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!