Birdoswald Roman Fort is a Roman auxiliary fort and section of Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site near Gilsland in Cumbria, managed by English Heritage. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. At Birdoswald the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays — not Mondays to Fridays as at most English Heritage sites — so the cheapest admission falls on Sundays to Thursdays outside peak summer.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria CA6 7DD |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); reduced days in winter (see below) |
| Adult ticket | £9.26–£12.32 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Haltwhistle (Tyne Valley Line); then bus 185 (Mon–Sat) |
| Parking | Pay-and-display car park ~100 metres from fort; disabled parking ~50 metres from entrance |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours on site; longer if walking Wall sections |
Birdoswald Roman Fort opening hours
The 2026/27 schedule (28 March 2026 – 16 March 2027): 28 Mar – 24 Oct, daily 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 23 Dec, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 24–26 Dec, closed; 27 Dec – 1 Jan, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Jan – 12 Feb, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 13–21 Feb (half-term), daily 10am–4pm; 22 Feb – 16 Mar, Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Birdoswald Roman Fort ticket prices
At Birdoswald the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays — the cheapest rate falls Sun–Thu outside peak summer, the reverse of most English Heritage sites. English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID.
Super Saver — Fri–Sat, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Saver — Sun–Thu, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Fri–Sat, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.79 |
| Concession | £10.03 |
| Child | £5.35 |
Standard — Sun–Thu, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £12.32 |
| Concession | £11.56 |
| Child | £6.12 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Visitors arriving by any bus or train receive 20% off walk-up admission. Guided tours carry an extra charge and must be pre-booked. Not included in any city pass scheme. Ticket prices last updated in March 2026.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to get to Birdoswald Roman Fort
Birdoswald is off the B6318 near Gilsland, Cumbria, ~18 miles east of Carlisle and ~6 miles east of Brampton.
By train and bus: Take the Tyne Valley Line to Haltwhistle (Newcastle ~50 min; Carlisle ~25 min), then Go North East service 185 (Mon–Sat, ~3 journeys each way). The AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus connects to the 185 at Haltwhistle or Greenhead; AD122 Rover tickets (1, 3, or 7 days) cover both services. From the west, Reays HW1 runs from Brampton — check reays.co.uk before travelling. Any bus or train ticket gives 20% off walk-up admission.
By car: Postcode CA6 7DD; follow the B6318. No ULEZ charges apply. The site is on the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail and near NCN Route 72 (Hadrian’s Cycleway); bike parking is on site.
Parking at Birdoswald Roman Fort
A pay-and-display car park is ~100 metres from the fort. Disabled parking is ~50 metres from the entrance. The ticket machine is occasionally out of service — if so, pay at the visitor centre before returning to display your ticket. A coach drop-off point is adjacent to the entrance.
How long to spend at Birdoswald Roman Fort
Allow 2 to 3 hours for the exhibition, fort remains, and Wall walk. Harrow’s Scar milecastle, a Roman turret, and Willowford bridge abutment are within ~1 mile and need no extra admission; allow 45–60 minutes for these.
Accessibility at Birdoswald Roman Fort
The exhibition and main excavated areas are broadly flat and paved. Some areas around the fort walls involve uneven grass and inclines. The car park approach is uphill; visitors with mobility needs may prefer the coach drop-off point at the entrance. Accessible toilets and baby-changing are at the visitor centre entrance. Seating is available around the fort. An induction loop is in the shop. Dogs on short leads and assistance dogs are welcome.
Inside Birdoswald Roman Fort: what to see
Birdoswald sits above the River Irthing gorge and preserves the longest continuously surviving stretch of Hadrian’s Wall visible today, with all frontier components — Wall, vallum, fort, milecastles, and turrets — in close proximity.
The fort remains include all three main gates; the east gate is the best-preserved fort gateway on the entire Wall. Excavations have revealed a post-Roman Dark Age timber hall over the granaries — one of the few known examples of post-Roman reoccupation on the Wall.
The visitor centre exhibition includes hands-on activities: build a Wall section with bricks, assemble a Roman arch using an on-site crane, look through a periscope at the Wall’s original height, and follow a spy quest through the fort gates. A Folktale Creature Trail is included in admission; the site is on the Bloomberg Connects app. A café serves warm Cumbrian dishes, sandwiches, and cakes. Group accommodation in Birdoswald Farmhouse (39 beds) is available for walking groups and school parties.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Super Saver is Fri–Sat here | The cheapest rate falls Sun–Thu outside peak summer — opposite to most English Heritage sites. |
| Bus gives 20% off | Any bus or train ticket at the entrance gives 20% off walk-up admission. AD122 Rover tickets cover multiple Wall sites for 1, 3, or 7 days. |
| Car park machine may be broken | If out of service, pay at the visitor centre first, then return to display your ticket. |
| Car park approach is uphill | Visitors with mobility needs may prefer the coach drop-off point at the entrance. |
| Check the 185 timetable | The 185 runs Mon–Sat with ~3 journeys each way. It does not run on Sundays. Confirm your return time before leaving. |
Frequently asked questions about Birdoswald Roman Fort
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Birdoswald suitable for children? | Yes. The interactive exhibition, spy quest, creature trail, and arch-building are designed for families. A family room with soft play is available. |
| Is Birdoswald open on Sundays? | Yes, year-round except 24–26 December. The 185 bus does not run on Sundays — check traveline.info for alternatives. |
| Are dogs allowed at Birdoswald? | Yes. Dogs on short leads are welcome throughout. Water bowls are in the main courtyard. |
| Is Birdoswald free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
| Is Birdoswald accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. The exhibition and paved areas are accessible. Some fort wall areas involve uneven grass. The car park is uphill; the entrance drop-off point is preferable for wheelchair users. |
Things to do near Birdoswald Roman Fort
Lanercost Priory (English Heritage), ~4 miles west, is a 12th-century Augustinian priory; members free. Roman Army Museum (Vindolanda Trust), ~4 miles east, has a 3D Wall film; charges apply. Vindolanda (~9 miles east) has live excavations; charges apply. Housesteads Roman Fort (English Heritage), ~11 miles east, is the Wall’s most complete fort; members free. The Sill (~9 miles east, Once Brewed) is a free landscape discovery centre and the main AD122 bus hub.
