Stonehenge Bus Tour from London

I went to google maps and asked the DRIVE time from London to Stonehenge, Bath, London = 5 hours.

Windsor is a day's visit in itself.
Bath is a days' visit in itself
Stonehenge is a short visit.

Choose a tour based on a reasonable time allotment for the locations visited.

Also check out the day trips from London Walks Company. They have a tour going to Stonehenge: www.walks.com.

The Premium Tours that you have chosen will also be fine.

I did the International Friends tour of Lacock, Bath and Stonehenge. Not nearly enough time in Bath or Lacock...i can't imagine taking on a fourth location. Stonehenge was underwhelming...the site, not the tour. i needed more time in the other two locations.

Evan, Rebecca, Mike...thank you for your feedback, so much to consider right?

I believe the Premier Tour I was looking at is a pretty full day so agreed much of the time is travel time for sure. Guess I just didn't want to get ripped off going with a bus tour company with some dismal reputation that I wasn't aware of. I know a lot of the RS community use these tours and would be able to provide some insight.

Thanks again...

Bill

Bill, a few years back I took a similar day-tour via Gray Line, minus the pub lunch. It was very well orchestrated, with 'just enough' time at each locale for my liking. With no knowledge of Premium's transportation method, if it's comparable to Gray Line it will be a typical size bus/coach with overhead storage and air conditioning. There were probably 25-30 participants on my tour, but ample space to accommodate twice as many. Found the link if you want to compare itinerary, fees, etc:

http://www.grayline.com/tours/london/discover-stonehenge-bath-and-windsor-5863_26/

Have a great time!

Bill,

I just returned from London and took the exact trip from Premium tours. First of all, the schedule is too ambitious to succeed. The trip was delayed due to late comers, which certainly wasn't fair, but the rest of the day was spent trying to catch up for the wasted time. Windsor Castle was full of tour buses, schoolchildren, crowds, crowds, etc. Then to Bath. We were guided down a busy street and the Roman Bath building was pointed out. In order to see the baths, you would have to stand in a long line and pay admission. No time for that. Since we were running late, we drove past the pub in Lacock but did not stop for lunch. By the time we got to Stonehenge, it was late and we were starving. There was a snack bar and some people managed to get something to eat. If you want to see Stonehenge, just go there. Forget the other stops. Not worth it. Unless you want to spend a whole day on a crowded bus. Just my experience. We were told that we would be reimbursed for the lunch portion, but that hasn't happened yet.

Hi Linda,

You know, that's exactly what I was afraid of...loads of tour buses descending on all these locations on a Saturday and ultimately it just becomes a complete waste of time and money. I may just take your advice and get to Stonehenge and back although i hear too that there isn't all that much to do their either.

Thanks

Bill

Have you noticed none of our UK locals have answered this question? They probably come to the Pacific Northwest to see Stonehenge.

Bill,

Our trip to London is next week, so I cannot yet speak from personal experience. However, I did a considerable amount of research online regarding our options to see Stonehenge. We finally settled on a Stonehenge Express tour with Premium tours. You only go to Stonehenge. It is about a 1/2 day trip. This was cheaper and faster than trying to put it together on our own with train and bus transportation. This "express" option is offered by more than one company. I believe Evans Evans also offers it. We wanted to go in the morning, not the afternoon, so Premium was the only choice I found. Hope that helps. Good-luck!

Manya

You know you can take the train to Salisbury, directly from London, and then there is a "Stonehenge Bus" that leaves from Salisbury town center, about 15 minutes to Stonehenge, right?

Rebecca is right. However, for us, it was cheaper to book the bus tour directly from London rather than do the train/bus combo.

Thanks again everyone...I'm truly humbled by you all providing me your experience both good and not so good.

I need to first talk with the kids to see if they still really want to take the time to visit Stonehenge...in other words, is it still top of the list while we are in England prior to the RS tour. If yes, I am inclined to do the out and back 1/2 day bus trip. This way we still get to experience the views on the drive over and we all get some time at Stonehenge. Sure, it may be a bit overrated and even overpriced but it is on their list of things to do and that is all that matters in the end.

Again, thank you so much for your input...

Bill

Kent, speaking as an ex-UK local, I would say that no local goes on a one-day coach trip in their own back yard, they would just go there on their own.
Yes, this sounds like much to much for one day:
Stonehenge is a ½ day including travel. It is a bit underwhelming after everything you have heard about it. You have to imagine how it looked without the busy road going past, and before people had machines to lift things.
Windsor and Bath are a full day ech. Windsor is bets done yourself from London. Bath can either be DIY or a guided tour.

Finnally, "traditional lunch in a 14th century pub". It must be a very big pub to fit in a whole bus load, not really the intimate pub experience.

Wow, your Rick Steves Family Tour looks fabulous!
http://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/family-europe-london-florence

Have a great time!

Rebecca has the right idea if you want to see Stonehenge. Ride the train to Salisbury, take the bus tour (from the train station) to Stonehenge and then use the bus system (on that same bus tour ticket) to see the old cathedral site and Salisbury Cathedral back in town. You can then easily walk back to the train station to be on your way back to London. Bath is a wonderful day-trip in itself, also done easily by train.

Mary, I think you have the right plan and I will also have some control of the speed, duration, and outcome. We should be able to see Salisbury, Stonehenge, and some surrounding sights and still get back to London before dinner and then onto some nighttime fun walking around.

I like that plan and I like the control...thanks for the suggestions.

Bill

If you decide to do it yourself, I don't think anyone has posted a link to the Stonehenge bus from Salisbury.

http://www.thestonehengetour.info/route

Train schedule here:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

PS: Would love for you to do a Trip Report when you get back so we can know how you and the boys enjoyed yourselves. I agree with Rebecca that the itinerary looks really fun!

Hi Pam (et al),

My plan is to take notes and keep a journal for the entire 16 days and happy to report it back here to this forum. At this point, only a few weeks away from our launch, I am mentally exhausted from all the pre-planning investigation even though much of the effort is out of my hands and being managed by RS Tours. Thank goodness I am not paying Google per search, lol.

Anyway, thanks all for your input. It's always good to hear from folks who have been there, done that.

Bill

Interesting impressions regarding the Premier Tours out of London. Sounds like this tour tries to do too much in a single day. What about Mad Max tours out of Bath?? Anyone with first hand experience with that tour company?? We were thinking of a Sunday tour in September.

Bill, aren't you glad you aren't arranging the other 14 days/nights/activities! That is indeed the plus of the RS tours! Plus the really good thing is that the guide will tell the group what time they have to be ready to leave, not you! If your kids have phones with them I suggest they take a picture every evening or morning of the schedule the guide will post for the day/next day so they have it handy.

Len.rybka, you might want to start your own thread, but yes, I have done Mad Max from Bath. I did the whole day trip with Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock and Castle Coombe. It was excellent and well worth the money. The guide/driver was terrific (a high school drivers ed teacher for his day job), very entertaining and interesting. I would spend at least the night before in Bath since you leave around 8 AM. I would suggest the night after the tour in Bath as well altho you get back around 5 so you could return to London if that is your base. Do know that many hotels in Bath have a 2 night minimum on the weekends.

Well Pam, you may recall on another thread last year I was contemplating this journey and planning it myself. I also was including Spain and Germany in my plan along with GB, France, Switzerland, Italy...who was I kidding right. Honestly, I'm just not a party planner not to mention if I planned it, it might look like some military operation covering Europe, lol. In fact, my kids know me well and I am sure they too are happy Dad will be able to sit back and enjoy the vacation instead of trying to run it.

Yes, I am so glad that I decided to go with RS travel for sure. That's a great tip regarding the daily agenda. We head to Boston Logan Airport on the 25th so it's coming fast!

Thanks

Bill

Oh yes, I remember your trying to work out if it would be better to DIY or let Uncle Rick do the planning for you. Having been in your position with family members (brother, SIL, 2 adult nephews) my brother and I opted for RS for our first Italy trip and were SO glad. We all had fun, everyone got to relax and I didn't have to worry about planning a daily itinerary or getting 20-something nephews up and going in the AM. So much less stress!

I know you all are going to have a wonderful time and the cool thing is that the kids really do not know how much fun and how neat this is going to be.

I am adding kinda late but I wanted to throw in my .02. We took Anderson Tours from London. They were advertised as a "student" tour, but it was a small coach with all ages. It was also the most cost effective (98 pounds for 2 people...but this was in 2008). It picked up in London and took us to Stonehenge where we had 45 min-1 hour. I was NOT underwhelmed, I loved it and am so happy we went. It really spoke to me and I was in awe. We then headed to bath were visited the baths (admission included) then we had about 2hours to walk around Bath, we had lunch and did some window shopping, then back on the coach back to London. The coach was really comfortable, I took a long nap on the way there since the pickup was really early. We saw some wonderful countryside too.