Transport from london to Stonehenge

Posted by Stacey (Pinole, CA, USA) on 08/02/17 06:40 PM

Hello Fellow Travelers,

I just booked the Stonehenge Stone Circle Access at 6:45am. I'm very excited about the opportunity to see the stones up close.

My problem is it's on the last day in London before we head to Ireland, so I'm a little overwhelmed on the transportation part. I haven't booked the flight to Ireland yet. Ideally I'd like to check out of the hotel in London, go to Stonehenge, then onto the airport. But since we will have our luggage with us and it's pretty early in the morning I have some obstacles. I'm wondering if we should rent a car or hire a driver?

Any suggestions? I'm open to anything just want to keep it simple and as stress free as possible.
Thank you,
Stacey

Posted by Gone

not here anymore

08/02/17 07:00 PM

631 posts

not a good plan. Stonehenge is a 2 hours drive from central London. My advice is spend previous night in a nearby town like Salisbury which is about 25 minutes away. Book a "private hire" car with waiting time, you can be back at the hotel before breakfast is finished. https://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?keywords=private+hire&location=salisbury

Then the really clever bit. Don't fly from London! The cheap flights are from airports many miles on the other side of London. Use either Southampton or Bristol airports which are much closer. Southampton is about 40 minutes by car - you could use the same driver after he's had his own breakfast, or you can go by train, the airport has it's own station. Or skip breakfast, take the luggage with you to Stonehenge and leave it in trunk then go direct to Southampton airport. Bristol is further but has a wider selection of cheap flights.

Posted by Stacey OP

Pinole, CA, USA

08/02/17 07:17 PM

58 posts

Thank you, this is very informative :)

Posted by epltd

08/02/17 09:03 PM

3122 posts

I agree, it would be wisest to stay overnight somewhere near Stonehenge. Salisbury is the nearest town with a reasonable level of tourist charm. There are also a few motels closer, in the area of Amesbury & Cholderton. It's crucial not to be late for your 6:45 time slot, and to make that from London you'd have to be up way, way before dawn and check out with the night clerk, then navigate in the dark with significant stress at every intersection and roundabout.

Your luggage should be safe in the boot of your car at Stonehenge. During "stone circle access" hours the Stonehenge car park is accessible only to those with authorization, such as you with proof of your 6:45 booking.

If you want breakfast afterwards, I believe Park House Motel in Cholderton serves a good full English breakfast until 8 AM or so. You don't have to be a guest in the motel to eat breakfast (at least this was the case 2 years ago). If you have extra time after breakfast before you need to head for the airport, go see Woodhenge and Durrington Walls before leaving the area.