LuvtheGators

Hello,

Is there a way to get to Stonehenge without renting a car and without going through a tour? My hubby and I were looking at a Stonehenge/Bath tour through Golden tours, but I've been to both places before (he hasn't) and would like to explore on our own since I am already familiar with where everything is (especially in Bath) and not be restricted to their timeframes. I did find a train route to Bath so I've got that covered. I don't think there is a direct rail to Stonehenge, but thought I'd check...

Thanks!

Robespierre

Train to Salisbury (SAULSbree).

Bus to Stonehenge.

See if you can work out a bus from Stonehenge to Bath without backtracking: http://www.wdbus.co.uk/htm/ta/sdo-stonehenge.asp

PalenQ

it could still be quicker to backtrack to Salisbury and take the direct train from there to Bath.

Stonehenge buses leave regularly from the Salisbury train station (trains from London Waterloo take about 90 mins i think - www.nationalrail.co.uk for schedules and fares of both rail routes.

bob_brown

i got there easy enough. Train as described. Bus to Amesbury. Walk to the stones. It is only about 2 miles.

Not able to walk. Well, hire a taxi, or find the tour bus in Salisbury that goes there.

I took it once, too, but abandoned ship because it only stopped at the Stones long enough to get a good sniff.

While I was sitting in the pub associated with the Amesbury bus station waiting for the bus back to Sailsbury, a local sat down next to me with his pint.

"Been out to the Stones has yee?"
"Yes I have."
"Wha'd yah think of 'em? Most Yanks are disappointed cause they is so little."
"I enjoyed my trip very much. This is my second visit to Amesbury."
"How'd yah git to the Stones?"
"I walked."
"WALKED? You Yanks aren't much for walking are yee?"

The sterotypical view of Americans: Cannot walk more than 300 yards without collapsing from fatigue, cannot drive manual shift cars, think everyone understands English if it is spoken loudly enough, and that the dollar is the strongest currency on earth.

rickandpat

We did a long day-trip out of London (don't actually recommend it, wished we'd stayed in Bath for a night). Trained to Bath where we hit the highlights, and on way back chose a train that stopped in Salisbury, where there were a number of taxis waiting. Taxi waited for us at Stonehenge to return us to station, and hopped on the next train to London. Easy.

LuvtheGators

Sounds great! Thanks for all the suggestions. I will propose to DH so we can take our time exploring these sites rather than paying money to a tour.

socialworker

The Salisbury Cathedral is also very much worth visiting while you are there. Just a couple of blocks walk from where you get the bus to Stonehenge. I definitely would skip any organized tours. You can come and go on the regular bus on your own timetable.

Bill_I

We have taken the train to Salisbury. Walked over to the Salisbury Cathedral to visit that. Then walked back to the train station to catch the bus to Stonehenge. After spending time there, we then caught a bus back towards Salisbury that made a stop at the base of the Old Sarum ruins before Salisbury was built. We got off the bus there, went up to the ruins & walked thru them for abit & then caught a bus back into Salisbury & took the train back to London.

LCBoniti

bob_brown: That was hilarious!

GreenDragon

I hired Vic from Vic's Taxi, and he took us around the area for the day. We met him at Salisbury Train Station. We worked out ahead of time what we wanted to see - West Kennet Longbarrow, Avesbury Stone Circle, Old Sarum, Salisbury, and then we had a dusk tour of Stonehenge among the stones. He would have included Bath if we wanted to, but we didn't want to rush. He was very friendly, told us all sorts of trivia about the places, and was great... www.vicstaxi.com if you are interested