This post covers how to reach Stonehenge from London.
I'm Margaret, a guide with Free Tours by Foot London and in this post I am going to give you all the information you need to visit Stonehenge. Here I will include public coaches, train, and organised bus tours, as well as tips on how to plan your day.
As a London walking tour guide, how best to get to Stonehenge from London is amongst the most frequently asked questions on my tours.
Many of the guides I work with also lead group tours to Stonehenge, so I know a lot about the subject.
In the video below, Sinead, another tour guide with Free Tours by Foot London, takes you on a virtual trip to Stonehenge.
HOW FAR IS IT?
Stonehenge is located approximately 87 miles (140 km) from Victoria Station in Central London.
The ride to this historic sight takes less than 2 hours by car or organized bus tour, approximately 2 1/2 hours by train, and roughly 3-4 hours by public coach.
Use this Google Maps link to help plan your journey with directions. There are parking facilities on site.
Here are a few additional locations you might want to visit before or after making a trip to Stonehenge:
- Bristol – Stonehenge: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Bath – Stonehenge: 1 hour
- Oxford – Stonehenge: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Windsor – Stonehenge: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Due to their proximity, it’s fairly easy to squeeze in a stop at one or more of these UNESCO World Heritage sites if you are starting from and returning to London.
If you’re curious about visiting any of the above attractions, please read our section about other nearby destinations for more details.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
If you decide to go to Stonehenge on your own, it should be noted that once you arrive at the Visitor Centre, you will have to pay for your own Stonehenge ticket (currently £25.40, although there is a deal if you book in advance through the English Heritage website).
Tickets are timed, so be sure to purchase them in advance.
If you add this to a train or public bus ticket (outlined below), it will cost you at least £80.00/adult including entry to the site, assuming you travel off-peak.
This is why I recommend taking an organised bus tour from London...
However, there is a trip hack.
If you are really on a budget or just want to have a less touristy experience, there is a way to visit Stonehenge for free, though you won’t be able to access the visitor centre and museum.
In this case, you would save the admission fee and potentially make taking the train the most economical option.
HOW TO GET FROM LONDON TO STONEHENGE BY TRAIN
If you're wondering how to reach Stonehenge without a tour, traveling by train is relatively fast and can be the most economical and flexible option.
However, unlike organized bus tours or traveling by car, there are no direct trains to Stonehenge which makes getting from London to Stonehenge by train a little complex.
What is the Closest Train Station to Stonehenge?
Trains depart from London Waterloo Station approximately every 30 min and arrive in the City of Salisbury which is 10 miles (16 km) south of Stonehenge.
Get train timetables or purchase a ticket to Salisbury (affiliate disclosure).
From Salisbury, you will need to transfer to the Stonehenge Bus (£19.50) or take a taxi to get to the historic site.
If you have 3 or 4 people, a taxi or an Uber X is probably the cheaper way to go.
Train ticket prices from London to Salisbury vary depending on the date and time of departure and how far in advance you purchase them.
How Much is a Train from London to Stonehenge?
Expect a round-trip ticket to cost as low as £34.80 (off-peak) up to £46 (peak) and take around 90 min.
Add on another 30-60 minutes to transfer to the bus to Stonehenge and arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage site.
With that in mind, travelers should prepare for a total travel time of 7 hours if planning to visit Stonehenge via train from London and back.
However, you’ll probably want to add an hour or two, at least, to visit Salisbury itself.
Purchase a train ticket to Salisbury (affiliate disclosure).
Then, of course, you need to repeat the process in reverse to get back to London from Stonehenge.
Total Cost to Visit Stonehenge by Train
- Up to £35.00 for a return ticket to Salisbury
- Up to £19.50 for a return bus ticket to Stonehenge
- Another £25.40 for admission to Stonehenge
- Total Price: £79.90 per person
- Total Time: 6-7 hours
HOW TO GET FROM LONDON TO STONEHENGE BY BUS
Travelling by public coach bus to Stonehenge is always the slowest way, but sometimes could be the cheapest.
However, in my opinion, the savings you may make by travelling from London to Stonehenge by bus aren’t usually worth it.
Return ticket prices for this public transport range from £19-£25 depending on when they are purchased and there are many departures daily.
National Express offers a majority of these services.
You can expect your trip by public coach to take approximately 3 hours to get to Salisbury, but you should factor in another 30-60 minutes to get to Stonehenge from Salisbury.
Travelers from London should plan on setting aside at least 10 hours if they plan to visit Stonehenge by public coach.
It should be noted that once you arrive at Stonehenge, you will have to pay for your own tickets (currently £25.40)
The transfer from Salisbury to Stonehenge costs £19.50 return. If you add this all up, it will cost you at least £65.00/adult.
If you are really on a budget, there is a way to visit Stonehenge for free, though you won’t be able to access the visitor center and museum.
If you’re interested in traveling here by public coach, head to London Victoria Coach Station and purchase a bus ticket to Salisbury.
Then, of course, you need to repeat the process in reverse to get back to London from Stonehenge.
Total Cost to Visit Stonehenge by Bus
- Up to £25.00 for a return ticket to Salisbury
- Up to £19.50 for a return bus ticket to Stonehenge
- Another £25.40 for admission to Stonehenge
- Total Price: £69.90 per person
- Total Time: 7-8 hours
HOW TO VISIT STONEHENGE WITH AN ORGANISED TOUR
For most travellers from London, this is my recommended pick for visiting Stonehenge, and I even wrote a post that details bus tours to Stonehenge.
Below are the 3 reasons why you should consider an organised bus tour.
1. Cheapest and Fastest Option
First, not only is it the fastest option and relatively hassle-free, it's often the cheapest option as well!
Since these tours will take you directly to Stonehenge, there’s no need to travel to Salisbury (which is the case with the public train and public coaches).
Day tours from London to Stonehenge can take anywhere from 5-7 hours on average, which is much shorter than some of the other options, as you will discover below.
Entrance fees also include entry to the UNESCO World Heritage site, so you don't need to worry about choosing the right entry time.
You can also expect your tour guide to provide a lot of historical information about the attraction.
While some of these outings are a full-day trip, others are a half-day tour.
Another nice thing about this option is that most of these companies offer an air-conditioned coach.
So, if you're planning to visit during the warmer months, you won't have to worry about getting too hot (despite what people think, it DOES get hot in the UK)!
Tickets for a Stonehenge tour bus are typically around £55-£65 per person.
As you will discover in the following sections, this is often the cheapest option.
2. It's Free with a Tourist Attraction Pass
If you are considering purchasing a tourist attraction pass for your time in London, several passes already include one of these Stonehenge tours for free.
A tourist attraction pass simply bundles together popular tours and attractions into one ticket price, with savings of up to 55% off of retail prices.
Here are the two passes currently offering savings on Stonehenge tours:
For more details about these options, make sure to read our full post covering which London tourist pass is best.
3. It's the Only Way to Visit at Sunrise or Sunset
Lastly, if you are planning on visiting Stonehenge at sunrise or sunset, you will need to travel with an organised tour.
You can't visit this monument on your own at these premium times.
During these times and with special tickets, you might also have the opportunity to get closer to the stone circle or even walk around the interior.
Additionally, several tour companies offer day trips to Stonehenge that include additional destinations such as Bath, Oxford, and Windsor.
Tickets for those combo packages run from £65 - £125 on average and you can expect journey times of at least 10-12 hours to enjoy.
Total Cost for a Stonehenge Coach Tour
- Ticket directly to and from Stonehenge included
- No need for a return ticket from Salisbury to Stonehenge
- Admission to Stonehenge included
- Total Price: £50-£55 per person
- Total Time: 5-7 hours
As you can see, although you might be able to save some money by taking a public coach, you won’t save much – and it’ll actually take you more time to do it that way.
An organised bus tour may cost a few more pounds at most, but you’ll save a lot of time by going directly to Stonehenge, and it’s still cheaper than taking a train.
You also won't need to worry about getting back from Stonehenge to London or trying to make train times, as the coach will take you right back from where you started.
CAN YOU EXPERIENCE STONEHENGE IN A DAY?
A lot of people wonder whether or not this landmark is too far from London to see and experience everything in just one day, and the answer to that question is yes!
If you take an organized bus tour, you can leave in the morning and be back in London by the evening.
For more details about this option, please read our post about Stonehenge-organized bus tours.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT STONEHENGE?
Stonehenge welcomes visitors year-round, offering unique experiences each day and every season. If you're like many who prefer a quieter setting, early morning or late afternoon visits are ideal.
These times typically have fewer people, allowing a more peaceful encounter with this ancient wonder.
For photography enthusiasts, mornings are magical. The way the light dances around the stones creates a breathtaking scene.
However, don't underestimate the allure of sunset – the golden hour casts a spectacular glow, perfect for capturing memorable photos.
Season-wise, each brings its charm to Stonehenge. While the Summer and Winter Solstices draw crowds fascinated by the site's historical significance with the seasons, winter is quieter if you prefer a more solitary visit.
Spring and autumn strike a lovely balance, offering pleasant weather and moderate crowds, making them popular choices among regular visitors. Summer, of course, is the peak season, buzzing with energy and activity.
OTHER NEARBY DESTINATIONS
If you want to see more than just Stonehenge while you’re traveling outside of London, there are some popular destinations nearby that you can include in your trip with ease.
OXFORD
This historic college town has a lot of notable sites to see, and it’s also the filming location of notable TV shows like Downton Abbey as well as the Harry Potter films.
In addition to various walking tours of Oxford, there are also several museums and libraries you can visit for free in the area.
Oxford is only 1 hour and 20 minutes from Stonehenge, so it won’t take much more time to make a stop here.
WINDSOR
Known as the site of Windsor Castle, this is an excellent location to visit if you’re interested in the history of England and want to see more of the English countryside.
There are guided tours and other fun activities to enjoy at Windsor Castle and throughout the area.
Windsor is about 1 hour and 20 minutes outside of Stonehenge, making it pretty easy to visit while you’re visiting the nearby landmark.
BATH
Not only is this the historic site of the Roman Baths and several other notable locations, but it’s also a great place to visit a spa!
Visitors in Bath can also enjoy several different types of guided walking tours and boat tours which cover both the history and the culture of this destination.
There are a variety of other sites to see in this area, including the Royal Crescent townhomes and Bath Abbey.
The city of Bath is only 1 hour away from Stonehenge, so it’s actually one of the easiest places to visit if you’re already planning a trip to this part of England.
BRISTOL
With several great museums and historic landmarks to see, this is a pretty popular destination which is fairly close to Stonehenge.
Whether you want to see sites such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, discover the street art of Bristol, or perhaps even see a show at the historic Anson Rooms, there’s plenty to do in this city.
Bristol is roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes outside of Stonehenge, and it’s fairly easy to make a stop here while taking a trip to see this landmark.
STAY NEAR STONEHENGE OVERNIGHT
Whether it gets too late or you just want to spend more time at this historic site, there are several hotels in Salisbury and other surrounding areas near Stonehenge.
While these hotels don’t always provide transportation to and from the landmark, you can always either drive there yourself or head to the Salisbury train station to take a bus there.
One advantage of staying in this area is that you might have some extra time to do sightseeing here as well. Here are a few of the most noteworthy attractions and highlights in and around Salisbury:
- Old Sarum
- Salisbury Cathedral
- Salisbury Museum
- Mompesson House
- Wilton House
- Cotswolds
- Arundells
- Avebury
- And more!
TIPS FROM THE TOURISTS
Bus Tour with Inner Access
If you're looking for an intimate experience at Stonehenge, one of our Facebook Group members recommends the bus tour with Stonehenge inner access.
Her visit also included stops at the Roman Baths and the quaint village of Lacock, making for a fulfilling day. She found the experience so enriching that she's planning a private tour to include Stonehenge again for her kids, along with Avebury and other attractions.
Beth points out that for a group, a private tour can be cost-effective and allows for a personalized itinerary, tailoring the day to your interests.
Mystical Ley Lines Exploration
Visitors from our Facebook Group have had remarkable experiences combining a day tour of Stonehenge with Salisbury and the historic Magna Carta.
An exciting addition mentioned is exploring the mystical Ley lines around the Avebury henge, which adds an element of awe to the trip. Another visitor highlights Stonehenge as an exceptional destination, suggesting it offers more fascination than some of the usual tourist spots in London.
They point out that the memories children take home from such historic sites are invaluable, underscoring the importance of choosing destinations that offer both educational and cool factors.
Cost-Effective Travel Alternatives
For those looking to reach Stonehenge on a budget, members of our Facebook Group suggest a less direct route that can offer significant savings.
Starting with the Elizabeth line to Hayes and Harlington, followed by a transfer to the line from there to Reading, where you can then pick up a train to Salisbury.
It's a savvy option for the cost-conscious visitor, though it's recommended to book ahead and stay informed about potential rail strikes that could affect travel plans.
Sunrise Experience by Coach
Considering a trip to Stonehenge to catch the sunrise? Members of our Facebook Group point out that while you can take a train from Waterloo to Salisbury and then a local bus or taxi, for those special early hours, an organized coach tour might be the way to go. Companies like Golden Tours or Evans Evans, which depart from Victoria, make it convenient if you’re staying nearby. This way, you won’t have to worry about the train schedules and enjoy the early morning serenity of Stonehenge without the hassle.
Stonehenge in an Hour
Travellers from our Facebook Group have found that an hour or so is sufficient to appreciate Stonehenge, with early morning visits allowing for a less crowded experience.
The same visitors have enjoyed combining their trip with visits to Windsor Castle and Bath, finding the Roman ruins particularly compelling.
They appreciated the leisurely pace of the tour which allowed them to savor each site without feeling rushed. Windsor emerged as a favourite, with its charm making it a place they'd love to revisit.
RELATED POSTS:
