top of page
A historic medieval borough, set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside south of Salisbury. Minutes away from the New Forest, half an hour from the coast, on the fringes of Cranborne Chase.
Why the "real" Downton? The name of our village was the source of the name for Downton Abbey TV series and movie. We don't have an abbey, but we have plenty of other things to see and do.
This site is still being developed. It's being updated regularly with new information. Please do visit us again to see our new updates.
Cuckoo Fair
The annual Downton Cuckoo Fair is the largest community event in Wiltshire. It is normally held on the Saturday of the early May bank holiday.
Downton fairs were first recorded in the 11th century but died out although in the 15th century Charles II two annual fairs were granted in April and September. The modern fair started in 1979 and has grown to its current size with over 250 craft, gift, food and drinks stalls. The Borough is closed to traffic for the day so that visitors can enjoy browsing the stands and be entertained by live music, dancing and other acts.
Website: https://cuckoofair.co.uk/
bottom of page