Time at the stones runs from about an hour on the Windsor-Stonehenge-Bath triple to about 2.5 hours on the cheapest half day. Every Stonehenge tour from London here leaves the city in the morning and budgets 105 minutes to 2 hours on the road each way, so even a half day runs 6.5 to 8 hours door to door.
The best Stonehenge tour from London for most people is the Day Tours London morning half day at $87, with about 2 hours at the stones and entry included. Yes, Stonehenge works as a day trip: the coaches budget 105 minutes to 2 hours each way for the 140.8 km (87.5 miles). A normal ticket keeps you on a roped path around the stones and touching them has been banned since 1977. The inner circle days go inside, outside public hours, and never in October or November.
Key takeaways
The price shown for each Stonehenge tour from London is the lowest adult rate on the listing. Some listings sell several options with and without entries, so the final price depends on what you pick at checkout. The platform handles payment, not the operator at the coach door. Most listings cancel free up to 24 hours before departure, with one exception: the Premium Tours inner circle day cuts off free cancellation 8 days out.
Leaves South Kensington at 7:30 AM to reach the stones at the 9:30 opening, about 2 hours on site with entry, back in London by 2 PM.
A 7 AM start that reaches Stonehenge as it opens at 9:30, about 90 minutes at the stones with entry, then close to 3 hours in Bath.
Windsor Castle in the morning, about an hour at Stonehenge, then Bath. Pick how many entries you want at checkout, from none to all three.
The cheapest seat from Victoria: a coach, Stonehenge entry and about 2.5 hours at the site with an audio app instead of a live guide.
Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Bath and the Roman Baths in one 12-hour day, with the entries set by the option you pick. Back about 8 PM.
Windsor Castle, about 90 minutes at Stonehenge, a pub lunch in the Harry Potter village of Lacock and a coach tour of Bath. Back about 8:30 PM.
A 19-seat mini-coach at 7:30 AM, about 90 minutes at Stonehenge with entry, then a guided walk and free time in Oxford until 4 PM.
Avebury's stone circle with a guided walk, the 5,000-year-old West Kennet Long Barrow, then about 2 hours at Stonehenge with entry. Up to 25 people.
Fifteen seats, back roads, about 105 minutes at Stonehenge, 2-2.5 hours in Bath and a secret stop. The Stonehenge ticket is paid on the day.
A mini-coach on back roads: about 105 minutes at Stonehenge, 2.25 hours in Bath, then the Cotswold village of Castle Combe. Stonehenge ticket paid on the day.
Walk inside the circle before or after public hours, then about 3 hours in Windsor. Set dates only, mid-May to late September.
Inside the stones at sunrise or sunset with only this coach's group, plus Bath and Lacock. Free cancellation ends 8 days out, not 24 hours.
One row per listing, ordered as the catalog runs. The At the stones column comes from each operator's own figure, and the Hours column is the full door-to-door duration. Prices are the lowest adult rate on the listing.
| Tour | Price | At the stones | Hours | Also in the day | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Half-Day with Admission | $87 | About 2 h | 6.5 hours | None | Check Availability Details |
| Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip | $113 | About 90 min | 11 hours | Bath | Check Availability Details |
| Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath | $96 | About 60 min | 11 hours | Windsor, Bath | Check Availability Details |
| Half-Day with Optional Fish and Chips | $78 | About 2.5 h | 7-8 hours | None | Check Availability Details |
| Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath and Roman Baths | $94 | Not stated | 11-12 hours | Windsor, Bath | Check Availability Details |
| Windsor, Bath and Pub Lunch in Lacock | $91 | About 90 min | 12.5 hours | Windsor, Lacock, Bath | Check Availability Details |
| Stonehenge and Oxford Small-Group | $105 | About 90 min | 11 hours | Oxford | Check Availability Details |
| Stonehenge and Avebury Day Trip | $132 | About 2 h | 10 hours | Avebury, West Kennet Long Barrow | Check Availability Details |
| Small-Group Bath and Secret Place | $208 | About 105 min | 11.5 hours | Bath | Check Availability Details |
| Small-Group Bath and Cotswolds | $204 | About 105 min | 11 hours | Bath, Castle Combe | Check Availability Details |
| Inner Circle with Windsor | $255 | Inside the circle | 11 hours | Windsor | Check Availability Details |
| Inner Circle Sunrise or Sunset with Bath | $219 | Inside the circle | 12 hours | Bath, Lacock | Check Availability Details |
The Stonehenge entry ticket is not included on the two English Bus days: the guide collects payment on the coach, £24.65 adult on winter weekdays and £27.03 on winter weekends. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every listing except the Premium Tours inner circle day (8 days). Figures current in Q3 2026.
The Day Tours London morning half day runs daily with a 7:30 AM departure from South Kensington and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Live dates and prices sit on the listing.
Looking at one of the others? Stonehenge at opening, then Bath · Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath · Cheapest half day, audio guide · Four stops with the Roman Baths · Windsor, Stonehenge, Lacock pub, Bath · Stonehenge, then Oxford colleges · Stonehenge, Avebury and a long barrow · 15 seats, Bath and a secret stop · Small group, Bath and Castle Combe · Inside the stones, then Windsor · Inner circle at sunrise or sunset
Each operator publishes its own time on site, and the figures split cleanly by how many stops the day carries. This is the single biggest difference between the listings.
The Stonehenge visitor centre, where the shuttle to the stones starts. Photo: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The figures below come straight from the operator listings. A day with fewer stops leaves more time at the stones, and the cheapest half day gives the most of all.
| Time on site | Tours | What else fills the day |
|---|---|---|
| About 2.5 hours | the Premium Tours half day | Nothing at the site, optional fish and chips in London after |
| About 2 hours | the Day Tours London morning half day, the Avebury day | On the morning tour nothing, on the Avebury day Avebury and the West Kennet Long Barrow |
| About 105 minutes | the English Bus Bath and Secret Place day, the English Bus Bath and Cotswolds day | Bath, plus a secret countryside stop or Castle Combe |
| About 90 minutes | the Bath day, the Oxford day, the Lacock day, the inner circle Windsor day | Bath, Oxford, or Windsor and Lacock. The inner circle day spends its 90 minutes inside the stones, then Windsor |
| About 60 minutes | the Evan Evans Windsor-Stonehenge-Bath triple | Windsor Castle and Bath in the same day |
| Not stated | the Golden Tours Windsor-Stonehenge-Bath-Roman Baths day | Windsor Castle, Bath and the Roman Baths |
The visitor centre sits away from the stones. The shuttle takes about 5-10 minutes each way, or you can walk 25-40 minutes on a marked path past Bronze Age burial mounds. On a 60-minute visit that shuttle eats a real slice of your slot.
Back at the centre, the exhibition holds over 250 objects from the surrounding landscape and reconstructed Neolithic houses stand outside. There is no shelter, food or toilet at the stones, only at the visitor centre, so plan toilets and coffee before or after. Two hours is enough to see the exhibition, ride out and take the full loop.
An hour on a triple-stop day is tight: fine for a first look, better with 90 minutes or more. Whether the trip pays off at all is weighed in is Stonehenge worth visiting.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and on three tours it depends which option you pick at checkout. Here are English Heritage's own prices for anyone buying separately, followed by how each tour handles the ticket.
Advance prices apply to tickets booked online by midnight the day before, with the 10 percent Gift Aid donation on the left and without it on the right. On-the-day gate prices are higher, though later slots in the day sell cheaper. Dollar figures use the European Central Bank reference rate, 1 GBP = 1.3252 USD.
| Ticket | Adult | Child 5-17 | Family 2+3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance with donation | £27.20 ($36.05) | £13.60 ($18.02) | £68.00 ($90.12) |
| Advance without donation | £24.65 ($32.67) | £12.32 | £61.79 |
| On the day with donation | £32.00 ($42.41) | £16.00 ($21.20) | £80.00 ($106.02) |
| On the day without donation | £29.00 ($38.43) | £14.50 | £72.70 |
Entry is included on the Day Tours London half day, Bath day and Oxford day, the Premium Tours half day, the Avebury day and both inner circle days. The Evan Evans triple, the Golden Tours day and the Premium Tours Lacock day sell options with and without entries, so check the option before you pay. Both English Bus days do not include it: the guide pre-books and collects payment on the day, £24.65 adult on winter weekdays and £27.03 on winter weekends.
English Heritage and National Trust England members go free. Tickets carry a timed arrival slot, and last admission is 2 hours before closing. A fuller breakdown sits in our guide to Stonehenge tickets on a tour.
On a normal visit a roped path runs around the stones and you stay on it. Going inside means booking a special visit outside public hours, and the inner circle tours below are the ones from London that sell it.
Visitors standing back from the circle, as a normal ticket requires. Photo: Gary Todd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
English Heritage's own Stone Circle Experience lets you walk inside the circle before opening or after closing. It lasts 1 hour, takes a maximum of 52 people per session split into two groups of 26, and costs from £70 ($92.77) adult and £40 ($53.01) child. Even inside, you may not touch or stand on the stones: touching and climbing has been banned since 1977.
English Heritage runs no Stone Circle Experiences in October or November, which makes every inner circle tour seasonal. The full rules and dates sit in our guide to the Stone Circle Experience.
The two inner circle days from London differ on the hour you leave, the second stop and the cancellation window. The rows below come from each operator's listing. The Evan Evans day lists about 90 minutes at Stonehenge, while English Heritage's own session inside the stones is 1 hour, so part of that time is the visitor centre and the path. The Premium Tours group is up to 50 of its own customers, which is not a private party.
In wet weather the inner circle can be shut, and Premium Tours then gives a guided walk beyond the roped path instead. On long summer days you may not see the actual sunrise or sunset, because the visit is fixed to the opening times English Heritage allows.
| Detail | Evan Evans with Windsor | Premium Tours sunrise or sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Departs | 5:30 AM, or 9:15 AM and 11:15 AM | 5:30 AM (sunrise) or 10:00 AM (sunset) |
| Second stop | Windsor, about 3 hours | Bath and a short stop in Lacock |
| Group | Up to 51 | Up to 50 Premium Tours customers |
| Runs | Set dates, mid-May to late September | No tours in October or November |
| Free cancellation | Up to 24 hours before | Up to 8 days before |
| Price | $255 | $219 |
Adding a stop cuts your time at the stones, down to about an hour on a triple-stop day. Here is what each second stop gives you and what to watch for.
The Royal Crescent in Bath, the second stop on most combo days. Photo: Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Every figure below comes from the operator listings and the site authorities. Note that Roman Baths entry is included only with some options, and Windsor Castle closes two days a week.
| Second stop | Tours | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bath | the Bath day, the Evan Evans triple, the Golden Tours day, the Lacock day, the English Bus Bath days and the Cotswolds day, the inner circle sunrise or sunset day | Roman Baths entry is included only on some options: the Evan Evans 3-entry option, Golden Tours entry options and the Premium Tours inner circle Roman Baths option. Day Tours London and the Lacock day exclude it |
| Windsor Castle | the Evan Evans triple, the Golden Tours day, the Lacock day, the inner circle Windsor day | Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays most of the year, with free time in town or a walking tour instead. St George's Chapel is closed on Sundays |
| Oxford | the Oxford small-group day | A 45-minute guided walk past the Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, Bridge of Sighs and Sheldonian Theatre, then free time until the 4 PM departure |
| Avebury | the Avebury day | Free to enter, the largest stone circle in the world with a village inside it, plus a 45-minute climb to the West Kennet Long Barrow |
| Castle Combe and Lacock | the Cotswolds day, the Lacock day | 35 minutes in Castle Combe on the Cotswolds day. Lacock Abbey's cloisters were used for Hogwarts scenes in the first two Harry Potter films, with an optional pub lunch at the 14th-century George Inn |
The triple-stop days give about 60 minutes at Stonehenge, the two-stop days about 90 minutes, and the single-stop or no-stop days about 2 to 2.5 hours. If the stones are the point, pick the morning half day at $87 or the Premium half day at $78. If you want the fullest day for the money, the triples run 11 to 12.5 hours and trade stone time for Windsor and Bath.
The meeting point decides your morning more than the price does. Four areas cover every departure: South Kensington, Victoria, the London Eye and Earl's Court.
Departure times, meeting points and return times as each operator lists them. Coach stations close their gates before departure, so the check-in time matters more than the departure time.
| Tour | Leaves | Meet at | Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stonehenge Morning Tour | 7:30 AM (check-in 7:15 AM) | 29-35 Cromwell Road | Back in South Kensington at about 2 PM |
| Stonehenge and Bath Tour | 7:00 AM (arrive 10 minutes early) | Opposite Gloucester Road Underground station | Back in London at about 6 PM, traffic permitting |
| Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath Tour | 8:00 AM, check in at 7:30 AM | Victoria Coach Station | Back in central London in the evening |
| Stonehenge Half-Day Tour | Morning or afternoon departures, shown at checkout | Victoria Coach Station | Drop-off at The Jugged Hare, Victoria, or Victoria railway station |
| Stonehenge and Roman Baths Tour | Shown at checkout, meeting point varies by option | Central London | Ends within a 2-minute walk of Gloucester Road Underground station at about 8 PM |
| Stonehenge, Bath and Lacock Tour | 7:45 AM, boarding from 7:30 AM at Gate 19-20 | Premium Tours desk | Drop-off near Gloucester Road Underground station at about 8:30 PM |
| Stonehenge and Oxford Tour | 7:30 AM | Near 29 Cromwell Road | Back at 29 Cromwell Road, about 1.5 hours after leaving Oxford at 4 PM |
| Stonehenge and Avebury Tour | Shown at checkout, be ready 10 minutes early | Warwick Road | Back at Earl's Court in the evening |
| Stonehenge Small-Group Tour | 8:45 AM by the London Eye or 9:10 AM at the DoubleTree by Hilton Victoria | Corner of Belvedere Road and Chicheley Street | Back in central London in the evening |
| Stonehenge and Cotswolds Tour | From the London Eye (5 Belvedere Road) or Victoria (2 Bridge Place, Pimlico); times at checkout | London Eye | Back at the pickup points in the evening, about 2.25 hours from Castle Combe |
| Stonehenge Inner Circle and Windsor | Early departure 5:30 AM (boarding 5:15 AM), or late departures 9:15 AM and 11:15 AM | Evan Evans Tours | Victoria Station at about 4:15-4:30 PM (early) or 8 PM / 10 PM (late) |
| Stonehenge Inner Circle Tour | Sunrise tour 5:30 AM, sunset tour 10:00 AM (operator's timings) | Millennium Gloucester Hotel | Back in London in the evening |
The Day Tours London coaches, the morning half day, the Bath day and the Oxford day, all leave from South Kensington between 7:00 AM and 7:30 AM, a short walk from the Underground. Evan Evans uses Victoria Coach Station at 8:00 AM for the triple, with check-in at 7:30 AM, and its own office on Vauxhall Bridge Road for the inner circle day. Premium Tours boards at Gate 19-20 inside Victoria Coach Station from 7:30 AM, and the gate closes 5 minutes before departure. The English Bus picks up by the London Eye at 8:45 AM and in Victoria at 9:10 AM, the latest start in the catalogue, and Anderson Tours leaves from Warwick Road in Earl's Court.
Most days end back in central London between 6 PM and 8:30 PM, and the morning half day is back in South Kensington by about 2 PM. Several Windsor combos end near Gloucester Road rather than where they started, because of drivers' legal working hours.
You can reach Stonehenge without a tour, but it takes at least two legs: a train or a drive to Salisbury, then the Stonehenge Tour bus to the stones. Here is how each option compares on the figures that matter.
Salisbury station, where The Stonehenge Tour bus starts. Photo: JThomas, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
South Western Railway runs from London Waterloo to Salisbury roughly every 30 minutes. The fastest trains take about 1 hour 21 minutes, the average about 1 hour 40 minutes. Fares depend on the day and are not published in this guide.
At Salisbury station you pick up the Stonehenge Tour bus, a 35-minute ride to the visitor centre. In winter it leaves the station at 10:05, 11:05, 12:05, 13:05 and 14:05, with the last bus back from the stones at 17:15. Its all-in-one ticket covers the bus, Stonehenge entry and Salisbury Cathedral, and the fare is shown only at booking.
For the full timetable read Stonehenge by train from London.
Victoria to the visitor centre is 140.8 km (87.5 miles), about 1 hour 49 minutes with no traffic. The A303 past Stonehenge is still a single-carriageway road that jams in summer: the planned tunnel was suspended in July 2024 and the planning consent was later revoked, so nothing has changed for drivers. Entry is a separate ticket and parking is charged if you are not an English Heritage or National Trust member.
More routes and practical detail in Getting from London to Stonehenge yourself.
The three ways to Stonehenge side by side. Train times come from South Western Railway, the bus timetable from The Stonehenge Tour and the tour figures from the listings on this page.
| Option | Each way | Ticket to the stones | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train Waterloo to Salisbury plus Stonehenge Tour bus | About 1 hour 21 minutes on the fastest train, then 35 minutes by bus | All-in-one bus ticket covers the bus, Stonehenge entry and Salisbury Cathedral, fare shown only at booking | Winter bus runs hourly from 10:05, last return 17:15 |
| Car via the A303 | 140.8 km, about 1 hour 49 minutes with no traffic | Entry ticket bought separately, parking charged to non-members | A303 is single-carriageway past the stones and jams in summer |
| Organised coach tour | 105 minutes to 2 hours | Usually included, except both English Bus days | 6.5 to 8 hours door to door even on a half day |
Sources: The Stonehenge Tour bus timetable, South Western Railway
Stonehenge was built in stages from about 3000 BC, with stones hauled from as far as Wales and Scotland. A short primer before you step off the coach.
Sarsen trilithons in low winter sun. Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The earthwork ditch and bank date from about 3000 BC. The big sarsen stones went up about 2500 BC, and most came from West Woods about 25 km north. The smaller bluestones travelled from the Preseli Hills in Wales, about 225 km (140 miles) away.
The Altar Stone came from north-east Scotland, about 700 km away. The tallest surviving stone stands 6.7 m above ground and the Great Trilithon uprights weigh over 45 tonnes. The main axis lines up with the summer solstice sunrise and the winter solstice sunset.
Stonehenge and Avebury became one UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. If one circle is not enough, the Stonehenge and Avebury day trip adds the largest stone circle in the world, free to walk among.
Sources: English Heritage, building Stonehenge, UNESCO World Heritage List
The stones sit on an open plain with no shelter, so the weather is part of the visit. Four days a year the rules change entirely.
Avebury stones with the village behind. Photo: Looneytics, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Salisbury Plain is open and exposed. Wind makes it feel colder than the thermometer says, even in summer: July averages about 17 C and winter about 4 C. There is no shelter, food or toilet at the stones, only at the visitor centre, where a shuttle takes about 5-10 minutes each way. A waterproof, a hat and shoes that can handle grass and mud are worth the luggage space on any tour.
Four times a year, at both solstices and both equinoxes, English Heritage opens the circle for free managed open access. The summer solstice opening runs through the night of 20-21 June, with sunrise about 04:52. English Heritage advises public transport for it.
Dates and travel detail in the solstice guide.
This is how the day runs on the [Stonehenge morning half-day tour](#tour-1), the pick of this comparison.
Arrive at 29-35 Cromwell Road, SW7 2DG, outside the Lycée Français, 5 minutes' walk from South Kensington station.
The air-conditioned coach leaves for Wiltshire with a live driver-guide in English.
After about 105 minutes on the road you arrive for the 9:30 opening, usually one of the first groups in.
Priority admission, the exhibition and the site shuttle are included. Ride the shuttle, walk the roped path and see the 250-plus objects in the visitor centre.
About 105 minutes on the return leg puts you back at Cromwell Road with the afternoon free.
Small preparations that make a 6.5 to 12-hour day noticeably better.
Listing photos show the stones at dawn with nobody around. These three show a normal day trip from London, a Stone Circle Experience inside the stones, and an honest take on whether the visit pays off.
A traveller's day from London to the stones and back.
Video: Hues of DelahayeThe Stone Circle Experience, filmed inside the stones.
Video: Emily LuxtonA candid review of the visit on a Salisbury day trip.
Video: Suitcase MonkeyThird-party videos, embedded from YouTube. We did not shoot them and have no relationship with the creators.
The honest arithmetic, with the trade-off stated plainly.
Who it's NOT for: Anyone who wants a long, close look at the stones on their own schedule is better off with a hire car or the train plus the Stonehenge Tour bus.
Six common situations, each with the tour or page that answers it.
If You want the cheapest seat and the longest time at the stones
Pick the Stonehenge Half-Day Tour with Optional Fish and Chips at $78, about 2.5 hours on site.
If You want the best half day and back by mid-afternoon
Take the Stonehenge Morning Half-Day Tour with Admission, first in at the 9:30 opening and back about 2 PM.
If You want to go inside the circle
Book the Inner Circle Access Day Trip with Windsor and the Inner Circle Sunrise or Sunset Tour with Bath, seasonal and never in October or November. Read the Stone Circle Experience guide.
If Bath is the second stop you care about
The Stonehenge and Bath Day Trip with Entry Ticket reaches Stonehenge at opening and gives close to 3 hours in Bath.
If You want a small group and back roads
The Small-Group Stonehenge, Bath and Secret Place Tour takes up to 15 people, but budget the Stonehenge ticket paid on the day.
If You would rather travel without a tour
The train and bus guide covers Waterloo to Salisbury and the Stonehenge Tour bus.
Amazing experience, the guide was really nice and helpful!
The guide, Samuel, and the driver, Robert, were great! They helped and informed us throughout the trip with useful information. Everything went smoothly. Thanks a million!
Great experience and most importantly good communication with a cituation
Giles was a great guide and Diana was a fantastic driver! I highly recommend doing this trip to get an excellent experience!
Amazing visit! If you want to experience this without the crowds and get all close up and personal Stonehenge, this is the trip for you!
Tony was a fantastic guide who looked after us and was so passionate and shared lots of information for us.
The pick here is the Day Tours London morning half day at $87, rated 4.8 from 4,001 reviews, first in at the 9:30 opening with about 2 hours on site and back by 2 PM. The comparison table sets it against the rest.
Yes, comfortably. It is 140.8 km each way and a half day runs 6.5 to 8 hours, an 11-hour day if you add Bath or Windsor. The morning half-day tour is the shortest option.
No. Touching and climbing the stones has been banned since 1977 on normal visits and on the Stone Circle Experience, which keeps you inside the circle but off the stones. See what is included in a ticket.
For most visitors yes: the ticket covers the exhibition with over 250 objects, the shuttle and the roped path, and entry is included on most tours, the $78 half day among them. The full case for and against is in is Stonehenge worth visiting.
The Premium Tours half day from Victoria at $78, with entry included and about 2.5 hours at the site, using an audio app instead of a live guide. Details on the half-day tour page.
Several are: the Anderson Tours Avebury day takes children aged 5 to 17 with infants on a lap, while the Day Tours London half day and Bath day are not suitable for children under 4 and the Oxford day under 3. Compare ages on the tour listings.
Before you book
Getting there on your own, the train, tickets, inner circle access, the solstices and whether it is worth it, each on its own page.
Stonehenge Tours from London
