A day trip to Stonehenge from London

Stonehenge is one of the most recognizable attractions and sights in all of the world – with the massive rocks and stones that are seemingly impossible to move, this prehistoric monument is one of at most-visited sites around the globe. Located in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is the perfect day trip from the bustling city of London. If you are interested in getting out of the city, getting some fresh air, and seeing one of the most recognizable monuments in the world, then finding out the best, fastest, and cheapest ways to get to Stonehenge is key. But how do you plan your day out of the city? If you are not sure of the best way to visit Stonehenge near the local town of Amesbury, then check out his helpful guide!

Stonehenge location

Stonehenge 2007 – By garethwiscombe – https://www.flickr.com/photos/garethwiscombe/1071477228/in/photostream/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13278936

First off, where is Stonehenge? Stonehenge can be thought of as around 2 hours by car from the center of London, 2.5 hours away from Victoria Station by train, and 4 hours from the public coach from the Victoria coach station in the center of the city. Positioned just under 140km west of Victoria Station in downtown London, you can enjoy many public transport links and major roads to get to this incredible sight – and with less than a 2-hour drive, you can easily do this in one day! If you want to get more bang for your buck, then consider adding on some other English sights in the nearby area – if you fancy a city visit after enjoying the English countryside, you can head to Bristol, Oxford, or Windsor, all of which are within 90 minutes of Stonehenge. 

Bus tour

Big bus Tour – By By Geof Sheppard – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34704079

One of the first options that you should consider if you are doing a day out to Stonehenge from London is an organized bus tour. Not only is taking the bus tour one of the cheapest options – since you don’t have to pay for gas and a return bus ticket is fairly inexpensive (especially considering London prices!) – you will not have to worry about navigating the smaller country roads, figuring out the SatNav directions, or paying attention during the drive. The only thing that you have to do is look out the window and enjoy the rolling green hills! 

• You can pay for a 7-9 hour trip from London that includes the drive to the site, a few hours at the location, and the drive back, for around £50 per person!
• Furthermore, you can get between a 30-50% discount if you purchase an attraction pass that includes a bundle of other London cultural sites. Buying a tourist pass can provide you with discounts on numerous things to do in London and the surrounding areas – check out the London City Pass!

Train ride

Diesel unit Twyford – By By Geof Sheppard – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69846645

The next way that you can visit Stonehenge for your day out of the city is by train – although you will not get the convenience of a  bus tour that will have everything planned for you, taking a train provides some more flexibility and vitality if you enjoy traveling on your own. 

• If you’re coming from central London, head to the Waterloo Station and get one of the trains to Salisbury – approximately 15km southeast of Stonehenge’s historical site. From Salisbury, you can catch the Stonehenge bus – the total price of the return train and the return bus should still be less than £50 per person!
• A return trip for the train can be as low as £15 per person during the off-peak days and times, whereas the peak times will be around £45 per person – try and go during weekdays and during non-work times so you can enjoy the flexibility and lower prices. 

Price of the trip: what to expect

The sun behind the heel stone – By By Andrew Dunn – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=196078

Another factor to consider during your day trip to Stonehenge is the price of your trip – how much are you going to spend during the entire day out from London? Although you might end up spending around £100 per person for transportation, the tour, food, and drive, the price is well worth it! After all,  Stonehenge is a national treasure that is world-renowned when it comes to historical landmarks and attractions around the globe. However, if you budget your money correctly, you can keep your sending as low as around £55-£60 while living more frugally. Keep in mind that with all of these transportation options that you STILL have to purchase your day trip ticket to Stonehenge at the door- and this typically costs around £20 for adults! 

Can I save money?

The southwest face of the Heel Stone in May 2016 – By By Heikki Immonen, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60716479

The only way that you can safely save money by going to Stonehenge from London is to take a public bus – although, in our minds, the savings are not really worth the extended travel time and hassle. Instead of having a nice train ride, bus tour, or car ride on your own, it can take between 3 and 3.5 hours to get from London to Salisbury – and once you get here, you’re not done yet. It will take you at least another hour to get from Salisbury to Stonehenge – this 4.5-5 hour one-way hour means that the return trip will be at least 10 hours – and this is NOT including your actual walk-around time at Stonehenge! Not to mention, you still have to pay for your £20 Stonehenge ticket – so are you really saving money via public bus? In our minds, not really – you will still have to pay between £15-£25 for a return bus ticket from London, and you will have to pay around £20 for the entrance ticket – therefore, you would only be saving around £10 for a much, much longer journey.