{"id":35187,"date":"2024-04-01T09:08:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T09:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=35187"},"modified":"2025-12-18T18:47:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T18:47:46","slug":"how-to-visit-stonehenge-and-what-to-see-when-you-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/how-to-visit-stonehenge-and-what-to-see-when-you-go\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Visit Stonehenge and What To See When You Go"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The world-famous, mysterious, prehistoric stone circle monument that is Stonehenge is a must for most people traveling to the U.K. It\u2019s shrouded in mystery, from its origins to its purpose, and it\u2019s unlike anything you\u2019ll see anywhere else in England \u2014 or the world, for this matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, it\u2019s only two hours from London, so it\u2019s an easy day trip from the capital. Here\u2019s how to get there, what you can see and do, plus a few tips from my visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Stonehenge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stonehenge\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of Stonehenge before, but what is it really \u2014 and how did it get here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This unique stone circle is estimated to have been built around 4,500 years ago, and when you see the size of the standing stones it\u2019s hard to imagine just how it was built. But the bigger question has always been, why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discovery of human remains at the site in the 1900s confirmed the theory that it was a burial site, but it\u2019s also believed to have been a Druid temple and, more recently, a calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marks in the ground show where some stones are now missing. Originally, there were 30 stones, representing the days of the month as they were in the calendar at the time. The winter and summer solstices were also marked by two tall stone pillars, striking the first rays of the sunrise into the center of the circle on the summer solstice and setting in the south west of the circle for the winter solstice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The air of mystery that shrouds this ancient monument is part of what makes it so compelling to visit today. And these stones have stood the test of time. They\u2019re older than the Colosseum and the Great Pyramids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Stonehenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Salisbury\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, it\u2019s not easy, but not impossible, to reach it without a car. Most people do go by car, as it\u2019s free to park at Stonehenge and you have the freedom to come and go as and when you please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use public transport, but be aware that the train or bus stops in the nearby city of Salisbury and from there you\u2019ll need to take a taxi, or take the special Stonehenge bus that takes you from the bus station in Salisbury up to Stonehenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Stonehenge\"\n\t\t\t\"Stonehenge\"\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisit this ancient wonder on an easy half-day tour from London<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Half Day Trip to Stonehenge From London<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

Bear in mind, tickets sell out fast and if you turn up to Stonehenge without a ticket on the day, you\u2019re very unlikely to get in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it\u2019s easy to join a guided tour where the transportation is taken care of. You can even see Stonehenge as a day trip from London, speaking of which\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stonehenge as a day trip from London<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stonehenge\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re staying in London and you\u2019ve already explored the city\u2019s highlights, like its top markets<\/a> and the lively South Bank along the Thames<\/a>, a trip to Stonehenge is a great way to get out of London and see a bit more of England and its history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s an easy drive to Stonehenge that takes around two hours, and most people visit as a half-day trip. If you set off in the morning, you\u2019ll be at Stonehenge by mid-morning, giving you plenty of time to visit the stones and spend time in the museum, have some lunch and travel back to London by the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the easiest way to visit is to book an organized Stonehenge bus tour, running from London and including your ticket to Stonehenge, like our Half Day Trip to Stonehenge from London<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Book This Tour<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

An expert guide will tell stories and legends about the stones and give you all the facts to add context to your visit. But only you can make up your mind about why the stones are here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to expect when you get there<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stonehenge\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll either park at the visitor center or your tour bus will drop you there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people tour the visitor center first and then go up to the stones, which are a 30-minute walk away from the visitor center. There is a shuttle bus that takes you up to the stones, but the queues for this were so long when I was there, I decided to walk. It\u2019s a pleasant walk up the hill through some fields and easy for anyone with moderate levels of fitness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you were imagining running around in the stone circle and touching the standing stones, unfortunately you can\u2019t. A low rope fence, added in 1977, stops you from walking onto the grass and going right up to the stones. However, you\u2019ll have a clear view of them from the path. Officials are wandering up and down the path to make sure no one jumps over the rope, but they are also there to answer any questions you might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stonehenge\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sure, we\u2019d all love to run up and touch the stones, but this is to protect these ancient boulders from the huge numbers of visitors who arrive here every day. You can walk around the structure on the path and see it from all angles and take photos to your heart\u2019s content. As for touching them, I\u2019m pretty sure they just feel like regular stones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if touching the stones is your dream, there is a solution. Limited tickets for a Stonehenge experience are sold by English Heritage, who own Stonehenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This allows only 30 people at a time, and visits take place early in the morning and in the evening, before and after the attraction is open to the public, so it wouldn\u2019t work well as a day-trip from London. But it does allow ticket holders to enter the stone circle. As you might expect, these visits sell out fast, and you\u2019d need to book well in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stonehenge visitor\u2019s center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stonehenge<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I recommend taking a tour around the visitor\u2019s center first before you head up to the stones, as there\u2019s a lot of information in the exhibitions and the film that plays on a loop. It\u2019s good to have all this information first before you see the stones themselves, as it gives you a better understanding of what you\u2019re looking at and the history behind the structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, if you go with a tour, your guide will share even more information about the monument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Stonehenge visitor\u2019s center, there\u2019s a replica of one of the stones on a pulley that you can have a go at moving to test your strength. It only makes you wonder even more how they did this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also download the English Heritage app, which you can use as you walk around the stones, listening to the information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went to the visitor center before I walked up to the stones, and then again when I took the bus back down. There\u2019s a gift shop and a cafe in the visitor center which were nice to relax in after I\u2019d seen the stones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summing up: What it\u2019s like to visit Stonehenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stonehenge\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stonehenge is at the top of most people\u2019s lists when they come to the U.K., and it\u2019s definitely worth a visit, but it does get busy, you\u2019ll need to have booked a ticket ahead. It\u2019s not easy to get to without a car, and it can end up being expensive if you add to the price of the ticket, travel expenses, and food for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s cheaper and easier to book a tour. You\u2019ll have your entry ticket and travel costs all rolled into one and you don\u2019t have to worry about changing from train to bus or driving on unfamiliar roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don\u2019t miss the visitor\u2019s center for a chance to get hands-on with Stonehenge history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to plan your visit to Stonehenge? Book our Stonehenge tour<\/a> that includes roundtrip transportation from London. We can\u2019t wait to show you this ancient marvel that\u2019s unlike anything you\u2019ll ever see.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The world-famous, mysterious, prehistoric stone circle monument that is Stonehenge is a must for most people traveling to the U.K. It\u2019s shrouded in mystery, from its origins to its purpose, and it\u2019s unlike anything you\u2019ll see anywhere else in England \u2014 or the world, for this matter. Fortunately, it\u2019s only two hours from London, so<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":35188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[798],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35187"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35187"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38367,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35187\/revisions\/38367"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}