema. Salisbury is well known as a Medieval market town, its origins starting with the construction of both Cathedral and town in 1220 when it moved from Old Sarum. By the 1450s the town had a population of 7,000 and half of the population was engaged in the wool trade. Resident John Halle was a wool merchant and a prominent and wealthy character in the area. In 1446 he was a member of the local council, by 1448 he had become Alderman and by 1449 he was Constable of New Street Ward. In 1451 he was elected Mayor of Salisbury, an honour repeated a further three times. He was first elected Member of Parliament for Salisbury in 1453, an appointment which was also repeated a further three times. He built his house around 1470, although he died in 1479 and it was completed by his son, William Halle, some years later. He was clearly an irascible character. In 1465 when he was Mayor, he fell into a land dispute with the Bishop of Salisbury, Richard de Beauchamp and another local merchant, William Swayne. The land was in St Thomas’s churchyard, where William Swayne wished to build a new chapel attached to the church. John Halle took forcible possession of the land and was swiftly prosecuted by the Bishop and summoned to appear before the King (Edward IV) and his Privy Council. John was apparently so truculent and difficult that the King had him committed to the Tower of London, for ‘shewing himself of a right cedicious, hasty, willful and full unwitty disposicon’. What is now called The Lady Chapel in St. Thomas’s church has an inscription asking observers to pray for the soul of William Swayne and his wife, as well as being decorated with his Swayne’s merchant's mark, so it is safe to assume that John lost his battle for the land in the end and William was able to build his chapel. The Corporation of Salisbury was instructed to appoint a new Mayor, which they refused to do, and John was in fact appointed Mayor for the fourth time while he was still in the Tower. This is probably due more to the locals dislike of the Bishop than their affection for John, they just wanted someone who would stand up to the unpopular Bishop. John was released and returned to Salisbury. By 1470 he had responded to a call from the Earl of Warwick to raise an army of 40 men to help depose King Edward IV, apparently his spell in the Tower hadn’t endeared the King to John, but when Warwick was defeated and killed in battle, he swiftly returned his allegiance to the King, which was probably a sensible thing to do. Nothing more is known about John until his death in 1479. His son, William Halle, inherited his rebellious streak and took part in Buckingham’s Rebellion in 1483, an unsuccessful uprising against Richard III. What we do have left from him is the banqueting hall of his house, an incredible, two storey stone structure. Now the foyer of the cinema, a mock Tudor front designed by Pugin was added to the building in 1881, so you need to enter the building to see the original, Grade I listed, Medieval hall. With dark oak beams across the vaulted ceiling, a stone flagged floor, stained glass windows and a huge stone Medieval fireplace, this is not your usual cinema foyer. Huge wrought iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and shields and spears decorate the walls. A minstrel's gallery overlooks the area, reachable only by a wooden ladder, so sadly out of bounds for the general public. The large stone fireplace is entirely authentic, although not in its original location, as there is no chimney flume behind it. The stained glass windows are a mixture of original and replacement, and bear John Halle’s Merchant Mark as well as an image of the man himself. A huge, thick original wooden door is in the East wall, and leads out to a small courtyard area, where you can see the exterior wall of the hall, and how it has been built upon over the centuries. The rest of the tour leads out of the Medieval hall and into the rest of the cinema, itself a Grade II listed building. The Gaumont Palace Theatre opened here in September 1931, showing ‘Chance of a Night Time’. The main auditorium had been built earlier that year, with seating for 1125 in the stalls and 500 in the circle. It was resplendent in full mock Tudor style, designed by William Edward Trent, who had been asked to make it different to any other Gaumont Theatre. The beams are made of fibre glass and painted a deep brown and the walls were made to look like ashler stonework, the same as Salisbury Cathedral. Over 40 tapestries with images of medieval hunting scenes were designed by interior designer Frank Barnes and hung on the walls, and more wrought iron chandeliers were hung from the ceilings. A mock Tudor restaurant with wood panelling, oak tables and chairs and inglenook fireplaces served meals to guests, back in the days when a trip to the cinema meant more than just a bucket of popcorn. The cinema was renamed ‘The Gaumont’ in 1936, and then the Odeon in 1964. It was host to stars such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Buddy Holly and The Bee Gees amongst others. It was converted to have three screens in 1972, putting smaller screens in the stalls under the circle of Screen 1. The cinema was threatened with closure in 1986, but a huge local campaign managed to save it and there was a grand refurbishment, with everything restored to its former glory using the original paints and plasterwork. A fourth screen was added in 1993 in what had been the restaurant, and a fifth in 1995. The cinema now is a veritable rabbit warren, with often quite a walk round wonky corridors to reach the screens. What you learn from a behind the scenes tour however, is how much of the building you don’t normally get to see when just coming to watch a film. The place is a tardis. The original entrance to the cinema is now no longer in use, a large passageway with a tiny wooden box office in the wall, where some poor soul would have to sit in cramped conditions to sell tickets. There are dark underground passageways with paint peeling off the walls with small, windowless rooms leading off. Once the dressing rooms to the stars, they are now home only to a few brooms, unwanted junk and probably plenty of insects. L: This was the original box office for guests, in the Catherine Street entrance which is no longer in use at all. The box is a tiny space and must have been very cramped for the staff working in there. R: Narrow and dark passageways which once led onto the dressing rooms of the stars. We got to look behind the curtains of some of the screens, and saw the concrete, steel, ladders and huge air conditioning piping that tunnels around behind the glossy veneer of the public areas. Upstairs there are workshops and old offices, all mostly unused and filled with cobwebs and apparently, a ghost called Jeffrey; one of three who lives in the building. The projection room of Screen One was really interesting with a huge old-fashioned reel projector – so big that it can’t be removed from the building. The modern system of digital projectors with all its flashing lights was a lot more hi-tech but far less intriguing. L: This deserted corridor was once the main entrance for the hoi polloi. R: Top tier ticket holders used to enter through the fire doors on the left, which led past the grand external wall of the Medieval hall. The tour was fascinating and one I highly recommend, not just to learn about the Medieval hall but to learn about the early days of cinema from their glory days to the manufactured and slightly soulless experience they are now. Even if you don’t manage to take a tour, watch a film there and enjoy the unique experience of watching a great film surrounded by Medieval history. VISITING THE SALISBURY ODEON Behind the Scenes Tours take place once a month - contact Naomi on odeon.salisbury@odeonuk.com for details and to book a place on a tour. There is no charge but they do appreciate a donation to MIND, their chosen charity. Alternatively, watch a film there! You won’t see behind the scenes but you will still get to see the Pugin entrance, the Medieval foyer, the mock Tudor decorations in the screening rooms and you may get to exit through the original entrance and past the wooden box office.

From the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday 24 October, 1839 HIGHWAY ROBBERY, AND DEATH OF ONE OF

In Great Wishford, just north of Salisbury in Wiltshire, this takes the form of claiming the continuation It is located just to the east of Grovely Woods, one of the largest tracts of forest in Wiltshire which

This annual festival has run for the past 18 years and is the informal start of Christmas celebrations in Salisbury. The church is filled with Christmas trees and is open to the public for a week at the start of December, completely free to visit. Local choirs and bands perform festive favourites, a small café is open at the back of the church, and the whole event raises thousands of pounds for local charities. St. Thomas's Church is at the very heart of Salisbury: originally a place of worship for those who built the cathedral, it has remained an integral part of the city. Founded by Bishop Poore in 1219 as a small wooden building, it was soon rebuilt in stone and has undergone many changes over the years. It has some wonderful medieval paintings on its walls, most famous of course being the recently restored Doom Painting, the largest and best preserved in the UK. The Christmas Tree festival in St. Thomas's is one of the oldest in the UK, with the first one taking place in 2004. Although it comes a week or so after the switch on of the Christmas lights across the city, for many it is the Tree Festival which heralds the arrival of the festive season. The church is transformed into a small forest of trees, each one created by a different group; a charity looking to raise awareness, a community group who have made a tree to highlight their work, or a small business to advertise their services. Each tree is wildly different; there are some traditional trees but there are also many where creativity has flourished, and the trees are often made from and decorated with an eclectic assortment of objects. Arranged down the aisles, the nave, the Lady Chapel, even the High Altar, the trees fill the church with vivid colours and twinkling lights. Music is provided by an assortment of local groups - school choirs, brass bands, orchestras, singers, pianists, pipers and hand bell ringers, who all perform underneath the Doom Painting in front of the chancel. There is no obligation to sit and listen during their performances, although many do, but there are plenty of other people wandering around admiring the trees with the gentle hubbub of chatter as the backdrop. There is a small café open in the vestry at the back of the church. Although a church's vestry is usually a space for the clergy to change and have their offices, in St Thomas's it is known as 'The People's Vestry' and is an open space for everyone. Serving coffee, tea and cake, it is open for much of the tree festival and seems to do a thriving trade throughout. Visiting the Christmas Tree Festival The festival is free to visit. As you enter you are handed a printed programme which tells you about every tree on display. Each tree is numbered and so you can see who created it, what they've called it and the idea behind it. Many of the trees have further information underneath them so you can read more about what the organisation does. The trees are all very popular with kids, who love not just the lights and colours but the often whimsical decorations. You can stay as long as you like. Many people take their time to wander around, have a cup of tea, sit to listen to the music, and on the way out you return your programme and put a donation in the box. All of the money donated is split between local charities - in 2021 they made £13,000 to go to charities, and I suspect it is more and more each year, due to the popularity of the event. In 2022 they had maps next to the organ where you could put a sticker to show where you came from and although there was the expected heavy concentration of people from the local area, there were others from the far flung corners of the globe. Visiting at different times of day gives you a different experience. Visiting on a weekday morning has a far more peaceful and contemplative atmosphere, with the trees standing out vividly in the bright sunlight, the ornaments far more visible. Visiting towards the end of the day as darkness falls means that the lights from the trees overshadow the decorations, but give a wonderful luminous and festive effect. At weekends of course it is far busier, leading to a very jolly and cheery atmosphere, with young faces looking entranced by the lights and colours. The whole event is an enriching and rewarding experience, and even the hardiest of Scrooges would find it impossible to leave without feeling thoroughly festive. Visiting the Christmas Tree Festival Follow their website for dates of the next one Feeling festive in Salisbury? Try a Twilight Tower Tour of the cathedral

Traveller, artist, antiquarian and owner of the magnificent Stourhead estate in west Wiltshire, he is primarily remembered for his work as a Wiltshire archaeologist. tours of Europe were followed by explorations across England and Wales, ending with his own county of Wiltshire His seminal work was The Ancient History of Wiltshire, written between 1810 - 1821, which played a critical

built in the early 18th century on the site of the original manor house in the village of Stourton, in Wiltshire

After a two year hiatus, the annual festival of flowers has returned to Salisbury Cathedral in a glorious celebration of both 800 years since the foundation of the cathedral and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, with floral arrangements filling the aisles in a profusion of colour, sound and scent. On for only one week, it really is a spectacular way to see this already incredible building. The Flower Festival has always been a much anticipated event in the cathedral calendar, and after a long wait it has finally returned. 2020 was the 800 year anniversary of the cathedral's foundation and although the events of that year were unable to go ahead, they have been incorporated into this year's festival, which also commemorates the Queen's Jubilee. The overall theme is one of celebration, as well as recognition of what people have been through over the past two years. Over 450 flower arrangers have been hard at work setting up their displays in the cathedral, under the supervision of professional florists. Arrangers have come from across the region - churches within the diocese, flower clubs across the south west, colleges and individuals, who have used over 30,000 blooms between them. The local community has also been involved, with 400 hearts hanging from the ceiling, made under the direction of the cathedral's Education Department. Visitors to the cathedral over the Easter holidays were able to decorate the hearts, with others created by community groups in care homes, day care centres and art groups. The result is an impressive feast for the eyes. Entry to the cathedral is on the western end of the nave, and the first thing you see as you enter is the hundreds of pastel hearts hanging down from the vaulted ceiling, complemented by three broken arches of pale pink roses, eucalyptus leaves and luscious, fresh greenery. Interspersed with the arches are more traditional arrangements on single pedestals; pink, purple and orange peonies, roses and ferns. The hearts and colours reflect in the still water of the central font, creating a multi layered depth to the whole scene. The effect is of a subtle, soft-hued opulence of springtime. In front of the huge doors at the West end is a section called 'The Royal Nursery'. Here we see a pale yellow muslin hanging down from the ceiling over a child sized bed, with a pillow and blanket of yellow and white flowers: tight little yellow rose buds and furry white grasses which look soft enough to sleep under, ornamented with an old teddy bear, dolls and a rocking horse. This is in homage to the Queen, whose London nursery in 1926 was decorated in yellows instead of the traditional pinks and blues. The royal theme is continued up the quire, with the pièce de résistance at the high altar - a magnificent display of the Queen's Coronation robe flowing down the steps. This richly coloured purple robe is made entirely of plants; Pampas and Laguras grass, gilded ruscus for the gold trimmings and ferns. It is a stunning display and hard to believe that it is made from flowers. It is surrounded by white flower arrangements of lilies and large cardoon leaves to represent the work of Constance Spry, who arranged the flowers in Westminster Abbey and along the processional route for the Coronation in 1953. The entrances to either side of the quire is through a rainbow arch of flowers - one in recognition of the work of the NHS over the past two years, the other as a symbol of inclusivity. Once through the arches there are further arrangements down the sides. Some displays reflect the Commonwealth, with a huge, vibrant display of flowers from across the globe, with striking orange Bird of Paradise flowers intermingled amongst vivid purples, reds and yellows. Not all displays are large, as on the other quire aisle are some petite arrangements, representing the construction of the cathedral. Old window frames found in the Works Yard have been repurposed with panels of flowers, and a piece of medieval stone from the Hungerford Chantry which was demolished in the 18th century has been decorated with small, tightly packed flowers to represent floral embroidery. Carnations fill lead shapes which were specially made for the festival and which represent the lead roof of the cathedral, and there are panels of bright glass interspersed amongst other displays to represent the stained glass which fills the windows. In the Trinity Chapel, behind the High Altar, is a large turquoise frame filled with hanging glass vases, each containing a different posy. Suspended with garden twine over moss and mirrors, this installation is intended to encourage people to pause, to appreciate the importance of spending time in thought and mindfulness, a lesson we all learnt during Lockdown and not one that should be abandoned now that the world is returning to normality. Next to it, Bishop Osmund's tomb is covered with a display which recreates the bejewelled golden canopy which once covered his tomb until it was destroyed during the Reformation. Both of the transepts have been put to good use for the festival. The floor of the south transept is covered with hundreds of jam jars, each filled with colourful wildflowers and grasses chosen for their popularity with pollinators; poppies, foxgloves, marigolds and grasses. These represent the Coronation Meadows which are currently growing outside the Tower of London and also reflect the environmental theme of the festival. Amongst the jam jars, which flow in curvy drifts, are little wooden butterflies and straw beehives, which hide discreet speakers. The air is filled with the sound of chirping birds and buzzing insects, bringing the outside in and showing the cathedral's commitment to NoMowMay, an initiative to encourage people to let their lawns run wild to encourage insect life. In the North Transept there are twice daily demonstrations of flower arranging, where you can sit and watch the experts at work while listening to live music. It is a very soothing way to spend some time; listening to two excellent musicians on piano and violin while watching people who can transform an empty jar into a coordinated and impressive arrangement. They made it look so easy, which I'm sure it is not. Down the aisles of the nave are further arrangements, including some wonderfully quirky ones for the theme of Celebrating British Culture. A punk with a flowery mohican is next to a maypole, a recreation of a Beatles album cover competes with a Banksy and a traditional afternoon tea. Outside in the Cloisters are further displays. Brightly coloured flowers hang from the arches to represent the four seasons, while nearby is an arrangement of yellow sunflowers and blue delphiniums to remind us of the people in Ukraine. Other installations focus on recycling, with flowers growing out of cheerfully repurposed containers, while on the west cloister we see the liturgical year represented, with Christmas, Easter and other significant events in the church's calendar portrayed through flowers. In the middle of the Cloisters on the grass under the magnificent cedar trees, are two metal sculptures of deer, nibbling at flowers. They look completely at home and I do hope the cathedral keeps them there long after the festival has finished. The whole festival is a wonderful, life-affirming display of beauty, creativity and whimsy. It must be incredibly hard to organise so many different people who all have to work against time to create something so spectacular before it fades and withers. Even the programmes were printed the day before the event so that the photographs were accurate. It is an impressive achievement and one which cannot fail to put a smile on visitors' faces. See the cathedral website for details of the next flower festival

On the edges of Salisbury Plain in mid Wiltshire lies the quiet, unassuming village of Edington, the The final song sounded incredibly complicated to sing, based on words written by 17th century Wiltshire

Instead, he returned home with Lot 15 - 30 acres of Wiltshire farmland which included an 'ancient, mysterious including how to see Stonehenge for free) In 2018 a letter written by Chubb was found in a book in Wiltshire Stonehenge was handed to the nation via a deed of gift - Sir Cecil thanks the former president of the Wiltshire He wrote: "The numerous letters I have received, among them being some from great Wiltshiremen show me

Take a leisurely trip along a section the Kennet and Avon Canal, one of Britain's prettiest canals, on the Kenavon Venture. You can choose from daytime or evening trips, some with music and a lively quiz as an added attraction. The pace of progress makes this trip perfect for the Slow Traveller. The Kenavon Venture is a purpose built public trip boat on the Kennet and Avon Canal operating from The Wharf in Devizes. The boat is 60 feet long,10 feet wide and has spacious seating for up to 40 passengers. It is operated by volunteers of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. A licensed bar, refreshments and a toilet are available on board. The Trust runs both afternoon and evening trips, the schedule depending on the time of year. The day trips stop at Caen Locks to allow for visits and walks along the dramatic stretch of locks and a stop for ice cream at the canalside café. Slow Travel joined an evening trip in the autumn, beginning by enjoying the last rays of sunshine, passing well tended gardens at the start of the route. We then chugged tranquilly and slowly along, delighting in glimpses of the canal’s wildlife and flora and listening to the knowledgeable volunteers talk about the origins and history of the canal. Runners, walkers, cyclists and families were enjoying the towpath. Kayaks and canoes slid past. Swans took an interest in our passage. Many of the canal boats were brightly painted in traditional colours – one with a good crop of runner beans and herbs on the roof. The boat stopped for a delivery of fish/veggie burgers and chips on board - which were quickly distributed, steaming hot and very tasty. As night fell, attention turned to a light-hearted but quite challenging quiz set by the crew for the assorted passengers. It was gentle, amusing fun and we were soon back at Devizes Wharf to end the trip. A TRIP ON THE KENAVON VENTURE How to get there The MV Kenavon Venture is moored on the wharf at Devizes, close to the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust museum. Postcode: SN10 1EB. Pay and Display public car parking is available on the wharf. How much does it cost for a trip? Prices vary according to season and the type of trip on offer. Please visit the website >> Are there any facilities at Devizes Wharf? Shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants are all available locally.

festival, not just with re-enactors, this is a fun way to spend a vintage weekend in the beautiful Wiltshire

There is a lot on offer for families in Salisbury and the surrounding areas, whether you want a peaceful day at the beach, a walk through the forest, to ping around on inflatables, a day at a theme park or just splashing around in puddles. Here we list our top picks for kids in the area - all tried and tested by our own youngsters. Riverbourne Farm is in the Salisbury suburb of Laverstock. It is a community run farm which is free to visit and has donkeys, goats, pigs, rabbits, birds and plenty more. You can buy a bag of food to feed the animals, have a bite in the farm café or just wander around looking at the friendly animals. There are often trails, activities and events on offer. Best for: under 10's Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 20 min walk Noise levels: Peaceful Clownabout is a typical soft play centre which is ideal for little ones. Ball pools, slides, tunnels, climbing frames, all the usual stuff you expect from such places, with free parking. If you visit during school times, it is usually just toddlers playing, so there are no bigger kids to knock them over. Best for: under 10's Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 15 min walk Noise levels: Cacophony LazerA starts at 6.30 in the soft play area used for Clownabout. Kids and adults can run around the ball pools and climbing frames with laser guns shooting each other. Best for: Over 10's to adult Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 15 min walk Noise levels: Peaceful JumpinFun is an inflatable park on the outskirts of Salisbury and although it is for all ages, they do run toddler sessions with soft play and ball pools. If you want to avoid the bigger kids then take your under 5s during a school day. There is a large café area filled with decent food and bored parents. Best for: under 15s Food: café on site Distance from town centre: 23 mins by bus Noise levels: Cacophony Strikers is Salisbury's only bowling alley, in the same building as ClownAbout but separated by the café. There are only a few lanes so it is a good idea to book in advance. You can pay £2.50 extra and let the kids have a go on the climbing wall too. Best for: all ages Food: Food and drinks on site Distance from town centre: 15 min walk Noise levels: tolerable Odeon Cinema is in the centre of town and shows all of the latest films which you can watch in medieval splendour. Best for: all ages Food: Snacks and drinks on site Distance from town centre: 2 min walk Noise levels: peaceful Salisbury Escape Rooms are the only ones put together by ex-detectives and have been voted the #1 attraction in the area for fun and games. They cater to all ages and get great reviews. Best for: 10+ Food: None on site Distance from town centre: 5 minutes walk Noise levels: Peaceful Wilton House is not just a stately home, but has a large adventure playground in its grounds, with huge wooden slides, climbing nets, swing boats, trampolines and more, as well as an area just for the under 5's. It's very popular with families as parents get to enjoy sitting on the pristine grass and wandering through the gardens while their kids run riot. Read more about visiting Wilton House >> Best for: any age Food: Café and ice cream stand on site Distance from town centre: About 20 minutes by bus, 10 by car Noise levels: Tolerable Salisbury has some excellent playparks which will appeal to all ages - whether its paddling in the shallow waters of the River Avon in Lizzie Gardens, following the Fairy Trail in Avon Valley Nature Reserve or playing on slides and swings in several of the parks. For older children, try Churchill Gardens which has a skate park, parkour and outdoor gym. Outside Salisbury Paultons Park is a big deal in these parts, and now has international acclaim thanks to Peppa Pig World which was added a few years ago. There are loads of rides for all ages, particularly the younger ones, with rollercoasters, pirate ships, log flumes and all sorts of rides to induce screaming. The park itself is lovely, with wonderful grounds and even some rides that adults can cope with. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 17 miles Public Transport: Catch the X7 from Salisbury to Southampton and get out at Ower Adventure Wonderland is a theme park for little ones near Bournemouth with rides, animals, soft play, mazes, trampolines and theatre. There is loads for young kids to do here and it will easily fill a whole day. Older kids and teenagers will be less than impressed. Best for: under 10's Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 25 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Cholderton Charlies is a farm with a soft play centre and lots of things to do in the village of Cholderton. Its popular with young ones and often has events and activities on. Just 5 miles from Stonehenge, you could visit this farm afterwards to give the kids some fun as they really won't be impressed by Stonehenge. Best for: under 10s Food: café on site Distance from Salisbury: 11 miles Public Transport: Catch the X67 from Salisbury to Tidworth, get out at Rare Breeds Farm stop Go Ape in Moors Valley Park is a tree top course which has different difficulty levels, set in acres of forest. Moors Valley also has fishing, a mini train, large playparks and other activities on the huge site. It can get busy at peak times and queuing to pay for parking can be a nightmare, but the kids will enjoy it there. Best for: all ages Food: café on site Distance from Salisbury: 20 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest New Forest Water Park on the A338 road to Bournemouth, this outdoor water park has inflatables on a large lake for kids to leap around on. It is only open in the warmer months but is great for older kids. There is also kayaking, paddle boarding and wakeboarding on offer. Best for: older kids Food: Distance from Salisbury: 13 miles Public Transport: Get the X3 Salisbury to Bournemouth bus and get out at the New Forest Water Park stop The Hawk Conservancy near Andover is an excellent day out as well as a really worthwhile charity. There are flying shows which adults and kids love, the site is immaculate and they offer lots of experiences such as Owls by Moonlight which is great fun. Best for: all ages Food: Restaurants on site Distance from Salisbury: 19 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Beaulieu is more than a stately home, it is also home to the National Motor Museum which will keep all car-mad kids very happy. There is also playparks, a monorail, a James Bond experience and a few small rides - I particularly recommend the ride through the history of motoring which is very relaxing and strangely absorbing. Easily enough to do for a full day out. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 27 miles Public Transport: Catch the train to Romsey then C17 bus to Beaulieu Bournemouth Beaches are great for a traditional day by the sea in this very popular resort. Its an easy bus journey from Salisbury with regular buses. The pier is packed with activities, the sand is golden, the sea blue and there are ice creams, beach huts and everything else you could want for a day beside the sea. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars abound Distance from Salisbury: 28 miles Public Transport: Catch the X3 bus from Salisbury to Bournemouth Marwell Zoo is the largest zoo in the area and has hundreds of animals and five adventure playparks. The giraffes, tigers and penguins are the most popular attractions, but there is a wide variety and something for everyone. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 30 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Longleat is the safari park that started them all, and was once home to the eccentric Lord Bath and his wifelets. It is an excellent park with a wide variety of animals, some fabulous playparks and some great activities for kids. I particularly recommend feeding nectar to the birds, which land on you and drink it from your hands. Best for: all ages Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 27 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Snowtrax in Christchurch is for any kid who has wanted to hurtle down a slope at full speed in a ringo or a skibob. They also have an alpine adventure park, snowboarding and dry skiing on offer. Best for: all ages Food: café on site Distance from Salisbury: 21 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest New Forest Wildlife Park near Ashurst is a small wildlife park but its great for younger kids, very easy to get around in a pretty site and up close to the animals. Just down the road is Longdown Activity Farm which is great for young ones. Best for: under 10s Food: cafés, restaurants and snack bars on site Distance from Salisbury: 21 miles Public Transport: Car is easiest Want to read more? Find out what day trips you can take from Salisbury and how to get there with public transport.