Old Sarum

Climb ancient ramparts, explore Norman castle ruins and stand where Salisbury’s first cathedral once stood at this history-packed hilltop site.
4.4/5
KIDSPEAK SCORE

4.4

/5

Big views, huge history and enough open space to turn ruins into an adventure.

QUICK FACTS

Price

£6.88

Rating

4.4/5

Verdict

Very Good

Attraction

Salisbury, Wiltshire

Type

Historic site

Review Time

1 min

The town of Old Sarum has long gone but when you climb the ramparts for views over the Wiltshire plains and stand in the footprint of Salisbury’s original cathedral, it is easy to imagine the 2,000 years of history that have seen Romans, Normans and Saxons leaving their mark.

(image taken from the English Heritage website)

Explore the hillfort that rises up from plains, cross the old wooden bridge and spend time inside what was once a bustling medieval castle. There are lots of enthusiastic staff on site ready to share their knowledge and plenty of information boards to fill in the gaps.

Any families with a history buff in their midst will be in for a treat, but for those that don’t, Old Sarum is the perfect place to run around in the fresh air, while engaging in some role play and getting a hands-on feel for British medieval history. There’s nothing quite like a moat (or two) to capture a child’s imagination!

This afternoon out got a definite thumbs up all round from our boys and I think next time we visit, we’ll be bringing some swords and shields to have even more fun!

Tell us more...

Iron Age hillfort

Norman castle remains

Original Salisbury Cathedral footprint

Ancient ramparts and ditches

Wide countryside views

WHY WE LIKE IT

Living History

The castle, cathedral and hillfort make thousands of years of history much easier for children to imagine.

Room to Explore

The ramparts and open spaces turn a history visit into an outdoor adventure.

Views

The elevated site has far-reaching views across the Wiltshire countryside.

Imagination

Moats, bridges and ruined walls are perfect for spontaneous knights-and-castles role play.

THINGS TO KNOW

The site is exposed, so dress for the weather

English Heritage offers cheaper advance booking than walk-up admission

Much of the fun is outdoors and involves uneven historic ground

KIDS VERDICT

88.0%

would recommend

4.4/5

average rating

Exploring the castle ruins

favourite thing to do

PARENT TIP

Bring a picnic and simple swords or shields for imaginative play — the open site is perfect for making the history feel real.

DID YOU KNOW?

Old Sarum combines an Iron Age hillfort, a Norman royal castle and the remains of Salisbury’s first cathedral.

KIDS SAY...

The moat and castle ruins made it really easy to imagine there had been battles here!
~ Thomas, 10

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