Stonehenge
 

My family is planning a trip to London in Mid-April and I'm wondering if a day trip to Stonehenge is possible. We will not have a car while we are there. Is there a train that goes there, and if so, once we are there is there transportation to the site? Thanks!

You can take a train from London to Salisbury (about a 1.5 hour trip), then take a bus from the Salisbury train station out to Stonehenge (about 8 miles out of town.) Check out www.thetrainline.com for times and fares.

After you return to Salisbury, you can easily spend the rest of the day there before taking the train back to London. The Salisbury Cathedral is a nice tour and there are lots of shops in town to look around. And Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days - local vendors selling everything from household items to fresh fish and flowers in the market square.

Kay's suggestion is the best way to do it. Many fodorites recommend a guided tour from London but you can do it on you own by train at a fraction of the cost and have the advantage of staying as long or as little as you like . . . . . .

Thanks for that tip Kaybe95! I took a coach tour because we didn't know any better. The journey by coach can be so boring! At least one is free to move around in the train with a lot more space.
Do you know if the train leaves from Euston, Waterloo, Paddington or other??

Make sure you go to Stonehenge. For reasons I don't really understand this was a highlight experience for me. Somehow the fog, cold and wind added impact.
If you do more research you will find other circles in the area.

I believe the train to Salisbury leaves from Waterloo Station.

Yes - it would be Waterloo. If you wait until after 9:30 a.m. you can get a cheap day return ticket and save even more money. But if budget isn't a big concern, I'd probably pay more and travel earlier to give me more time there.

My wife and I have twice taken the London Walks Explorer Day to Stonehenge. You take a train and then a guided coach to Stonehenge. It was anything but boring. In fact, the coach drives by the English countryside homes of Sting and Madonna. If you have older kids, they may think that is cool. You may want to consider booking with them.

Thanks for the suggestions! A question for DFOtravels: my children are 7, 10 and 12, would the Walks be a good thing to do with them? I will plan to take the train - thanks again, everyone!

We will be on a day bus tour to Bath, Laycock, and Stonehenge in May and have the reserved the showing of Stonehenge at sunset, has anyone see it at this time and is it worth it as compared to earlt morning? Thanks BRent

bksal: Does your tour description say "visit Stonehenge" or "inner access". Or does it just say "see Stonehenge at sunset"?

If the latter -- sunset in May is after the monument has closed. So my guess is it is just a drive by where you can see the stones from the coach.

But if it says inner access to Stonehenge at sunset, it will be quite an experience.

In "tour brochure speak", "visit" and "see" are two differentt things.

But

ignore that last "but" . . . . . . .

bkasl,
If you are going on the Premium Tours? We did that last year and did the sunset tour. You will have private access after they close. We spent about 45 minutes walking around in the inner circle and had a great time.
Delaney

I was going to suggest Premium Tours, because I know they have access inside the stones at both sunrise and sunset, but Delaney beat me to it! :)

((S))((*))

I checked with the tour and it is inside the circle and the ability to touch the stones. We new this was important so inquired before we booked. Brent

Yes, it is Premium Tour along with the a tour to Leeds,Canterbury and Dover with a boat back to London. Very exciting.Brent