Visiting Stonehenge: tickets, access and tips

Visit Stonehenge, It's about discovering Europe's most famous prehistoric monument. Erected on Salisbury Plain around 4,500 years ago, this circle of giant stones still holds an element of mystery. Here's how to plan your visit, book your tickets, and explore nearby sites like Salisbury and Avebury.

In short: To visit Stonehenge, book a timed ticket in advance with English Heritage. The visitor center is about 2.5 kilometers from the stones, accessible by shuttle bus. Allow 2 to 3 hours for your visit. From London, take the train to Salisbury (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes) and then a bus. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with Avebury, another nearby stone circle.

Stonehenge: what you need to know

The construction of the monument spanned over a thousand years. The earliest structures date back to around 3000 BC, and the large sandstone blocks, the sarsens, were erected around 2500 BC. The smaller "bluestones," meanwhile, came from Wales, more than 200 kilometers away.

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The circle is also aligned with the sun: rising at the summer solstice and setting at the winter solstice. Its exact purpose, however, remains debated, with some suggesting it was a temple, others a calendar, and still others a burial site.

How does the visit go?

The visitor centre and the exhibition

The visit begins at the visitor center, with an exhibition about the site's builders and a reconstruction of Neolithic houses. Afterwards, a shuttle bus or a walk of approximately 30 minutes leads to the stones.

The stone circle

A path circles the monument a few meters from the stones. Indeed, on a standard visit, it is not possible to enter the inner circle. Allow approximately one hour on site, including the audio guide.

Entering the circle: special tours

English Heritage offers a few early morning or evening slots to access the center of the circle. These places are very limited, so book them several weeks in advance on the website. English Heritage official website.

The solstices at Stonehenge

At the summer solstice, around June 21st, the site opens to the public free of charge to watch the sunrise among the stones. Thousands of people gather there. The winter solstice is also celebrated, in December, at dawn. However, access conditions change every year: check them before you go.

Places to see around Stonehenge

Site	Distance	To have
Salisbury	Approximately 15 minutes	Cathedral with the tallest spire in the country, Magna Carta
Avebury	Approximately 40 minutes	The world's largest stone circle, with free access
Old Sarum	Approximately 15 minutes	Ruins of an ancient fortified city
Bath	Approximately 1 hour	Roman baths and Georgian architecture

Salisbury Cathedral houses one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta from 1215. It is also among the England's most beautiful cathedrals. Next, proceed to Bath, ideal for one night.

How do I get to Stonehenge?

• By train and bus : approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by train between London Waterloo and Salisbury, then the Stonehenge Tour tourist bus.
• By car Approximately 2 hours from London. Book your ticket, which guarantees your arrival time slot.
• On an excursion : many day trips depart from London, often including Bath or Windsor.

Visiting Stonehenge fits perfectly into a road trip to the southwest: check out our itinerary in the south of England or our road trip from London to Cornwall.

Our tips for visiting Stonehenge

• Book your ticket online: it's cheaper and entry is guaranteed.
• Come early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the crowds.
• Bring warm, waterproof clothing, as the plain is very exposed to the wind.
• Combine the visit with Salisbury or Avebury in the same day.

Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Stonehenge

Do you need to book in advance to visit Stonehenge?

It is highly recommended. Tickets are timed and some time slots sell out in the summer and during school holidays.

How long does it take to visit Stonehenge?

Allow 2 to 3 hours, including the exhibition, the shuttle bus and the tour of the stones.

Can we touch the stones?

No, except during special visits to the circle, and even then it is forbidden to touch them. The path, however, passes only a few meters away.

Is it possible to visit Stonehenge from London in one day?

Yes, by train and bus or on an organized tour. It's even easy to combine it with Bath or Salisbury.

Cover photo: garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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