If you’re touring the UK and are based in London, then you simply cannot miss Stonehenge off your itinerary. This ancient site is thought to date back to prehistoric times, though scientists can only guess exactly when and how the standing bluestones were placed on Salisbury Plain.
Stonehenge is an iconic British site and even features in a key work by one of the UK’s most famous writers – Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. The place is shrouded in mystery, legends and of course myths, and this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an incredible spectacle to behold.
If you want to take a Stonehenge day trip from London, then this guide has you covered. We’ll outline the best (and worst) ways of getting to Stonehenge from London, including taking an organised Stonehenge tour from London, a private driver-guided tour, using public transport or even driving there.
Whether you’re considering travelling from London to Stonehenge by train or are wondering if there’s a London to Stonehenge bus to take you from Victoria coach station to this part of Wiltshire, this post outlines all the main options.
We also list all the best Stonehenge tours from London so you can pick one to suit you – including those that take in other places like Bath, Windsor and pretty Lacock village in the Cotswolds.
Let’s go to Stonehenge!
How to get from London to Stonehenge
By train
- At-a-glance: Train from London Waterloo to Salisbury train station (1 hour & 25 min); 36 trains per day; + bus (25 mins) or taxi (15 mins) to Stonehenge
Taking a trip to Stonehenge from London by train means catching a train at London Waterloo station. There are over 35 trains per day and the journey time is about one hour and 25 minutes each way. Some services are direct.
You can also depart from Clapham Junction if that’s more convenient. Remember you’ll also need to travel from your hotel to one of those stations. London Waterloo is on the Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo and City lines, and lies just south of the River Thames. Clapham Junction is further down the main line.
Once you reach Salisbury you’ll have to make another journey to get to Stonehenge, as it’s around ten miles away from there. You can choose between catching a tour bus operated by a private company or taking a taxi. The former takes about 25 minutes and the latter about 15 minutes.
While it’s possible to visit Stonehenge from London by train, you can’t get there without involving an additional taxi or bus journey, and it’s difficult to predict exactly what a cab will cost unless you don’t mind phoning in advance to ask.
By coach
- At-a-glance: Bus from London Victoria to Salisbury bus station (3 hours & 15 min+); around 5 coaches per day; + bus (25 mins) or taxi (15 mins) to Stonehenge
You could also arrange your own Stonehenge to London tour by bus. National Express coaches operate from Victoria Coach Station in London, which is about 300 metres from the tube station. That is on the Circle, District and Victoria lines.
This is the most time-consuming way to get from L (London) to S (Stonehenge). In fact the trip again takes you to Salisbury, from where you’ll again need to catch a tour bus or taxi to reach Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain. The drive will take about 15 or 25 minutes once you’re in the cab or on board the bus.
Tickets for National Express coaches are usually cheap, but really that’s the only factor in their favour. The journey time from Victoria to Salisbury is at least 3 hours and 15 minutes, and then you have another trip to make by taxi or local tour bus.
By car
- At-a-glance: Use postcode SP4 7DE for Stonehenge (85 miles, parking free with entry ticket)
At a distance of around 85 miles each way, travel to Stonehenge from London by car can be quicker than public transport. The outward and return trip should take around one-and-a-half hours each, subject to traffic conditions (and finding your way without getting lost)!
There is a car park at Stonehenge. This is operated by English Heritage, and they may ask you to pay for parking if you are a non-member who hasn’t pre-booked a ticket. Once you pay for entry, this charge should be refunded. If you’ll have trouble walking from the car park to the stones, a visitor shuttle bus is provided.
Don’t forget that you’ll need to budget for petrol and the cost of car rental if you plan to drive to Stonehenge from London and don’t have access to a vehicle already. Parking in London can also be a big problem – and very expensive even where it is available. Central London also has a congestion charge.
Getting out of and back into London can also be tricky for those unfamiliar with the city, and traffic levels around the outskirts tend to be notoriously high.
By organised tour
- At-a-glance: Organised day trips from London to Stonehenge include return travel.
You can also opt to include other locations – see below for full details.
The top 6 London to Stonehenge tours
Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath from London
Duration: 11 hours
Destination: Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath & Roman Baths
Departure time: 08:00
Departure point: Bulleid Way, London (near Victoria tube)
What’s included: Transport, tour guide, entry fees
What’s not included: Lunch, extras, hotel pick-up
This 11 hour Stonehenge and Bath tour from London includes entry charges to the Roman Baths, the prehistoric site on Salisbury Plain and Windsor Castle.
After travelling to the sites by air-conditioned coach, you’ll discover the 2,000-year-old Roman Baths and Pump Room, explore the ancient stone circle and see inside the Windsor Castle State Apartments, as well as other parts of the royal fortress and its grounds.
Other historic and fascinating sights to see during the day include St. George’s chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge.
Stonehenge, Bath and the West Country from London
- Duration: 11 hours
- Destination: Stonehenge, Bath & the West Country
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Gloucester Road Underground station, London SW7 4SS
- What’s included: Transport, tour guide, Stonehenge entry fee & audio guide
- What’s not included: Lunch, extras, hotel pick-up, additional entry fees
This Stonehenge and Bath day trip from London takes in the sights of southwest England instead of visiting Windsor Castle and gives you more free time in Bath after a guided tour. This means you can choose what you’d like to do while in the city.
The journey itself is a highlight of this trip, as it takes you across Salisbury Plain and through some of the pretty English villages that are scattered throughout the south western counties of Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset.
A visit to the famous and very photogenic Royal Crescent is included as part of a sightseeing tour of Bath, and at Stonehenge you’ll have around an hour-and-a-half to see the stones, explore the visitor centre – and try to work out how they got there!
Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor Castle and Lacock
- Duration: 12.5 hours
- Destination: Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor Castle & Lacock
- Departure time: 07:45
- Departure point: Victoria Coach Station, London
- What’s included: Transport, guide, Bath tour, Stonehenge & Windsor Castle entry, lunch
- What’s not included: Extras, hotel pick-up, additional entry fees
The idyllic village of Lacock is one of England’s prettiest and has been used as a filming location for movies like the Harry Potter series and TV shows such as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This means you visit two major literary sites in one day, as Stonehenge was featured in Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
Jane Austen also lived in Bath, which is also included on this Stonehenge bus tour from London. With Windsor Castle also on the itinerary, you can see why this is a full day trip lasting over 12 hours!
The tour also includes a traditional pub lunch in Lacock at a pub there that dates back to the 1300s. You’ll also have some free time in Bath to spend however you like, so you can wander up to the Royal Crescent, go to the Roman Baths or visit another place such as the Assembly Rooms or Jane Austen Centre.
Small group Stonehenge, Windsor and Bath day trip
- Duration: 12 hours
- Destination: Stonehenge, Bath & Windsor Castle
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Gloucester Road Underground station, London SW7 4SS
- What’s included: Transport, guide, small group tour, Stonehenge entry
- What’s not included: Lunch, extras, hotel pick-up, Windsor Castle entry
Sometimes exploring as part of a small group is so much better than being part of a bigger crowd. You have more chances of asking the guide to explain things you’re curious about, and can also develop a rapport with your fellow passengers.
This Stonehenge and Bath tour from London also takes in Windsor, and you’ll be given a tour of the town by your expert guide. (Do note that if you choose to enter Windsor Castle you will need to pay the entry fee, as this is not included.)
With a maximum group size of ten you’ll discover Bath and Stonehenge and can also see other sights en route such as the rolling hills, green plains and beautiful villages of the English countryside.
Inner circle Stonehenge tour from London with Bath and Lacock
- Duration: 10.5 hours
- Destination: Stonehenge inner circle, Bath & Lacock
- Departure time: Varies
- Departure point: Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4LH
- What’s included: Transport, guide, Stonehenge entry & private viewing
- What’s not included: Lunch, extras, hotel pick-up, Windsor Castle entry
Stonehenge inner circle tours from London are very popular, and let you see the ancient bluestone circle without the crowds. This one includes a private viewing, so you can see the stones as others don’t. As the name suggests, you get to walk around the inner circle during your visit.
The day also includes Lacock and Bath. You can see the Abbey at the former or treat yourself to a classic English pub lunch in the village. In Bath you can explore the city and take a guided tour around the Roman Baths (this is subject to the options chosen when booking).
Day trip to Stonehenge and Bath from London
- Duration: 11.5 hours
- Destination: Stonehenge & Bath
- Departure time: 08:15
- Departure point: Victoria Coach Station, London
- What’s included: Transport, guide, Stonehenge entry
- What’s not included: Lunch, extras, hotel pick-up
If you want to take a trip from London to Stonehenge to Bath while cutting out Windsor Castle or Lacock, then many visitors opt for this tour because it gives you a lot more time in Bath. It’s the easy way to go from London to Stonehenge by coach while visiting the south western city at the same time.
Both the city of Bath and Stonehenge are UNESCO-listed, so you can imagine the photo opportunities that will crop up during this special day. If you like, you can upgrade this tour to include a visit to the Jane Austen Centre or Roman Baths.
How will you travel from London to Stonehenge?
If you’ve been wondering about London to Stonehenge and whether to drive, take a train, catch a coach or book an organised tour, we hope this post has helped to make the options clear!
A Stonehenge day tour from London gives you the chance to see Bath as well, and being able to add in options like Windsor Castle, Lacock or even exclusive inner circle access only makes the simplest option seem even more attractive.
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