Queens Park Arts Centre is the creative hub, home and heart of the arts in Aylesbury Vale.
Since opening in 1980 the Centre has developed a programme of over 70 weekly workshops in artistic disciplines such as pottery, needlework, drama, dance, woodwork, jewellery-making, painting & drawing, yoga and much more.
The majority of workshops are drop-in and pay-as-you-go, allowing students the freedom to take part when it suits them. The joy of Queens Park is the opportunity to be creative in your own time and on your own terms, with experienced tutors on hand to advise and instruct as much or as little as you require. All are welcome – complete beginners and experienced hands are invited to use the facilities.
Alongside the weekly workshops there are regular special one-day classes and short courses, exploring such activities as stained glass and blacksmithing. There are also regular holiday workshops for children, not to mention weekly classes for younger artists – so there really is something for everyone!
The Centre is also home to the Limelight Theatre, an intimate 120-seater fringe venue offering an affordable, lively programme of live music, comedy and theatre, including some of the best local talent alongside acclaimed acts from all over the country. In recent years the venue has welcomed comedians such as Chris Ramsey, Sean Hughes and Lucy Porter, as well as music from the likes of Phil Beer, Marcus Malone and local legends John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett. The Limelight is home to SDSD as well as in-house storytelling company Unbound, who stage regular theatrical productions, including the hugely-popular Queens Park Pantomime.
Queens Park also houses two gallery spaces displaying exhibitions from local, national and even international artists. Annual events at the Centre include the autumn Art & Craft Fair welcoming the region’s best artists and craftspeople, plus various other festivals and fairs throughout the year.
Other facilities include a licensed bar and coffee shop, a shop selling art supplies and a library of reference books. The Centre is a short 5-minute walk from the Town Centre. Please contact 01296 424332 / info@queensparkarts.com for a brochure.
For more information on accessibility, please read the Queens Park Arts Centre’s Access Guide.
Beautiful beams and wooden floors bedeck The Farmers’ Bar. They serve fine English ales, bottled beers, Rothschild wines and a hearty lunch. Choose your drink and retire to one of the comfy sofas or old wooden benches and when the sun is shining it is a must to sit out in the ancient cobbled courtyard surrounded on all sides by old stables, the Great Hall and the ancient arch where coaches used to enter.
For more information about this venue’s accessibility, read the King’s Head Access Guide.
Come and join us on one of our many walks throughout Aylesbury.
Walking is a fantastic way to get out and about and meet new people while improving your health and wellbeing.
Volunteer led walks run throughout the year. Our volunteer leaders are there to help you walk at your own pace – so don’t worry about being left behind or feeling left out.
All new walkers are welcome whether you are fit and active, or haven’t exercised in a long time. It couldn’t be easier to get started. No need to book, just choose your walk and arrive 15 minutes before departure to register with the walk leader.
We love to print photos and are passionate about preserving your memories and our specialists are on hand to offer advice on all your imaging needs.
Boasting a programme of live performances, visitors can enjoy worldclass entertainment including West End productions, comedy, dance and children’s shows.
With something for everyone the Waterside Theatre is the perfect treat all year round. The venue is also a conference and meetings centre.
Hale Leys is situated in the heart of Aylesbury and is the main thoroughfare between Marks & Spencer on the High Street and Boots. The key destination of Hale Leys makes it an integral part of Aylesbury’s retail offer and it has a vital role to play in the future regeneration of the town. Hale Leys is pleased to welcome two new exciting operators in the form of The Manor, a bar, restaurant and rooftop bar with views over the Chiltern Hills which is “the place” to go in Aylesbury, In addition, we have Aylesbury Stay & Play, a state of the art indoor playground at ground floor level and The Arcade – a virtual reality game zone on the first floor, providing a safe and fun place for children of all ages.
Hale Leys is easily accessible on a single level mall with a Council-operated surface car park adjacent. The Centre is anchored by a large Boots store and other notable retailers include The Works, Card Factory, Accessorize and Hays Travel. Let’s not overlook our very popular independently operated café, One4Six Coffee, offering undoubtedly the best coffee in Aylesbury, together with home-made sandwiches. cakes and artisan ice-creams. In addition, there is an outdoor play area which makes it a must visit location when in Aylesbury with something for all the family.
For more information on Hale Leys’ accessibility, read our Access Guide.
Why not discover Aylesbury through the Heritage Walk, a fascinating self-guided walk that gives you an insight into the town’s architectural history. A great souvenir, the booklet to accompany the walk costs just £1 and can be purchased at the Bucks County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP or from the Aylesbury Town Council Offices at 5 Church Street, Aylesbury HP20 2QP
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal is a great starting point for family walks and to see the bustle of life at the water’s edge.
The cobbles of Aylesbury’s historic Market Square have been hosting markets and events for a thousand years. There is still a general market and two specialist markets every week and popular annual events such as WhizzFizzFest and Santa’s Parade continue to bring it to life.
It is the heart of Aylesbury, connecting the two main shopping centres Hale Leys and Friars Square.
For more information about its accessibility, read Market Square’s Access Guide.
