How To Visit Stonehenge and What To See When You Go

The world-famous, mysterious, prehistoric stone circle monument that is Stonehenge is a must for most people traveling to the U.K. It’s shrouded in mystery, from its origins to its purpose, and it’s unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else in England — or the world, for this matter.

Fortunately, it’s only two hours from London, so it’s an easy day trip from the capital. Here’s how to get there, what you can see and do, plus a few tips from my visit.

What is Stonehenge?

You’ve probably heard of Stonehenge before, but what is it really — and how did it get here?

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’s hard to imagine just how it was built. But the bigger question has always been, why?

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

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.

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’re older than the Colosseum and the Great Pyramids.

How to get to Stonehenge

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

You can use public transport, but be aware that the train or bus stops in the nearby city of Salisbury and from there you’ll need to take a taxi, or take the special Stonehenge bus that takes you from the bus station in Salisbury up to Stonehenge.

Visit this ancient wonder on an easy half-day tour from London

Half Day Trip to Stonehenge From London

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Bear in mind, tickets sell out fast and if you turn up to Stonehenge without a ticket on the day, you’re very unlikely to get in.

However, it’s 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… 

Stonehenge as a day trip from London

If you’re staying in London and you’ve already explored the city’s highlights, like its top markets and the lively South Bank along the Thames, a trip to Stonehenge is a great way to get out of London and see a bit more of England and its history. 

It’s 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’ll 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.

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.

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!

What to expect when you get there

You’ll either park at the visitor center or your tour bus will drop you there. 

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’s a pleasant walk up the hill through some fields and easy for anyone with moderate levels of fitness.

If you were imagining running around in the stone circle and touching the standing stones, unfortunately you can’t. A low rope fence, added in 1977, stops you from walking onto the grass and going right up to the stones. However, you’ll 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.

Sure, we’d 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’s content. As for touching them, I’m pretty sure they just feel like regular stones.

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. 

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’t 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’d need to book well in advance.

Stonehenge visitor’s center

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

Of course, if you go with a tour, your guide will share even more information about the monument.

At the Stonehenge visitor’s center, there’s 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!

You can also download the English Heritage app, which you can use as you walk around the stones, listening to the information.

I went to the visitor center before I walked up to the stones, and then again when I took the bus back down. There’s a gift shop and a cafe in the visitor center which were nice to relax in after I’d seen the stones.

Summing up: What it’s like to visit Stonehenge

Stonehenge is at the top of most people’s lists when they come to the U.K., and it’s definitely worth a visit, but it does get busy, you’ll need to have booked a ticket ahead. It’s 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.

It’s cheaper and easier to book a tour. You’ll have your entry ticket and travel costs all rolled into one and you don’t have to worry about changing from train to bus or driving on unfamiliar roads.

And don’t miss the visitor’s center for a chance to get hands-on with Stonehenge history!

Ready to plan your visit to Stonehenge? Book our Stonehenge tour that includes roundtrip transportation from London. We can’t wait to show you this ancient marvel that’s unlike anything you’ll ever see.