Would like advice/experience with visiting Stonehenge.
Is it possible as a day trip from London? How much time to allow at the Stonehenge site?
or
Our tour begins in Bath. Better to get to Bath a day early and then tour Stonehenge?
Recommendations on a tour company and logistics for Stonehenge.
Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts.
We did Stonehenge while visiting Salsbury. We rented a car and spent a few days in SW England.
If you don't want to rent a car, then look for a tour that will take you or any of these options:
Getting to Stonehenge from London is easy and there are several ways to travel.
By train
Salisbury is the nearest train station. There is a direct line from London Waterloo which takes around 1h30m. From Salisbury you can take a taxi from the station (12 miles/19 km) or take the Stonehenge Tour Bus which departs hourly from the railway station forecourt. You have the option to stop off at Old Sarum if you choose to take the bus.
By coach
There are many companies offering coach tours from London. Many of these depart from London Victoria 364 days per year. There are also small group and private hire options available to book online.
By car
Journey time from central London is around 2 hours. We encourage you to car share where possible. Stonehenge is located just off the A303. For Sat Nav use SP4 7DE and follow the brown and white tourist signs to the Visitor Centre.
Parking
There is a parking charge to non-members. We recommend downloading the Pay By Phone app in advance. English Heritage Members should display their membership sticker clearly in their car window. Associated Members (CSSC, NT England, CADW & Historic Scotland) also park free of charge but will need to display an exemption in their window which can be requested at admissions.
Are you going on the Rick Steves Best of England tour? Asking since it starts in Bath.
Yes, for sure if you have the chance I'd do Stonehenge from Bath instead of from London...much closer. I have done a Mad Max tour of Stonehenge from Bath but it also included Avebury which if you are on the Best of England tour is one of their visited sites.
You can do Stonehenge from Salisbury easily. IF you have not booked airfare and have the opportunity to add 2 days on the front end you could easily go to Salisbury for 2 nights and do Stonehenge on your full day using public transit from Salisbury. There is a shuttle bus from Salisbury (City Center and Train Station) out to the stones that runs most of the day and is very easy to do. Then take the train from Salisbury to Bath on the day your tour starts. It's about an hour's train journey and you don't need to book ahead.
I'm not a fan of the Stonehenge trips from London. Just too far to travel on a bus to get there if you have options.
We went Stonehenge from Bath as a half day trip. The company we went with basically provided transportation. They dropped us off and told us where to meet them hours later. It worked well for us.
It was in 2019 and I can’t remember the company name any more. We made arrangements after we arrived in Bath I know.
I would go ahead and move on to Bath a day early and then you will be situated for your tour.
It is an easy trip to Stonehenge from there. You take a one hour train ride to Salisbury. Make time to see the Cathedral, Magna Carta and the charming town. Then there is a 20 minute bus to Stonehenge that leaves regularly and just serves Stonehenge.
Our tour begins in Bath. Better to get to Bath a day early and then tour Stonehenge?
Yes. This has been thoroughly answered above by Pam and other forum members.
However, I'd like to add...
You can take a coach (bus) directly from Heathrow to Bath upon arrival. There's no need to go into London and back out again, unless you just want to.
I would add two days in Bath before your tour starts. This will allow you to take your (Mad Max) trip to Stonehenge (mentioned by Pam), plus have a day to walk around Bath on your own, exploring. You may wish to go inside Bath Abbey. The RS tour does a walking tour of Bath, but does not include going inside the Abbey.
There's a lot to see in Bath; the Holburne Museum, The Museum of East Asian Art, The Costume Museum, Pulteney Bridge, lovely parks, The Museum of Bath at Work, The American Museum, just to scratch the surface.
If you're taking the Rick Steves Best of England tour, it ends in London so you could build on extra days there then to explore more of London.
Bath Abbey is worth a visit. The tour of the baths I thought was longer than it needed to be, and once you start you are stuck.
