Old Wardour Castle is a ruined 14th-century tower house in a landscaped park near Tisbury in Wiltshire, 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. Old Wardour has no café — only a vending machine. The castle was used as a filming location for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), and the Arundell family — whose ancestors built it — still own the land. The award-winning new admissions building (2022) has a living grass roof.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Old Wardour, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6RR |
| What3words | takers.castle.delighted |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); Sat–Sun in winter (see below) |
| Adult ticket | £7.65–£9.26 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Tisbury (~3.5 miles) |
| Parking | Free on-site car park (20 spaces + overflow for 50); 2 disabled bays |
| Time needed | 1.5–2.5 hours |
Old Wardour Castle opening hours
The 2026/27 schedule: 28 Mar – 24 Oct, daily 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 12 Feb, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 13–21 Feb (half-term), daily 10am–4pm; 22 Feb – 16 Mar, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 24–26 Dec, closed. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in May 2026.
Old Wardour Castle ticket prices
English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID. A free audio tour is included with admission.
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £7.65 |
| Concession | £6.88 |
| Child | £3.82 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Old Wardour is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies year-round — the Banqueting House is a popular venue. Ticket prices last updated in May 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 Old Wardour Castle
Old Wardour Castle is 3.5 miles south-west of Tisbury off the A30, reachable via narrow rural roads also accessible from the A350.
By train and bus: Tisbury station (Great Western Railway; ~1 hr 45 min from London Waterloo via Salisbury) is ~3.5 miles from the castle. Salisbury Reds bus 26 stops at Tisbury. A taxi from Tisbury is the most practical final leg.
By car: Postcode SP3 6RR or what3words takers.castle.delighted; signposted off the A30, south-west of Tisbury on narrow lanes. No ULEZ charges apply.
Parking at Old Wardour Castle
Free on-site parking for ~20 cars, plus overflow for a further 50 on the adjacent grass. Two disabled bays are ~20 metres from the main gates; disabled visitors may also be set down at the entrance (2 metres from the shop) — no advance arrangement required.
How long to spend at Old Wardour Castle
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours at this English castle. The castle ruins, Banqueting House, Gothic Grotto, lake, and grounds can all be seen within this time. The tranquil parkland setting and lake views reward a slower pace; allow longer if picnicking.
Accessibility at Old Wardour Castle
Wheelchair access is limited to the grounds and ground floor of the castle. There is one grass ramp leading from the rear of the castle to the courtyard; bonded gravel pathways run through the grounds. The 93 steps to the top of the tower, the spiral staircases throughout the castle, and some areas of the grounds are not accessible by wheelchair. There are sheer drops of approximately 4 metres from the curtain walls — no climbing on walls. Many trip hazards exist across the site; visitors are advised to stay alert. Some slip hazards are present (signposted).
Two disabled bays are 20 metres from the main gates. Disabled visitors can be set down at the entrance without prior arrangement. Accessible toilets are in the new admissions building. An induction loop is on site. Dogs are welcome with water bowls provided — note there are no dog waste bins on site. Two picnic tables are adjacent to the shop; four benches are in the grounds. The lake adjacent to the grounds is not managed by English Heritage; keep children and dogs away from the water’s edge.
Inside Old Wardour Castle: what to see
Old Wardour Castle was built in 1393 by John, 5th Baron Lovell — less fortress, more showpiece. Its design is unique in England: a six-sided tower house with five floors of apartments around a central hexagonal courtyard, each with its own fireplace and latrine. In the 16th century it passed to the Arundell family, who added Renaissance details — look for their coat of arms on the entrance front and a carved bust of Christ above the archway. The Arundell family still own the land; English Heritage manages the ruins.
The castle’s most dramatic episode came in the English Civil War. In 1643, Lady Blanche Arundell held out against a Parliamentary force of ~1,300 men with just 25 men and her maidservants for six days before surrendering. Her son Henry then retook the castle — but accidentally blew up half of it with gunpowder. The ruin became uninhabitable; in the 1760s the 8th Baron built New Wardour Castle nearby and turned the old castle into a picturesque landscape feature with a designed park, lake, and woodland.
The Gothic Grotto — incorporating prehistoric standing stones — is on the south side of the grounds. The Georgian Banqueting House, overlooking the lake with Gothic battlements and stained-glass windows, contains a small exhibition on garden history and is open when not in use for weddings. The east tower offers panoramic views after 93 steps via a spiral staircase.
The castle appeared as Locksley Castle in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). The award-winning admissions building (2022, living grass roof) houses the ticket office, accessible toilets, and gift shop. A family game, Folktale Creature Trail, and free audio tour are available. There is no café; a vending machine provides hot drinks, cold drinks, ice creams, and snacks.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| No café — vending machine only | Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cold drinks, and snacks from a vending machine. The grounds are excellent for picnicking — two tables adjacent to the shop. |
| 93 steps to the top | The east tower staircase involves 93 steps via a narrow spiral staircase. The views are worth it on clear days. |
| Sheer drops on curtain walls | Approximately 4-metre drops from the curtain walls. Do not climb. Take care with children near wall edges. |
| No dog waste bins | Water bowls are provided for dogs but there are no waste bins on site — bring your own bags. |
| Robin Hood filming location | The castle appears as Locksley Castle in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). |
Frequently asked questions about Old Wardour Castle
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a café at Old Wardour Castle? | No. A vending machine provides hot and cold drinks and snacks. Picnic areas are adjacent to the shop and throughout the grounds. |
| Is there parking at Old Wardour Castle? | Yes. Free on-site parking (20 spaces + overflow for 50). Two disabled bays 20 metres from the main gates. |
| Is Old Wardour Castle accessible for wheelchair users? | Partially. Grounds and castle ground floor are accessible via gravel paths and one grass ramp. The tower staircase (93 steps) and upper floors are not. |
| Are dogs allowed at Old Wardour Castle? | Yes. Dogs are welcome; water bowls are provided. Note there are no dog waste bins — bring your own bags. |
| Is Old Wardour Castle free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Old Wardour Castle
Stonehenge (English Heritage, ~18 miles east) is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments; members free. Salisbury Cathedral (~15 miles east) houses one of four surviving copies of Magna Carta. Stourhead (National Trust, ~10 miles west) is one of England’s finest landscape gardens; charges apply. Tisbury (3.5 miles north-east) has a medieval church and independent shops. Shaftesbury (~8 miles south-west) has the famous cobbled Gold Hill and the free Shaftesbury Abbey Museum.
More South-West England travel
Other South-West England travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- How much does it cost to park at Stonehenge?
- What first time visitors need to know about Old Sarum in Wiltshire.
- Will the monkeys at Longleat damage your car?
- Planning a visit to Malmesbury Abbey.
- Practical visitor guide to Salisbury Cathedral.
