Getting to Stonehenge
 

I called English Heritage and got a special access tour of Stonehenge at 8:00 am while we are in London. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to get to Stonehenge? The train from Waterloo leaves at 6:00 am but it is $100 RT per person and we still have to catch a taxi in Salisbury to get to Stonehenge. Is renting a car for one day my best bet? We will be staying at the London Hilton on Park Lane, does anyone know of a rental car agency near this location? Any other suggestions would also be considered.

Congratulations, how exciting!<BR><BR>There is a bus from Salisbury to Stonehenge, you won't need a cab.<BR><BR>Train fares for "day return" (i.e., round-trip) tickets are much lower than that $100 fare you got. Nevertheless, renting a car would likely be your most economical option, and certainly the most flexible. <BR><BR>Whether you drive or take the train, you should plan on spending some time in Salisbury, espeically visiting the cathedral, which IIRC has an original copy of the Magna Carta and the tallest spire in England.<BR><BR>If you drive, you'll also have the option of visiting other ancient sites in the area like Avebury and Old Sarum.

Transport to and around Stonehenge:<BR><BR>http://www.savestonehenge.org.uk/stonei.html

It’s going to be pretty difficult to get from London to Stonehenge by 8 am. No morning train will get you there on time. If there was a train it would be about &pound;25 for a day return ticket.<BR><BR>All the major car rental companies have depots in central London (many around Marble Arch, which I think is close to your hotel) but since no car rental offices in central London will be open early enough, you will either need to rent the car the previous afternoon and leave about 5:30 am or to make your way to Heathrow by 5:30 am to rent the car there.

I checked the BritRail web site and there is a 6:05 am train that gets into Salisbury at 7:30 am. That gives us 30 minutes to catch a taxi to go 10 miles to Stonehenge. I just thought the price of $100 RT was kind of expensive. If it is only 50 pounds or so, that seems more reasonable. The bus service from Salisbury to Stonehenge does not start running until 8:45 am, so that is why we will need a taxi. Thanks for the input.

Mark, I don’t know what the Brit Rail site is, but the South West Train site, which operates the trains from London Waterloo to Salisbury, shows the current first train schedule as:<BR><BR>Monday to Friday, dep Waterloo 05:35, arr Salisbury 08:01, with a change in Basingstoke<BR>Saturday, dep Waterloo 05:35, arr Salisbury 07:34, with a change in Basingstoke<BR>Sunday, dep Waterloo 09:03, arr Salisbury 10:26, direct<BR><BR>Here is the website: http://www.swtrains.co.uk/traintimes/pdfs/p20w01.pdf<BR><BR>You may want to re-confirm the Brit Rail information, so as not to be scrambling at the last minute.

Sounds like your train options would be cutting it close. What if the train runs a little late, or tehre aren't cabs readily available at that hour? Have you considered staying overnight in the area? There's lots to see in Salisbury. Your hotel in London might let you check out for one night, and might even hold your extra luggage for you.

I got my information from the RailEurope web site. I will do some checking into the timetable and prices.<BR>Thanks for the heads up.

If you drive, it's relatively easy - take the M3 from London (heading for Portsmouth/Southampton) and then take the turn-off for the A303 and follow that - Stonehenge is just off the A303. Total driving time is about 2.5 - 3 hours, so you will need to leave pretty early.<BR><BR>I'd go for staying in Salisbury the night before, if you can - have a look round the town the day before, go to Stonehenge and then head back to London.