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Historic Hotel in Salisbury | Red Lion Hotel
The Red Lion Hotel has been welcoming guests for over 800 years, holding the distinction of being Europe's oldest purpose-built hotel. Our historic establishment offers a unique blend of medieval charm and modern comforts, located in the heart of Salisbury city centre just a five-minute walk from Salisbury Cathedral. We provide 60 feature bedrooms, award-winning afternoon tea for two at 22.50, and a traditional restaurant serving locally sourced cuisine since the 13th century.

Our venue accommodates weddings for up to 120 guests and features five versatile meeting rooms with capacities ranging from 5 to 110 attendees. The hotel combines centuries of hospitality experience with contemporary amenities including high-speed Wi-Fi, accessible facilities, and secure parking options.
Services
Hotel accommodation Wedding venue Dining services Meeting rooms Afternoon tea Event hosting Conference facilities Local tours Room service Parking facilities
Highlights and features
  • Over 800 years of continuous hospitality experience
  • Located just 5 minutes from Salisbury Cathedral
  • Award-winning afternoon tea at 22.50 for two
  • Wedding venue for up to 120 guests with packages from 3,750
  • Five meeting rooms accommodating 5-110 attendees
What people say
Excellent service Helpful staff Prime location Exceptional food Historic charm
Services
Hotel accommodation
Our 60 feature bedrooms combine historic charm with modern comforts. Each room features contemporary amenities within a medieval setting. Guests enjoy proximity to Salisbury Cathedral and city centre attractions with easy access to transportation links.
Wedding venue
Licensed venue hosting weddings for up to 120 guests. Packages from 3,750 include ceremony, reception, and accommodation. Two ceremony suites and courtyard photography locations available with expert planning support.
Dining services
13th-century restaurant serving locally sourced cuisine. Offers afternoon tea at 22.50 for two, seasonal menus, and special event dining. Features the historic Vine Restaurant and 1220 Bar with courtyard seating.
Meeting rooms
Five versatile spaces accommodating 5-110 delegates. Includes modern AV equipment and dedicated event managers. Packages combine room hire with catering and overnight accommodation options for business gatherings.
Event hosting
Venue for Christmas parties, baby showers, and special occasions. Capacity up to 120 guests with tailored packages. Includes murder mystery nights and Masonic events with private facilities and catering.
Questions
What historical significance does the hotel have?
Established in 1220, we're Europe's oldest purpose-built hotel with continuous operation. Original features include wattle and daub construction and beams from the 13th century.
Are wedding packages available?
Yes, packages from £3,750 for 50 guests include ceremony, reception, and accommodation. Options include our Marlborough Room and Vine Restaurant with courtyard access.
What dining options exist?
We offer afternoon tea at £22.50 for two, 1220 Bar with traditional fare, and Vine Restaurant serving locally sourced cuisine in a historic setting.
Can I host business events?
Five meeting rooms accommodate 5-110 delegates with modern AV equipment. Packages include day delegate from £27 and overnight options from £140 per person.
What parking facilities are available?
On-site parking at £20/night (reservation required) and adjacent public car park. Located in city centre with easy access to transportation links.
Are accessibility features provided?
Yes, we offer accessible rooms, ground floor facilities, and staff assistance to accommodate guests with mobility requirements.
Videos
Reviews (7)
Craig H.
Jun 07, 2022 Report
I don't even know where to start. Amazing historic location (check out the plaque in the pcs section). Positives - Location is amazing with plenty of parking in the lot just behind. - Close to great the Grand Cathedral, shopping, pubs and food. All walking distances. - Stonehenge and other historical site are a short drive away. - People were friendly and engaging. - Still has that old world charm inside and in the courtyard (see the pics) - Onsite restaurant (we didn't eat there, but it looked very nice) - Great lobby area to have a team, coffee or even some snacks. Concerns - Rooms are no frills old school. not horrible but need a few upgrades. - VERY confusing to get to rooms. Reminds me of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.

I think we had 16 or 17 actions to find our room (i.e. stairs, turns, go thru doors, etc.) - Bar was poorly staffed. Not only was there almost no one in there to make drinks, but the few time they were, they didn't know how. Struggled with even wine pours. We will definitely stay there again when we visit the area. All of the positives far outweighed the minor concerns to us.
Mandy Mitchell
Jun 06, 2022 Report
Went here for an afternoon tea with my Sister, sat in the courtyard to eat, which was very pleasant. Service was very good, staff polite and friendly. The sandwiches and cakes were all very nice, with 3 types of sandwiches, and 4 mini cakes, a meringue and, of course, a scone with jam and clotted cream. If I had a small complaint it would be that the cakes were a bit chocolate heavy (chocolate coated macaroon, chocolate sandwiched meringue and a chocolate encased fresh cream).I would have preferred less chocolate and something like a fairy cake.
Jen Mitchell
May 25, 2022 Report
A great 3 night stay over Easter. We were a big group of cyclists. The staff were amazing and the food was excellent. Thank you all who helped to make it a great break. Even the weather was kind to us. Would love to come again
Sara Carper
May 22, 2022 Report
We stopped a the Red Lion hotel to enjoy an afternoon tea after a visit to Stonehenge and had a wonderful experience! The staff was very kind to let us come earlier than the reservation as our travel plans were changed last minute due to a train cancellation. Despite this, we had the perfect tea at the hotel. The outdoor dining was like something out of a movie - it was so pretty with all the ivy on the wall. I definitely recommend stopping here for a bite, and next time we're in town we would definitely plan to stay at the hotel for the night!
Gina Beresford
May 09, 2022 Report
We were given a voucher for afternoon tea for two as a gift at Xmas. So today Sunday 23rd May we used said voucher. Our drink of choice was tea which was okay but both milk Jugs had very visible chips in and cracks through both. In my opinion anything chipped goes straight in the bin so being a Hotel I thought this would have also been the case. The food looked good, but on opening finger sandwiches the filling was minimal to say the least.

Sweet delights.just as we were going in for the sweets I noticed a very long hair amongst the food. I returned the plate and explained. We were given an apology and a " fresh " plate of food. The scones I have to say were delightful and bread fresh. Asked for more tea and yes low and behold the fresh Jug of milk was the same as the two still in front of us.chipped with a crack straight through it.

We are not the type of people that ever complain in restaurants but we felt it our rights to do so on this occasion. I wish I could post photo's here to show the sandwich filling( or lack of ) and the milk jugs.!
Teresa Duncan
May 07, 2022 Report
This is at first sight, a lovely, historic hotel located in downtown Salisbury. Parking is limited, but it does have a small parking area located very close to the hotel (for a reasonable daily fee).The rooms were okay, just hot, as there's no a/c and only one window would open about 3 inches. As for the dining experience/facilities, this is where the biggest problems are. The kitchen/wait staff would leave the area unattended most of the time, choosing to be in the kitchen talking/laughing. Save yourself time and frustration and eat out.
Mantras & More
Apr 19, 2022 Report
Amazing hotel, fab location, gr8 afternoon tea but the attn and care from the staff was impeccable. Highly recommend. We travelled with our 4 yr old n 15 yr old and it was for a special birthday. Really made our time memorable. Thank you To all staff. Gr8 parking. Local restaurants yards away plenty of choice of food