An augmented reality trail is coming to Salisbury for the Queen's Jubilee

A new story trail, fit for a king or queen, is coming to Salisbury.

To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Salisbury BID and Salisbury City Council have teamed up to create a royal story trail around the city.

On 30th April 2022, Sir Barnaby Beacon and his magical friends will descend on Salisbury as part of a free augmented reality trail for all ages. Seven whimsical characters – including Sir Barnaby - will be hidden at locations across the city.

At each stop there will be a QR code that, once scanned, will guide participants through the history of the Queen’s 70-year reign.

Caroline Corbin, Mayor of Salisbury said, “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is a historic occasion and this trail is a fun way for the whole family to spend time together in our beautiful city centre, the free, magical augmented reality story trail will bring stories from the past to life, teaching youngsters about the Queen’s 70 years on the throne in a fun, interactive way.”

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Trail - created in conjunction with High Street Safari - is completely contactless, allowing anyone with a smartphone to take part for free.

Players will not only discover cute characters along the route, but they also get to see them burst to life in augmented reality and take selfies and record videos with them.

Dan Collins, Salisbury BID Business Manager, added, “It’s important for the city to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne and this innovative trail will do just that, in a fun, family-friendly way.

"Not only will it be a good way to mark the Jubilee but it will also encourage more people into the city centre, giving them a reason to explore different areas. The route is about forty-five minutes long but can be completed in more than one visit, or in between stops at our wonderful shops."

To get started on the trail, all families need to do is go to the Experience Salisbury website where they will find a link to a map and first ‘story-point’. It is completely free to take part and players will win a free, digital fun pack at the end.

Not only is the trail a fun day out for players, but they can also choose to donate to Downton charity, Help for Heroes, to support our veterans and their families.

Their Chief Executive, Melanie Waters, commented, “We’re thrilled to be the charity partner for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons Trail and really looking forward to taking part in this innovative, community-based activity, as part of our plans to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee this year.”

The trail runs from April 30th to June 12th. Details on where and how to start the magical trail can be found on the Experience Salisbury website here.