Best Way on How To Get To Stonehenge From London
Stonehenge is without a doubt one of the most incredible ancient wonders in the world, and should be an absolute must visit if visiting the UK.
I actually visited Stonehenge for the first time back in August this year and was completely in awe of the mysterious stones.
Based in the cathedral city and parish of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England, the magnificent stone site is a special place that will take a day of travel, especially if travelling from central London.
Reaching Stonehenge is far from easy, especially if you don’t drive and are reliant on public transport.
That’s why I’ve put together this blog post, detailing all the possible public transportation options to this magical destination and giving my opinion on what to expect.
Stonehenge from London: Travel Options
So let’s take a look at what are the best travel options to get to Stonehenge from London:
Train 🚆
In my opinion taking a train from London to Stonehenge is your best option, but even this isn’t as straightforward as it may sound.
From London, you’ll need to head to London Waterloo station and catch a direct train from there to Salisbury station. Direct trains run frequently every 30 minutes and the train journey takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
When you arrive at Salisbury train station, you can catch the Stonehenge Tour bus that departs from the station to Stonehenge visitor centre and takes around 35 minutes.
You can choose to buy either a Bus Only fare to the centre or the Tour option which includes a guided tour to the stones.
Pro Tip: if you do decide to visit the Iconic Stonehenge from London via train, then my advice would be to book your tickets online in advance. Tickets will be cheaper (around £35 for a round trip), but if you leave it late then you can expect to pay more for your train ticket.
Bus 🚌
The cheapest way to reach Stonehenge from London is via bus.
To do this, head to London Victoria coach station in London and catch a National Express bus to Salisbury.
Although tickets are cheap (from as little as £7 if you book in advance), the journey will take a lot longer than by train, around 2-3 hours depending on London traffic.
So I would only catch a bus if you’re really strapped for cash and are desperate to see Stonehenge, but expect a long day of travel.
Car 🚘
Of course you can drive from London to Stonehenge and this is a great option if you are renting a car during your visit to London/the UK.
It’s about 90 miles from London to Stonhenge and will take you around 2 hours to reach the site, depending on how bad the traffic is in London of course (which is always bad!).
There are car park spaces available at the visitor centre at Stonehenge which you’ll have to pay for.
Day Tours To Stonehenge From London
Instead of relying on public transport, I actually decided to go on a day tour to Stonehenge as it was more convenient and worked around the same cost as using public transport.
There are several tours from London to Stonehenge that also visit other popular UK tourist historic sites, such as Windsor Castle, the Cotswolds, and the beautiful medieval city of Bath.
My private tour included a 3 hour stay at Bath which is just a 1 hour drive from Salisbury station.
Bath is a really lovely city (one of the best in the UK in my opinion) that is full of incredible architecture and historical sites such as the Roman Baths that it is named after.
Here are some of the best day tours to Stonehenge from London that you may want to consider:
Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London
This is similar to my day tour and one that I can fully recommend. It’s a full day trip lasting 11 hours, and you can expect to spend an hour and a half at Stonehenge before then spending up to 3 hours in Bath.
3 hours for me was the perfect length of time to get to discover this medieval city which is also a Unesco World Heritage site city.
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
Stonehenge & Windsor from London
This is a 9 hour organised tour from London that stops off at Windsor. You’ll have an admission ticket to Windsor Castle, which is the residence of the British Royal family.
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London
As well as visiting Stonehenge and Windsor, this 11 and a half hour day tour also visits another famous English city; Oxford.
On this tour you’ll pass by some of Oxford’s most famous landmarks, such as the Bodleian Library, Christ Church and of course the University of Oxford.
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
England in One Day: Stonehenge, Bath, the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon Day Trip from London
And finally, this 12 hour tour stops off at a couple of other beautiful English sites which are well worth visiting; the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon.
The afternoon Cotswolds tour is regarded as one of the most beautiful english countryside regions in the whole of the UK, and Stratford-upon-Avon is another charming town, famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
How To Get To Stonehenge From London FAQs
Still not sure about visiting Stonehenge from London? Allow me to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this special tourist attraction:
Is Stonehenge Worth visiting?
Yes, I totally recommend visiting the iconic Stonehenge if you’re visiting the UK and have even just a passing interest in ancient history and some of the greatest mysteries in the world.
Some people visit Stonehenge and are somewhat overwhelmed as in reality it is just a circle of stones in a field. But if you’re spiritually inclined and have an interest in ancient sites then you’re sure to find the experience worthwhile.
I was in complete wonderment at what I was seeing, but I can understand how other people may feel overwhelmed.
What to Expect at Stonehenge?
As well as seeing the stones of course, there is also a visitor centre where you can purchase your Stonehenge tickets.
After buying your tickets here (or you can buy them in advance online), you can either catch a bus for a short ride to the stones site which takes just 3 minutes or so.
Or you can decide to walk from the visitor centre to the site, which will take you 40 minutes or so.
The visitor centre has an interesting exhibition which is a good option for families, as well as a souvenir store (which items are quite overpriced in my opinion) and a nice cafeteria that sells a range of hot and cold foods and drinks.
How Much Time Do You Need to Spend at Stonehenge?
In all honesty, I don’t think you need to spend more than an hour at the actual Stonehenge site in total. That may sound like a short amount of time after spending several hours travelling there.
But the truth is it doesn’t take all that long to see the stones and walk around them and take a few selfies of course. It really depends on how much you appreciate the site and want to feel the special energies at Stonehenge.
Afterwards you can grab some food and a drink at the cafeteria at the visitor centre, so in total I would recommend spending 2 hours at the entire place.
Can You Visit Stonehenge without Paying?
It is actually possible to visit Stonehenge without buying a ticket.
There’s a public footpath by the stone site, but it’s a little further away from the stones compared to the path that you can use if you buy a entry ticket.
This would be a little disappointing as you really want to get as close to the stones that you are allowed to, so I would definitely recommend buying a ticket.
Opening Hours Stone Circle (Ticket Price)
The Site is 7/7 open from 09:30 to 17:00.
The online tickets are around $28 a person and purchased the same day at $33.
When is the Best Time to Visit Stonehenge?
I would strongly recommend visiting Stonehenge during a weekday (and ideally not during school holidays) in order to avoid lots of tourists.
The reality is there are always going to be lots of tourists from all over the world visiting Stonehenge whichever day you visit, as it is an ancient wonder of the world after all.
I visited the site on a Saturday (as that was the only day my tour operated) and my experience was slightly less enjoyable because there were so many tourists all cramming to take selfies with the stones.
There’s likely to be less tourists on a weekday, especially if you visit during the off-peak months. The weather in England can also be unpredictable no matter what time of year you visit Stonehenge.
I visited at the end of August and was hoping for a nice sunny day – instead it poured it down! So it’s worth bringing an umbrella along with you if the weather forecast is bad.
Conclusion: How To Get To Stonehenge From London
So that’s everything you need to know about how to get to Stonehenge from London. I would definitely recommend catching a train if you’re reliant on public transport, which is a lot quicker than a bus despite costing a lot more.
There are a lot of interesting day trips from London, but in my opinion visiting Stonehenge is the most worthy of your time.
As long as you plan your journey well in advance and give yourself plenty of time to explore the stones, then visiting this magical site is a must when in London.
It really is an impressive historical site and totally mind boggling how the stones were formed in Salisbury thousands of years ago.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through this blog post and are now inspired to visit one of the most interesting historical sites not only in the UK but the whole world!
Author: Mark Jeavons
Mark, the author of Mj Travel Guides, is from England and started travel blogging back in August 2022 after deciding to combine his love of writing and travelling.
He has continued his travels whenever possible and has visited over 40 countries, mostly as a solo traveller and you can read all about his adventures.
Sabiduri Planning Guide
🧘🏽♀️Where to find spiritual retreats around the World?
The good news is that they can be found in various locations, from secluded places in nature to bustling cities. Find your ideal retreat here!
🚑 Should you buy a travel insurance?
100% YES! — With basic coverage averaging just $50 for your stay, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Travel SafetyWing, one of the biggest names in travel insurance.
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car around the World?
Yes — Renting a car is one of the best ways to see the country you find yourself in because public transportation cannot reach everywhere! I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks both international companies and local companies, so you get the best rates.
📴 Will my phone work abroad?
Maybe — It depends on your company, so check with your provider. If you don’t have a free service, buy a SIM Card once landed in the country.
🛌🏼 What’s the best way to book my accommodations?
For hotels, Booking is the best site, but for hostels, use Hostel World. If you’re considering Flats, don’t forget to also check Couchsurfing, which is free and you stay with locals.
🛩️ What’s the best site to buy flights?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Kayak.
🛂 Do I need a visa for these destinations?
Likely Not — U.S., Canadian, and most European Passport holders don’t need a visa for most of destination around the World. BUT check here for more travel requirements. The majority of travelers will receive a 90-Day stamp Tourist Visa upon arrival.
