Old Sarum and the Cathedral
Old Sarum (the castle and ruins) and the cathedral are about 2 miles apart.
From
Salisbury station
How do you want to go?
SAVE UP TO 78%
Shared shuttle
Share with others going to Old Sarum.
from
£3.63
each
Private shuttle
Whole vehicle, up to 8 people.
Premier Taxis Salisbury
£16.75
per vehicle
Old Sarum (the castle and ruins) and the cathedral are about 2 miles apart.
Your shuttle is a licensed private hire car run by Premier Taxis Salisbury.
Why see both
Start at Old Sarum, where the first cathedral stood, then visit Salisbury Cathedral, which replaced it in the 1220s. They are about 2 miles apart. Allow about an hour at Old Sarum, then walk down in about 45 minutes or take a shuttle.
The first cathedral at Old Sarum was consecrated in 1092. By 1217 the clergy were unhappy: relations with the castle garrison were poor, water was short and the hilltop was exposed to storms. The Pope agreed to a move, and foundation stones for the new cathedral were laid in the river valley on 28 April 1220. In 1226 the bishops’ tombs were moved, the old cathedral was abandoned and its stones were reused.
At Old Sarum you can still see the outlines of the original and the extended cathedral in the grass. From the walls, look out for the spire of the one that replaced it.
Photo: Stuart Logan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph
A simple plan
We only run between the station and Old Sarum. If you’d rather not walk, book a shuttle back to the station and walk into the city from there.
1
Morning: Old Sarum. Shuttle from the station, about 6 minutes, from £3.63 each shared. English Heritage says to allow about an hour.
2
Walk down to the city. About 3.5 kilometres, about 45 minutes, by Castle Road, Nelson Road and the High Street. Downhill most of the way.
3
Afternoon: the cathedral. Check the cathedral’s visiting times first; they vary because it is a working church.
At the cathedral
The spire
Britain’s tallest cathedral spire, 123 metres, built between 1310 and 1330.
Magna Carta
The best preserved of the four surviving 1215 originals, and the only one on permanent display.
The clock
Built in 1386, described by the cathedral as the world’s oldest working mechanical clock.
The Close
80 acres, described as the largest cathedral close in Britain.
Questions
About 2 miles. On foot it is about 3.5 kilometres, about 45 minutes.
Yes. Allow about an hour at Old Sarum, the walk or ride down, then the cathedral in the afternoon.
The cathedral says the clergy were unhappy with relations with the castle guards, the lack of water and the exposed, stormy hilltop.
Old Sarum, then walk downhill to the cathedral. It tells the story in order and saves the climb.
Check before you go
Times, prices and opening hours change, so we link to the official pages rather than copy them.
Salisbury Cathedral opening hours
Salisbury Cathedral tickets
Old Sarum opening times and ticket prices
Related pages
Facts last checked: 21 October 2026.