How to plan your visit to Old Sarum in Wiltshire: hours, access, tickets and nearby sights
History and overview
Old Sarum sits on a hill about two miles north of modern Salisbury. Its origins go back to a massive Iron Age hillfort built around 400 BC. The site later became home to a Norman royal castle and the first Salisbury cathedral, which remained until 1220 when the cathedral moved to the valley below.
The layout is a circular outer rampart enclosing open space, with a motte where the Norman castle once stood and the footprint of the old cathedral in one quadrant. As a ruinous site you will not see intact buildings, but the earthworks, castle remains and cathedral foundations are readily visible and give a clear sense of the site’s long history.
- Skip the explanation and buy your Old Sarum tickets.
How to get to Old Sarum
By car: Old Sarum is off the A345, about 2 miles north of Salisbury. Use postcode SP1 3SD. The car park sits in the outer bailey roughly 200 metres from the shop and main admission point. There are tarmac spaces and an overflow area on grass.
Public transport: Salisbury railway station is around 2 miles away. Local buses and Park & Ride services serve Salisbury; a short taxi or local bus ride will take you close to Old Sarum if you do not drive.
Why book the Old Sarum Entry Ticket?
- 🏛 Valid for 1 day entry to Old Sarum
- 🚶 Access to the ancient ruins of a once-thriving medieval town including the original cathedral and royal castle footprint
- 🌄 Panoramic views over the Wiltshire plains and of Salisbury Cathedral from the ramparts
- 📜 Explore over 2,000 years of history—from Iron Age beginnings, through Roman, Norman, and Saxon eras
- 🦺 Great for history buffs—roads, ramparts, and foundations to walk at your own pace (note: uneven ground)
- ⭐ Rated approximately 3.9 out of 5 stars from ~17 reviews
Opening times and ticket prices
Opening times: the site is generally open daily from 10am to 5pm with last entry at 4.30pm. Seasonal variations apply in winter. Check it’s open before turning up.
Ticket prices are annoyingly variable, depending on season and seemingly whether Mercury is in retrograde. But you get 15% off if you book online in advance. Check the English Heritage site for the prices on the day you plan to visit. However, these are the baseline prices for online bookings outside of peak season. They’re correct as of September 2025, but subject to change in future:
- Adult: £5.90
- Concession: £5.00
- Child (5–17): £3.10
- Children under 5: free with adults or members
- Members of English Heritage: free entry
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.
Parking, access and terrain
The car park is sloped and there is a grass overflow. The main parking area at Old Sarum lies about 200 metres from the entrance and the shop.
There is a single designated disabled parking bay, which is not reservable. Disabled visitors can arrange drop-off at the bottom of the bridge that leads into the site; drivers with limited mobility may be able to leave the vehicle at the drop-off point by arrangement.
Paths across the site are mainly tarmac or bonded gravel, but some slopes are steep and a wooden bridge and steps are part of the route. Wheelchair access is partial: lower areas and the cathedral foundations are accessible but upper viewing points involve steep slopes.
Best times to visit
For a quieter visit to Old Sarum choose weekdays outside school holidays. The first hour after opening and later afternoon after about 2–3pm are generally the calmest and provide good light for photos.
Avoid bank holidays and busy weekends if you prefer fewer people on the ramparts and around the ruins.
What to bring and what to expect
Wear sturdy shoes; parts of the site are uneven with loose gravel and grass. The hilltop is exposed so bring water and sun protection or a warm layer depending on the weather.
There is no full-service café on site. Small refreshments are available from the shop or vending machines, so pack a picnic if you prefer to sit on the grass. Or, alternatively, go to the Harvester pub opposite.
Nearby attractions to combine in one day
- Salisbury Cathedral is close by (about 2 miles), with its own history, architecture and Magna Carta.
- Stonehenge is roughly a 10-mile drive from Old Sarum; many visitors pair the two. Stonehenge parking costs are minimal.
- In Salisbury itself the Salisbury Museum holds local archaeology, including finds from Old Sarum and surrounding areas.
- Scenic walks around the Avon River or across Wiltshire downs can be combined with a visit, too.
- Elsewhere in Wiltshire, Malmesbury Abbey and the cheeky monkeys of Longleat are also worth a visit.
