Key facts
- Operator
- English Heritage
- Condition
- Ruin
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
Pinpoint
Castle Rd, Salisbury SP1 3SD
Telephone 0370 333 1181
Possible Opening hours
Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Old Sarum layers thousands of years on one hilltop - an Iron Age hillfort, a Roman settlement, and a Norman royal castle and cathedral, all inside the same earthen ramparts, before the cathedral (and eventually the city) relocated to Salisbury below. English Heritage keeps it staffed, but the scale of the ramparts leaves plenty of space to feel like you have the place to yourself.
Worth the trip
The earthworks themselves - reviewers repeatedly note the scale of the ramparts and the view down to the cathedral city that took the site's place.
Before you go
It's an exposed hilltop with real walking involved, so dress for wind. Go for the layered history as much as the castle - most reviewers rate it for the hillfort and cathedral foundations as much as the Norman remains.
Reviewers consistently highlight the site's layered history, from Iron Age hillfort through Roman settlement to the original Salisbury Cathedral and Norman castle, along with sweeping views over the Wiltshire countryside from the earthworks. One reviewer felt the admission price was a bit steep given that much of the site can be seen from outside the paid area, and comfortable footwear is recommended given the exposed, hilly terrain.
Norman royal castle within Iron Age ramparts
“Slightly over priced, don’t feel it should be more than £5. Staff were informative and it’s a nice place to wonder around but a lot of it is outside the gate/draw bridge.”— Caïna Verrin, visitor review
