Located on the wind-swept Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK; each year more than 1.3 million people visit this ancient, mysterious site.
However, the site itself is almost 90 miles (144 km) from London, and getting there poses a real challenge to first-time visitors. With so many transport options available, which one is the best for you? Take a look at our Stonehenge tours where you can learn more about the best options to get to this mysterious site from London.
Top Pick: Guided Tour of Stonehenge from London
If you’re visiting the UK for the first time and don’t want to have to deal with the stress of planning your journey to Stonehenge, a guided coach tour is a great option. Not only do you not have to worry about buying separate tickets for transport and entrance to Stonehenge itself, but you will also save yourself a great deal of hassle trying to navigate the UK’s national transport system.
With one of our amazing guided Stonehenge tours, your travel to (and from) Stonehenge and entrance to the site itself are all included in one neat, single price. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also benefit from the services of an expert tour guide who will provide you with some fascinating commentary and insight into Stonehenge along the way.
Kick back and relax aboard a luxury coach that includes free Wi-Fi and USB charging onboard. What more could you ask for?
- Avoid the stress of planning your journey and buying tickets
- Quick, stress-free and convenient
- All-inclusive pricing
- Includes free Wi-Fi and USB charging onboard
- Services of an expert tour guide
- Plenty of onboard storage for your luggage and essential items
- None!
London to Stonehenge by train
It’s worth pointing out here that there are no direct trains to Stonehenge from London. If you want to travel to Stonehenge by train you will need to travel from Waterloo Station to Salisbury, a town 9 miles (14 km) away from Stonehenge itself. From there, you will need to either take a taxi or pay for a ticket on the official Stonehenge Tour Bus to the site itself.
- If booked in advance, it is possible to get cheaper tickets
- Plenty of trains each day
- Trains do not go directly to Stonehenge
- Trains in the UK notoriously experience frequent delays, especially during busy ‘peak’ hours
How long does it take to travel from London Waterloo to Salisbury by train?
The average journey time is 1 hour 33 mins. The fastest journey time is 1 hour 20 mins. Journey times may be longer on weekends and holidays.
What is the distance between London Waterloo and Salisbury?
The distance between London Waterloo and Salisbury is approximately 79 miles (127 km).
What time is the first train from London Waterloo to Salisbury?
The first train from London Waterloo to Salisbury leaves at 07:10 am.
The last train from Salisbury to Waterloo leaves at approximately 22:26 pm.
London to Stonehenge by car
Driving is not only one of the fastest but also the more direct routes from London to Stonehenge. However, driving in and around London can be a daunting (and expensive) experience. Car hire in London isn’t cheap, and, depending on where you travel through the city, you can expect to pay a daily congestion charge of £11.50. The roads in the capital are notoriously congested during rush hour, so allow plenty of time for traffic if you’re travelling at busy times.
- No need to worry about missing your train or bus departure
- It is often more convenient to hire a car, especially if you have a lot of luggage
- Car rental in London isn’t cheap
- Vehicles drive on the left-hand side in the UK
- Most cars in the UK are manual transmission
- You will pay considerably more for an automatic
- Extra charges apply when driving in London
London to Stonehenge by Coach
Unless you’re using a specialist tour operator, coaches do not travel directly to Stonehenge via London. National Express, a popular budget coach operator in the UK, runs coaches three times a day from Victoria Coach Station (11:30, 14:30, 19:30) to Salisbury. Considering the Journey takes ~3 hours and Stonehenge closes at 19:00 pm, it would seem sensible to take the earlier option if choosing to travel via coach.
- Cheap tickets (as little as £8)
- Most modern coaches are comfortable and have essential ammenities onboard
- Longer journey times (up to 3 hours)
- Infrequent travel times: only 3 coaches a day
- Entrance to Stonehenge not included
Price comparison
| Features | Guided Tour | Train | Car | Coach |
| Average journey time | ~1.5 hrs | ~1.5 hrs | ~1.5 hrs | ~3 hrs |
| Price | £54 (Child) £59 (Adult) | £42 | Varies | £8-10 |
| Entrance to Stonehenge? | Included | £11.40 (Child) £19.40 (Adult) | £11.40 (Child) £19.40 (Adult) | £11.40 (Child) £19.40 (Adult) |
| Travel to Stonehenge? | Included | £10 (Child) £16 (Adult) | £10 (Child) £16 (Adult) | £10 (Child) £16 (Adult) |
| Professional tour guide? | Included | No | No | No |
Making the most of your visit to Stonehenge
To know why and how it was built, and by whom, why not see this incredible site for yourself by booking one of our dedicated Stonehenge tours? You can also make the most of your visit to Stonehenge by combining it with a visit to another historic site with our range of fantastic day tours from London.
