VISIT  OLD WARDOUR  CASTLE  WITH ENGLISH  HERITAGE  MEMBERSHIP

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TICKETS & PRICES

Adults:  £5.90
Children 5-17 Years: £3.50
Families (2 adults, up to 3 Children): £15.30
Families (1 adult, up to 3 Children): £9.40

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Visiting Old Wardour Castle

Old Wardour Castle is a 14th-century castle in the Wiltshire countryside. The large and imposing castle ruins are situated near a picturesque lake, making it a beautiful area to explore for both families and couples. Today, the castle is managed by English Heritage and is open to the public for visitors to view the majestic lands of Wiltshire.

Parking

Free parking on-site at the castle with about 20 spaces available. Additional parking is available on the grass next to this main car park lot if it’s necessary. 

 

Price

English Heritage Society members

Free entry with membership card

Adults

£5.90

Children (age 5-17)

£3.50

Concession (students with official card and people 65+ with ID)

£5.30

Family (2 adults, up to 3 children)

£15.30

Family (1 adult, up to 3 children)

£9.40

 

Opening

Old Wardour Castle is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00-17:00, or 10 AM to 5 PM. According to English Heritage, the busiest times are typically from 11 AM to 2 PM each day. 

Location and Access

Old Wardour Castle is located at Tisbury, Salisbury SP3 6RR, United Kingdom. 

The castle is about an 8-minute drive southwest of the town of Tisbury, 4.5 km (2.8 mi) away via Hazeldon Ln. It is a 32-minute ride west from the city of Salisbury, 27.2 km (16.9 mi) away via A30.

Bus access is available from the city of Salisbury via Salisbury Reds service 26 Salisbury - Shaftesbury, which passes the Tisbury railway station, about 4.0 km (2.5 mi) away from the castle. Train access is available through that same Tisbury station as well. 

Know Before You Go

  • English Heritage Members should remember to bring their English Heritage Membership card in order to receive free entry.
  • Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the staff at the castle keep safe by continuing to wear masks and encourage visitors to do so as well. Guests should also do their best to maintain social distancing.
  • There’s no cafe or restaurant on-site, but there are vending machines that serve snacks and hot and cold drinks. There are also bathrooms available for visitors.
  • There’s a gift shop just inside the main gates of the castle, which sells a wide range of English Heritage souvenirs and gifts, including books, games, snacks, confectionery, and hot and cold drinks.
  • The castle is family-friendly and open areas allow for kids to run and play. However, no balls, throwing games, or kite flying, is permitted on the premises. 
  • The castle features gardens and walking paths. 
  • Photography and filming are welcome at the castle. However, certain areas might be restricted, and English Heritage recommends calling ahead to confirm.

Places To Stay Nearby

The Beckford Arms

Kilometres from the Castle: 6.9 km (4.3 mi)

The Beckford Arms is a traditional yet stylish country inn located on the rolling parkland of the Fonthill Estate in Wiltshire. Featuring a traditional country pub with 8 cosy bedrooms, this inn also houses standard modern amenities such as WiFi and flatscreen TVs. Breakfast is included with your stay. A fireside living area features books and board games, along with an outdoor garden and terrace with hammocks. 

Book

The Queen’s Head

Kilometres from the Castle: 16.6 km (10.3 mi)

The Queen’s Head Inn is a country pub and kitchen inn west of Salisbury, open since 1865. Breakfast and WiFi amenities are included in your stay, along with access via their pub to some locally brewed ales and ciders. Located in the heart of the Chalke Valley in Wiltshire, local sights and sounds are just out the door. 

Book

The Pembroke Arms.

Kilometres from the Castle: 22.0 km (13.7 mi)

The Pembroke Arms is a 4-star hotel along the northwestern road out of the town of Salisbury. Built in the late 18th century on the Wilton Estate, the Pembroke features a traditional English pub and breakfast experience. 9 plush rooms feature en suite bathrooms, WiFi, TVs, and iPod docks.

Book

History of Old Wardour Castle 

Old Wardour Castle was built as a secluded luxury home for lords and ladies. Originally constructed by the Lovell clan, under permission from King Richard II, the Arundells later acquired the castle in the 16th-century. By 1644, Wardour Castle became ruined due to siege combat in the English Civil War. 

Built in the 14th-century, the hexagonal (6-sided) design of Old Wardour Castle was inspired by contemporary architectural ideas, especially in France. Secluded in the Wiltshire landscape, the castle was built primarily as a luxury estate with guest suites and not necessarily as a defensive stronghold.

Before its eventual ruin via siege warfare in the 17th century English Civil War, Old Wardour changed ownership many times over its history. The Arundells, some of the most active of the Roman Catholic landowners in England at the time of the Reformation, were the most famous and longest-lasting owners. 

The castle also experienced additions and attempted renovations by its various owners over time, including a banquet hall and a grotto - even after the siege! The material used for some of these renovations included debris from the civil war siege’s battle damage. 

According to Atlas Obscura, the moniker of “Old” is in relation to the fact that a New Wardour Castle was eventually built in the 18th century that the latest owners of Old Wardour moved into. The new castle (which is more like a mansion), unlike the old, isn’t open to the public.  

Nowadays, the Old Wardour Castle’s former amenities are ruins for tourists to see. From the Great Hall to the Banquet House to the Tower, they each tell their old stories to travelers willing to walk amongst them and listen. Alternatively, you can listen to the castle’s free audio tour. 

Timeline

-1392

On the Wiltshire land acquired by John, the fifth Baron Lovell, under permission from King Richard II, construction on the Wardour Castle begins. Materials from the nearby Tisbury greensand quarry were used by master mason William Wynford. 

-1461

After their support of the Lancastrian cause during the War of the Roses, the Lovell family falls. The castle was taken during this year and passed through the hands of several owners over the decades, without incident. 

-1544

The castle was bought by Sir Thomas Arundell of Lanherne. An ancient and prominent Cornish family, the Arundells owned several more estates within Wiltshire at the time. 

-1552

Sir Thomas Arundell, politically aligned with the Protector Somerset, was arrested and charged with conspiring to overthrow the government and murder the earl of Warwick, John Dudley. He was executed for treason, and the castle was confiscated.  

-1570

The castle was bought by Sir Thomas’ son, Sir Matthew Arundell. He would later go on to become a Sheriff and Custos Rotulorum (“keeper of the rolls”; keeper of county records) of Dorset. 

-1643

In May of 1643, During the English Civil War, Sir Edward Hungerford led 1,300 men of the Parliamentarian Army to siege against the castle for their refusal to admit his entrance to search for Royalists. At this time, Thomas Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Wardour, was away on the King’s business, so the castle's defense fell to his wife, Lady Blanche Arundell, and their garrison of 25 men. 

The walls of the castle were set with guns and mines. After five days of threatened destruction, Lady Arundell agreed to a surrender. The castle was placed under the command of Colonel Edmund Ludlow. 

-1644

In November of 1643, Henry, the 3rd Lord Arundell, son of Thomas and Blanche, brought a Royalist force to reclaim the castle from the Parliamentarians. Earlier in the month, Thomas Arundell, his father, died after the Battle of Stratton. With the castle blockaded and the walls being mined and destroyed, the Parliamentarian garrison eventually surrendered the castle back to Arundell control in March 1644. 

However, the castle was now ruined and can no longer be occupied by the Arundells. 

-1769-1776

“New” Wardour Castle construction began in 1769 and ended in 1776. Under the eighth Baron, Henry Arundell, the Arundell family recovered enough to borrow sufficient funds to finance the rebuilding of their ancestral home. The new castle was built just to the northwest of the old castle by Palladian James Paine, a prominent English architect at the time. 

The Old Wardour Castle was now left as an ornamental feature in the Wiltshire landscape. 

-1792

A grotto was built at the castle using stones from its ruins. 

-1951

The castle was listed as a Grade I building and is opened to the public, now managed by English Heritage. 

Old Wardour Castle Occupants

Old Wardour Castle, through its chaotic history, housed some notable English nobles, mainly from the Arundell family:  

  • The 5th Baron Lovell, of Titchmarsh.  
  • William of Wynford, English master mason of the 14th century.
  • Sir Thomas Arundell of Lanherne, of Wardour Castle in Wiltshire. 
  • Sir Matthew Arundell of Wardour Castle in Wiltshire.
  • Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour. 
  • Thomas Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Wardour. 
  • Lady Blanche Arundell, “the defender of Wardour Castle.” 
  • Edmund Ludlow. 
  • Henry Arundell, 3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour.

Images of Old Wardour Castle

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Old Wardour Castle Old Wardour Castle Old Wardour Castle

Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package

Old Wardour Castle Facts

Old Wardour Castle is known as the inspiration for the castle featured in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. 

According to Medieval Wanderings, much of the castle’s destruction from the counter-siege by Arundell forces coming to reclaim the castle during the English Civil War in 1644 was by accident! The Royalist army laying siege to reclaim their castle for their Arundell lords placed a gunpowder mine under the castle walls to merely threaten the Parliamentarian garrison within. 

However, sparks from a cannon caused the explosion by mistake and destroyed the whole southwest side of the structure. The siege ended shortly thereafter in a bittersweet victory. 

The cover of English rockstar Sting’s fourth solo album, Ten Summoner’s Tales, was shot inside the castle walls. 

Old Wardour Castle Q&A

Can You Bring a Picnic? 

Anyone is welcome to eat a picnic on the Old Wardour Castle grounds. There are two picnic tables adjacent to the shop, along with four benches and an expansive grass area for blankets. While there is no restaurant or concession stand located on the castle grounds, there are vending machines and snacks available at the gift shop for your convenience.

Are There Tour Guides at the Castle?

There are no tour guides at the castle. However, a free audio tour is available on-site using your phone or a headset.

Can I Take Photos and Videos at the Castle?

English Heritage welcomes photographers to the castle and hopes the photos will be shared on their own social media profiles.

However, certain areas of the castle are restricted from being photographed, so English Heritage recommends you contact them in advance to check what restrictions may apply. 

Additionally, drone flying isn’t permitted near the castle due to its delicate nature, unless you’re contracted to do so and satisfy the necessary criteria. For more details, you can visit the English Heritage website for Old Wardour Castle.

Location of Old Wardour Castle

Old Wardour Castle is located about 28 km (17.4 mi) from the city of Salisbury, with a population of about 45,000 people. Situated in the county of Wiltshire, the castle is about 164 km (102 mi) southwest of London. 

Old Wardour Castle’s address is Tisbury, Salisbury SP3 6RR, United Kingdom. 

Other Places To Visit Near Old Wardour Castle

Old Wardour Castle isn’t the only place to visit in the area. The surrounding area is rich in history and available for your enjoyment.

Some other potential points of interest for a traveler within 40.2 km (25 mi) of Old Wardour Castle in Wiltshire are detailed below:

Knowlton Church and Earthworks

You can visit a 12th century Norman church placed in the middle of a Neolithic ritual henge earthwork. The pairing of an ancient henge with a church symbolises the English transition from paganism to Christianity. Visitors can explore the spacious area and its rich history. 

The Church and Earthworks is approximately 32.2 km (20 mi) from Old Wardour Castle.

Fiddleford Manor

A 14th century manor, built by William Latimer, Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset. Renovated but still harbors much of its old great hall and solar. The manor can be visited by the public during its opening hours. 

The manor is near the Fiddleford hamlet and is about 27.7 km (17.2 mi) away from Old Wardour Castle. 

Old Sarum

An Iron Age fort with ramparts, traces of a Norman cathedral, interpretative art and now featuring a gift shop! Visitors can climb the ramparts of “Old Sarum” for a panoramic view over the Wiltshire plains. With over 2,000 years of history, you can see how the Romans, Normans, and Saxons all left their mark on this plot of earth. 

Old Sarum is north of the city of Salisbury, approximately 29.1 km (18.1 mi) away from Old Wardour Castle. 

Woodhenge

Visit these concrete markers, called “Woodhenge” - believed to have been built around 2500 B.C. - that were likely meant to hold mysterious religious significance for a tribe of early Man. An atmospheric field of wooden blocks, walk amongst them and imagine our ancestors on this planet. 

Woodhenge is further north of the city of Salisbury, approximately 35.7 km (22.2 mi) away from Old Wardour Castle. 

Longleat Hedge Maze

A tourist attraction opened in 1975, visitors can test their pathfinding abilities in this 2-mile (3.2-km) long hedge maze. Located in Longleat Safari & Adventure Park in Warminster, fun for the whole family is on the menu here. 

Longleat is approximately 37 km (23 mi) away from Old Wardour Castle. 

Silbury Hill

The tallest prehistoric manmade mound in Europe, Silbury Hill is nearly as big as some of the Egyptian pyramids. This neolithic monument is rumored - according to Atlas Obscura - to potentially house an ancient king’s grave, the legendary King Sil. 

A bit of a trek, Silbury Hill is approximately 64.3 km (40 mi) away from Old Wardour Castle. 

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