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train to salisbury/bath

We are going to be in London this June. We are staying at the Premier Inn London County Hall which is near the Waterloo train station. We are going to Bath after London. But we also want to see Stonehenge, so I thought it might be more efficient to take the train to Salisbury from the Waterloo station and stop on the way to see Stonehenge and then continue on to Bath. However, according to the Loco2 site, I am finding that the tickets from Paddington to Bath (using Two Together) to Bath on Saturday June 22 are $27.50 for both of us but from Waterloo to Salisbury are $65.00. It appears that the tickets from Waterloo are ones that can be used any time that day rather than being advance purchase. But I don't see any other ticket options.

Is there some other way to do this? I had thought that even though the train was slower from Waterloo, we wouldn't have to travel from Paddington so it would make sense. But I did not expect that the shorter, slower journey would be more than twice as expensive.

edited: I just put in Salisbury as stop between London and Bath and the tickets came up as $26.50. Can we buy these and then just get off at Salisbury? It doesn't make sense to me that we can get all the way to Bath for $26.50 but to buy a ticket just to Salisbury is $65.00.

Posted by
911 posts

Might be easier to just get the train to Bath then plan a separate tour to Stonehenge. Several companies offer tours. Salisbury is about 10 miles from Stonehenge so you'll still need to get a bus or taxi (uber) out to the sire and back.

Posted by
9022 posts

You'd have to store luggage if you get off on the way, for one thing. We took a Mad Max tour from Bath to Stonehenge, and glad we did, as it wasn't nearly as interesting as we thought it would be, so did not need more time there. Avebury (also stones) on the other hand, (included in same tour) was worth it.

Posted by
2816 posts

While I agree a tour would be simpler, I have found where you can store luggage and found a bus company that runs from Salisbury to Stonehenge (correct spelling now!). My husband in particular wants the freedom to stay as long as we would like which you don't get on a tour. Stonehenge Tours is basically just a bus service but it runs every half hour both to Stonehenge and back to Salisbury.

But does anyone know whether you can just get off the train before your destination as I was suggesting above (get off at Salisbury but buy ticket to Bath because cheaper)? I realize we would then need to buy another ticket to get from Salisbury to Bath.

Posted by
5466 posts

If you are buying an Advance ticket for a set train & route you are not permitted to stop short in that route, or break your journey & continue.

However, I can find an Advance for just Waterloo to Salisbury on 22 June on the 9:50 or 10:50 for £11.90 for two people with a two together railcard. It would be £19 on the 9:20. (I'd avoid sites that price in dollars as you will be paying for the service.)

Posted by
2816 posts

Marco--what site are you using? I like your prices much better than mine! I was using Loco2 which was recommended by The Man in Seat 61. It gives prices in dollars not pounds.

Posted by
911 posts

I went to Stonehenge years ago and did the standard just walk around it visit and you don't get much out of that. It's not like you get very close to the stones. Went again 2 summers ago and had the hand held audio guide. That made it MUCH more interesting. The visitor center looked interesting but we didn't have much time in it as we'd spent a lot of the time at the stones.

Posted by
5466 posts

Marco--what site are you using?

Chiltern Railways. Not the most obvious one, since it has nothing to do with the route in question, but I happened to be using it for a journey of my own, and I prefer the interface over SWR.

Loco2 can have its uses for travel involving two or more countries, but that doesn't apply here.

Posted by
2816 posts

I will try it! I booked an inexpensive train ride between York and Edinburgh on Loco2 but obviously this has not worked as well.