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Stonehenge poses more questions than answers, making it one of the most mysterious prehistoric monuments in the world. And because of its proximity to London, the famous landmark makes for a popular day trip from the city. Organized Stonehenge tours from London typically include round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned coach, as well as visits to other nearby landmarks, such as the Avebury stone circles, Bath or the Cotswolds.
These tours from London, evaluated by U.S. News using both expert opinion and traveler sentiment, offer some of the best ways to experience Stonehenge.
Price: From 134 pounds (around $165) per person
Duration: 12 hours
For adventurous travelers who want to see Stonehenge and Bath, and don’t mind a little mystery, The English Bus’s full-day tour offers both. Limited to 16 people, the tour departs from London in a Mercedes minibus, complete with panoramic windows and a glass roof. As you drive through the countryside, you’ll enjoy live, in-depth commentary from your expert guide before arriving in Stonehenge. After exploring Stonehenge, you’ll head to Bath to enjoy lunch and time to roam on your own or join an optional guided tour. Your final stop is a “secret” destination selected by your tour guide. Reviewers praise the knowledgeable, humorous guides and particularly recommend this tour for its small size and luxurious transportation.
Tours depart from central London daily. Prices start at 134 pounds (about $165) per person and do not include food or Stonehenge tickets. You can buy entry tickets to Stonehenge on-site for about 20 pounds (around $25) or online in advance for a slight discount. Other tours offered by The English Bus visit the Cotswolds, Canterbury and more.
Price: Adults from 129 pounds (about $160); kids from 119 pounds (about $145)
Duration: 13 hours
You’ll be among the first visitors of the day to step inside Windsor Castle – the largest continuously occupied castle in the world – on this daylong tour. Other highlights include lunch in a 14th-century pub in the charming town of Lacock, a walking tour of Bath and, finally, the day is capped with a visit to Stonehenge. Though most tourgoers were happy with the trip (especially the patient, organized guides), they do warn it makes for a long day and wish they had extra time at certain attractions. The tour (which runs daily) leaves London at 7:45 a.m. (from Victoria Coach Station) and returns around 9 p.m.
Tickets start at 129 pounds (around $160) for adults and 119 pounds (approximately $145) for children ages 3 to 16. Lunch and admission tickets to attractions are included. Ticket options that do not include entry or lunch are also available for a lower price. Premium Tours also offers excursions to Leeds, Canterbury and Greenwich, among other locations.
Price: Adults from 129 pounds (about $160); kids from 119 pounds (around $145)
Duration: 11 hours
In addition to Stonehenge, this 11-hour bus tour stops at Windsor Castle and the historic city of Bath, where you’ll be given the choice to explore freely on your own or visit the world-famous Roman Baths. Reviewers praise the guides, who they describe as humorous and fun, and say the tour is jampacked, but well-paced.
Tickets, which include all entrance fees, start at 129 pounds (about $160) for adults ages 17 to 59 and 119 pounds (about $145) for kids ages 3 to 16. Tickets that do not include Stonehenge entry are available for a lower price. Students and senior citizens receive a slight discount, while infants younger than 3 can join the tour for free. Tours operate Thursday through Monday and depart from London at 8 a.m. Evan Evans Tours operates a variety of trips outside of London to destinations like Oxford and the Cotswolds, in addition to tours within the city.
Price: Adults from $130; kids from $118
Duration: 10.5 hours
Ideal for tourists with a dual interest in the city of Bath and Stonehenge, this approximately 11-hour tour offers access and expert insight to both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While in Bath, you’ll take a guided walking tour of the city and visit its ancient Roman Baths and Pump Room. The second stop is Stonehenge, where you’ll have time to explore the mysteries of this ancient Neolithic structure. Travelers rave about the excellent and informative guides, as well as the drivers.
Tickets start at $130 pounds for adults and $118 for children ages 3 to 16, with entry to Stonehenge and the Roman Baths included. Senior citizens and students receive a slight discount. Ticket options that do not include entry to Stonehenge or the Roman Baths are also available for a lower price. Tours depart from London daily at 8:30 a.m. The company offers a variety of tours to destinations in and around London.
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Price: Adults from 109 pounds (about $133); kids from 99 pounds (about $120)
Duration: 12 hours
The full-day Avebury and Stonehenge excursion with Anderson Tours picks up in London starting at 7:30 a.m. and makes its first stop at West Kennet Long Barrow – one of the largest Neolithic burial tombs in Britain. Here, participants have the chance to visit the burial chambers. From there, the group visits the medieval village of Avebury, home to the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world. After a guided walking tour of Avebury and free time for lunch and exploration, guides lead the way to Stonehenge, where tourgoers can explore the site at their leisure with the aid of audio guides (accessible via a free smartphone app). The group returns to London around 7 p.m. Visitors say the guides are excellent and they learned a lot.
Tour tickets, which include entrance to Stonehenge, start at 109 pounds (around $133) for adults and 99 pounds (about $120) for kids ages 5 to 17. Children and infants younger than 5 are free of charge. Tours run Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Anderson Tours also offers excursions to Oxford, Windsor and Canterbury, among other day trips.
Price: Adults from 154 pounds (about $190); kids from 134 pounds (around $165)
Travelers approve of this tour for its small group (up to 16 participants) and knowledgeable guides, who are well-versed in British history. On this approximately 11-hour journey, you’ll visit Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and the city of Bath, where you’ll have the choice to tour the Roman Baths or wander the ancient city for some sightseeing.
Ticket prices, which include entry to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle, start at 154 pounds (about $190) per adult and 134 pounds (around $165) per child ages 3 to 15. Tours depart Thursday through Monday; exact departure times from London vary by season. International Friends also offers “Harry Potter” tours and excursions to “Downton Abbey” filming locations, among other areas of the English countryside.
Price: From 1,310 pounds (about $1,600) for groups of six (15 people maximum)
Visit some of England’s most famous landmarks with this private daytrip. Among the sites you’ll see with your personal tour guide are Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and the University of Oxford. Travelers enjoy the tour and appreciate the guides’ sense of humor and wealth of information. Plus, they appreciate that guides pick up patrons from central London hotels.
Prices vary depending on how many people are in your party, as you pay per vehicle, not per person; groups of up to six people can expect to pay between 1,310 and 1,630 pounds (about $1,600 to $2,000) depending on the vehicle, while groups of up to 15 will play 2,090 pounds (about $2,600. Prices do not include entrance fees or meals. British Tours offers a variety of other excursions from London, including day trips to explore Paris.
Price: Adults from 133 pounds (about $165); kids from 123 pounds (approximately $150)
If you want to experience Stonehenge without the crowds, consider this approximately 11-hour tour, which visits Stonehenge when it’s closed to the general public. What’s more, you’ll tour the site’s stone circle – an area most visitors only view behind a rope barrier. The day also includes a meal at a 14th-century pub in Lacock, as well as a stop in Bath. In Bath, you can join an optional walking tour to see highlights like the Jane Austen Museum, Pulteney Bridge and the Bath Abbey. Many reviewers call this tour the highlight of their London trips and highly recommend the evening tour if you’d like to see Stonehenge at sunset.
Tickets, which include entry to Stonehenge, start at 133 pounds (about $165) for adults and 123 pounds (approximately $150) for children ages 3 to 16. There is also an option to buy a ticket that includes entry to the Roman Baths. Morning tours (available Mondays and Thursdays) depart at 5:30 a.m.; evening tours (which run Sundays and Wednesdays) depart at 11:10 a.m.
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If you’ll be staying in Bath during your visit to England and want to see Stonehenge, consider one of the following tours:
Mad Max Tours – Stonehenge, Cotswold Villages and Avebury Stone Circles
Price: Adults from 70 pounds (about $85); kids from 35 pounds (around $43)
Duration: 9 hours
On this eight- to nine-hour tour, you’ll board a bus from Bath to visit historic sites and towns around the English countryside. You’ll stop at Stonehenge first ahead of the crowds for a two-hour visit. From there, the next destination is the Avebury stone circles and village. Then, it’s off to the Cotswolds to explore a handful of small, charming towns; Lacock National Trust village is the designated stop for lunch. Patrons give the tour high marks and especially praise the visit to the Cotswolds villages. Others say the tour is well-paced. Tours depart daily from Bath beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Tickets start at 70 pounds (about $85) for adults and 35 pounds (around $43) for children ages 5 to 15. The tour is not recommended for kids younger than 5. Tickets to Stonehenge are not included in the tour price; you will need to pay your guide for the tickets the day of your tour. Mad Max operates several other outings, including a tour devoted solely to visiting the villages of the Cotswolds.
Bath Insider Tours – Ancient Britain Tour
Price: From 425 pounds (about $520) for two people
Duration: 8.5 hours
On this daylong excursion, you’ll join a local expert for an exclusive private tour (for up to six people in your party) that departs from Bath. Your guide – a lifelong Bath resident – takes you on an approximately 8.5-hour journey to explore sites near Bath, including Avebury, the West Kennet Long Barrow burial site and Stonehenge. The tour includes a stop at a traditional English pub for lunch. Patrons heap praise on the guide for his knowledge and good nature.
Tours, available daily at 9 a.m., start at 425 pounds (around $520) for two people. Pickup from central Bath, its hotels and its train station is included, as are admission tickets to sites. Lunch and drinks are not included in the cost. Bath Insider Tours also offers private tours of Bath and other custom tours, including half-day excursions.
Yes, you can visit Stonehenge without a tour. It is accessible to visitors year-round.
However, there are a few benefits to choosing an organized Stonehenge tour, including the commentary and knowledge tour guides are able to provide and the ease of a tour provider’s transportation. Tour companies will typically pick you up in central London (usually multiple pickup points are available) and Bath and take you directly to the historical site; then provide return transportation back to the city at the conclusion of the tour.
Stonehenge is located in Salisbury, England, about 90 miles southwest of London. The train ride from the London Waterloo station to Salisbury takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. After that, you can hop on a bus from the train station to Stonehenge, which takes about 35 minutes.