Downton Travel Guide

The Downton Cuckoo Fair is the perfect one day family event, held on the greens in the charming village of Downton, six miles south of Salisbury. With over 250 craft & other interesting stalls (some in large tents); rural craft demonstrations such as wood cutting &, needlecraft; maypole dancing; Morris & line dancing held outside the Co-op; street entertainment like jugglers; music from local bands; Downton Brass Band; & lots for the children including Punch & Judy, clowns, bouncy castle & roundabouts. Speaking of those large white tents, it can get a bit hot & stuffy inside with all that body heat also the crowding can be horrendous.

There’s sufficient car parks offered, run by charities, with vintage buses running a Park & Ride service. There is also a good variety of food & refreshments, along with good facilities for the disabled. Sometimes the resident’s might open their back gardens to the public for the day; one of the cottages has the river running through at the bottom over looking open countryside.

The Fair is very trendy, with an estimated 15,000 visitors in 2004. It is planned by a Committee of volunteers drawn from the many Downton village clubs & organisations on a non-profit making basis, with the income received from stallholders, sponsors & donations spent on running the fair. In 2004, over £3000 was spent on entertainment. Downton comes alive for the whole weekend, anyone staying on holiday in the area will be interested to know that there are a number of excellent associated events leading up to The Cuckoo Fair over the rest of the 'Mayday' Holiday.

The Bull on the Downton to Ringwood Road at a set of traffic lights, has been around for hundred’s of years. It has low ceilings, fireplaces & oak beams; it has a varied menu (all you can eat from £5.75), & good service. The Bull is owned by The Hop back Brewery (www.hopback.co.uk) there’s only one bar & is at the rear of the building. At the back is a large beer garden; at the front is a large area for cars to park. Relaxing accommodation can be found here, en-suit rooms can be found here from £35 per night. The opening times are 11am-11pm Monday to Sunday.

Favorite Dish: Other pubs near bye in Downton are:

The Kings Arms
Bed & Breakfast: £25 per person per night
Surcharge £10, single tenancy of twin room.
9, High Street
Tel: 01725 510446
Tel & Fax. 01725 510446
Email: KingsArmsDownton@aol.com

The White Horse
The Borough
Tel: 01725 510408

The Wooden Spoon
High Street
Downton

The King's Arms is a village pub with a friendly environment, good beers & fine food. located in the Avon valley near to the New Forest. Log fires & beer garden. With scenes of the church the area is superb for walking & hiking, charming walks in the forest & water meadows. 6 miles from Salisbury with its cathedral & market. 30 minute from Bournemouth. The pub has a car park, real ales, dartboard, jukebox, Pool & Snooker, & services for the disabled. The pub is open Monday to Friday 11am - 3pm & 6pm - 11pm, Saturday 12-11pm and Sunday 12noon - 4.30pm & 7pm - 10.30pm. There’s also accommodation which is £15 per night. Telephone: 01725 510446 E-mail: cj@ludwell.fsnet.co.uk

Dress Code: The Bull is in The Borough near traffic lights on the Salisbury to Ringwood Road. There’s a large car park here and during the summer is nice to sit outside. There’s only one bar, but it’s very nice. B&B is £35 per night here. See www.beerguide.co.uk/towns/downton.htm for more info.

The White Horse is said to be one of the oldest pubs in the area. Also in The Borough.

There's also the Wooden Spoon which only opens in the late afternoon.

Here is what you can fins in Downton if you come to visit this charming village.

• Downton Cross Roads Post Office - Post Office Confectionery & Newsagents.
• Downton Tyre & Autocare - Retailer of Exhausts Tyres and Batteries. Auto and home supply shops / stores.
• Revive Vending Ltd - Food Vending gear Wholesalers. Computer bits/software - Electrical repair shops.
• Thoroughclean Services - Office and Shop Cleaning Services. Building cleaning / maintenance.
• Anthony Hair Fashions - Unisex Hairdresser. Beauty shops.
• Julia Gale Cake Decorations - Cake Decorating Equipment Retailers. Retail shops various.
• Hair Design - Unisex Hairdressers. Beauty shops
• Anthony Bass & Partner: Anthony J Bass - Opticians. Retail shops miscellaneous
• Downtown Leisure Centre - Leisure and Recreation Centres. Membership sports clubs - Other amusement services
• Tannery House Ltd - Medical Centre. Medical doctors
• LloydsTSB plc
• Downton Pharmacy
• Chropodists - Angela Smith
• Downton Surgery
• Library - http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/libraries/
• Downton Memorial Hall - Function Rooms
• The Sherwood Room – Weddings, Discos, Parties, Skittles, seminars & conferences.

Services consist of:
• Sports Hall - 5 badminton Courts
• Fitness Studio
• Sunbed
• 2 indoor tennis courts
• Meeting Room
Ran by the Brian Whitehead Sports Centre Association by DC Leisure. The multi-purpose sports hall can host 5-a-side football, basketball, netball, badminton & children's holiday play schemes. For younger people there is Softplay Fun for under fives, & a selection of actions for 5-16 year olds.

Equipment: Monday 08.00am - 10.00pm
Tuesday 07.00am - 10.00pm
Wednesday 08.00am - 10.00pm
Thursday 07.00am - 10.00pm
Friday 08.00am - 9.00pm
Weekends 09.00am - 4.00pm

Aerobics Tuesday &Thursday evening 7.00 - 8.00
Members Free
Non-members £3.75

You don't have to be a member of the fitness suite to use the services, but joining could save you money. Single Annual £300.00
Joint Annual £500.00
Single Direct Debit £30.00 pm
Joint Direct Debit £50.00 pm
Pay as you Play fitness suite £4.75
Induction (free for members) £15.00