Hi, <BR><BR>I just found the following info on another site, and now have private access arranged. You too can do it.<BR><BR>Bruce<BR>Winnipeg, Canada<BR><BR><BR>Special access (Private Access Scheme) can be gained directly from English Heritage, you do not need to use a tour to get this. I used this to visit, and yes touch, the stones just a few weeks ago. There were a total of 5 people, including myself, within the circle at this time. The admission is L10. These visits are before or after the regular operating hours. My visit began at a beautifully frosted 8AM. <BR><BR>English Heritage: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk <BR><BR>Stonehenge: http://www.stonehengemasterplan.org/ <BR><BR>Stonehenge phone: 01980 624715 (information line) <BR><BR>Nobody has a *special* relationship with English Heritage to provide this as part of a tour and if they claimed so they were not being truthful. Essentially, any tour that wanted to book a block of tickets for a specific time and day can do so providing there is space available, as they do limit the number of people accessing the circle at any one time. <BR>

Thanks you so much for posting this info! I've always been reluctant to advise people to book with a commercial tour company (Astral, etc.) to gain entrance to the inner circle. Guided tours can be fine - but doing it independently gives one so much more flexibility.

Actually, my wife and I are going to England mid April and part of the time we will be driving around Bath and The Cotswolds. I had e-mailed Astral to see if, since we were going to be in the area and wouldn't need the bus tour, lunch, etc., they would consider giving us a break on the tour cost, L45 I think, and we would just need them for the access part. They said no deal, that even if we met them at the gate they would still charge us full price.<BR> <BR>Well, nanana poopoo on them. <BR> <BR>I've reposted this info from the Frommer's talk site, http://www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/[email protected]^[email protected], another good site like this one.<BR><BR>Bruce

The reason Astral has to charge you full price is that if they sell your ticket to Stonehenge, they can't sell that tour to another person. They havebought up the same number of Stonehenge tickets as their little bus can accommodate each day.<BR><BR>The independent special access to Stonehenge is no secret, it's discussed in detail at the English Heritage web site.<BR><BR>Astral is the not the only tour company that offers this Stonehenge visit.

<BR>I have heard that the grounds are closed for up close visits in October for maintenance. Anyone know if this is correct?

topping for littlehouse

Did you rent a car to get out to Stonehenge or take the train to bath and go from there?<BR>My husband really wants to see stonehenge up close and personal.

The best way to get to Stonehenge via public transport is to take the train to Salisbury, and the bus from Salisbury to Stonehenge.

I went to Stonehenge in 97. Some might say that access to the stones degrades the site. But I found it increadible that there was a paved road that passed withing yards of the stone which is used to orient solar movements. I could not believe that a site like this had a road running so close.

We contacted Astral about taking the inner circle Stonehenge tour this summer, but we were going to provide our own transportation and meet them there just for the after hours tour. They were only charging us half price, (35 pounds per person) but we changed our minds and decided not to rent a car for the day.

I forgot to add that the price for the total tour from London in July was quoted at 65 pounds per person.

We are taking the train to Bath and renting a car there. Over the course of 6 days we will be driving to Stonehendge and then tour the Cotswolds, going as far north as Warwick. Then we will drop the car off in Oxford and take the train back to London.<BR><BR>Bruce

Took tour to Stonehenge &amp; Salisbury with London Walking Tour. One of their explorer days. Our guide was Richard &amp; he was great! We met at train station &amp; paid L43. This fee included train to Salisbury &amp; back, private bus from Salisbury to Stonehenge, donation for entrance to Salisbury Catherdral, entrance fee to Stonehenge &amp; L10 for the guide. We left on 10.35 am train &amp; returned to London about 7 pm. It was well worth the money &amp; had a wonderful time. There were a number of women travelling alone, and always someone to talk to.