How to Visit Stonehenge for Free

Updated: November 10, 2023
 By Margaret

While the most direct access to this heritage site will cost you a few quid, there are a few ways to see Stonehenge for free.

But, before we get started, it’s important to note that there are some things at Stonehenge you can’t do for free.

The landmark itself is entirely free to enjoy from afar, but you should plan to spend some money if you want to visit the museum or enjoy a close-up experience.

For more details on museum access and other costs, make sure to read our full post on Stonehenge tickets and discounts.

To be clear, there is absolutely nothing illegal about visiting Stonehenge without paying for a ticket.

There is a heritage trail placed by the government which is free to use and leads directly to the attraction.

A map of the free and legal pathway to view Stonehenge without a ticket.
This is the trail that is free to use and will take you alongside the ticketed path for Stonehenge.

The trail runs parallel to the observation path for paid visitors, and it’s only a few dozen metres away.

You can also walk along the main road until you reach a crossroad near the stones where you will have to turn left.

In the video below, Sinead, a Stonehenge tour guide, explains where the free path is.

You will be viewing the landmark from behind a short fence,

But, you can walk right up to it and enjoy almost the exact same view as you would get with a paid ticket.

The main difference in methods for getting there is deciding where you want to start the hike to reach this landmark. 

This post will cover the three best ways to walk to Stonehenge for free, as well as one option that is usually offered during the Summer Solstice event.

Bus from Salisbury to Stonehenge

If you’d rather have the help of a tour guide, consider reading our post on Stonehenge Tours from London.

Alternatively, if you just need help getting there, you’ll find plenty of helpful information on our post covering how to get from London to Stonehenge.

This post covers the best ways to visit Stonehenge for free.


Walk From the Carpark

The Visitor Centre Carpark is roughly 1.3 miles (2 km) from Stonehenge.

Most people take the shuttle bus from here to the Stones, but you’ll need a ticket for that. 

If you want to avoid as many costs as possible, consider walking from the car park to Stonehenge.

It might be a bit of a trek, but it’s also a somewhat leisurely walk through the English countryside.

The only cost for this method is the price to park your car, which is just £5.

A map from the Stonehenge Visitors Centre Carpark to Stonehenge.
This is the road you must walk down from the Visitor Centre Carpark to reach Stonehenge.

Directions

To reach Stonehenge from the Visitor Centre Carpark, just walk down the road going east until you reach the place where the shuttle bus drops off other visitors.

From here, look for a public access gate to the left.

There is a path that goes around the ticketed area and allows you to get pretty close to the attraction.


Walk From Woodhenge

This is another popular landmark in the area, and the advantage of Woodhenge is that their carpark is entirely free!

Even if the carpark is full, you can still park alongside Fargo Road.

The only downside to this option is that it’s 2 miles (3.2 km) from Stonehenge, which is a bit further than the other carpark.

Most people will find this hike to the stones takes around 60-90 minutes.

A map from Woodhenge to Stonehenge.
This is the path from Woodhenge to Stonehenge. It's a longer walk, and it's much easier to get lost. We recommend using GPS on your phone to make sure you're always headed in the right direction.

When you factor in the time to walk back as well, that means you should plan to set aside 2-3 hours just to get there and back again.

This is fine if it’s your only plan for the day, but you might want to consider another alternative if this is too much travel time.

One nice thing about walking to Stonehenge from Woodhenge is that you can see an old Kings Barrow (burial site) along the way,

This is another English Heritage site.


Directions

Once you’ve taken a good look at Woodhenge, head through the field to the southwest.

You’ll find a gate at the end of the field which lets out onto a path leading west. Follow this path until you reach a crossroad.

At the southwestern corner of this crossroad, you’ll see the Kings Barrow, an English Heritage site.

Keep walking west until you reach a gate at the dead-end road.

From this gate, you should be able to find a path through the field here going southwest.

There is a gate at the end of the field which opens out onto the road just north of the Stonehenge shuttle bus. 

From here, all you have to do is walk south down the road until you reach the path that will allow you to get nice and close to the attraction.


Walk From Fargo Road (Lark Hill)

Map from Fargo Road to Stonehenge.
This is the path from Fargo Road to Stonehenge.

This option takes much less time than the others, as it’s actually somewhat closer to Stonehenge.

Once again, you won’t have to pay anything for parking, so the entire trek is free.

Starting just south of Lark Hill on Fargo Road, there’s actually a path that leads pretty much directly to Stonehenge.

You can park alongside Fargo Road without any issues.

The walk from your car to Stonehenge will take about 15-30 minutes on average, which makes this one of the shortest paths to the landmark.


Directions

Once you’ve found a spot to park on Fargo Road, you’ll need to walk to Willoughby Road and walk south until you reach a more narrow gravel path.

Continue south down this gravel path.

This road should lead directly down to where the Stonehenge shuttle bus drops off its passengers.

There will be a pathway to the left which leads to a viewing location where you can enjoy the attraction.


Visit During Summer Solstice

Stonehenge routinely opens its doors to the public for free annually on June 20th.

If you’re planning to visit during this time period, it won’t cost a thing to come and see the stones as anyone else would.

Needless to say, the most popular times to visit on Summer Solstice is during the sunrise and sunset.

For many people, this is a special time of year to visit the stones.

You’ll typically hear drums all day and night, and there will sometimes be dancing and other fun activities. When the sun comes up, everyone cheers!

If you’re looking for a meaningful experience at Stonehenge, but you want to save some money on tickets, this is probably the best time to visit.


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