Here's everything you need to know about how to join Stonehenge from Londonand how to visit this mysterious historic site.
Here we go!
Stonehenge from London: article summary
When is the best time to visit?
Stonehenge is open all year round, so any time is a good time. to visit Stonehenge from London!
UK weather is notoriously changeable and unstable, so you're just as likely to encounter clear skies in winter as in summer.
In winter, days are shorter and temperatures colder, so plan ahead and dress accordingly.
In summer, the days are much longer and opening times are extended, but this is also when Stonehenge is most visited.
A site just a few miles from London
Stonehenge is 150 km west of London and makes an excellent destination for a day trip.
You can get there independently, but you'll either have to rent a car or use public transport, which can be expensive!
How do I get there?
Whether you use public transport or your own car, there are many ways to get to your destination. to Stonehenge from London.
Stonehenge from London: take the bus
The cheapest way to reach Stonehenge from London is by bus with National Express from Victoria bus station.
Tickets cost less than £20but require one or two changes at Salisbury and/or Amesbury, which means it can take up to 3 hours to travel in each direction!
Use the train
If you're planning to visit Stonehenge from London by public transport, opt for the train.
You can travel from London Waterloo to Salisbury in less than an hour and a half for around £40 return.
Once in Salisbury, you'll need to change to the double-decker Stonehenge sightseeing bus, which leaves every half-hour in summer and every hour in winter.
Return bus tickets cost £10 per person and the journey to Stonehenge takes approximately half an hour.
Take your car
Driving from London to Stonehenge takes between 2 and 2 1/2 hours, depending on where you're staying in London. It's pretty simple: take the M3 west, then turn onto the A303.
The downside is that you'll need to hire a car, which can be expensive, and the A303, the road between Salisbury and Stonehenge, can be congested in summer.
Stonehenge opening times
Opening times change throughout the year. Plan to get there as early as possible to avoid the crowds. You can access the site :
- March 30 to May 31 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- June 1 to August 31 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- September 1 to October 15 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- October 16 to March 29 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stonehenge from London: how much do tickets cost?
Tickets are timed and allow only a few minutes' entry to the site. For the latter, you must allow :
- 17,50 £ per adult
- 10,50 £ per child
The brief history of Stonehenge
The Stonehenge monument is often reported to have been completed between 2000 and 3000 BC, but there is archaeological evidence to suggest that the area surrounding the site was occupied by humans as early as 8,000 BC.
However, the purpose of Stonehenge's construction is unclear.
In 1965, British-born astronomer Gerald Hawkins first put forward the hypothesis that Stonehenge had astrological significance.
In his book Stonehenge Decoded, he wrote that the site is aligned with the positions of the rising and setting sun and the moon on the horizon.
He concluded that Stonehenge was probably a megalithic astronomical observatory, with a precise calendar based on the movement of the sun and moon in the sky.
Since then, the site has been considered a place of great historical and spiritual importance for many people.
Stonehenge from London: what to do at Stonehenge?
When you reach Stonehenge for the first time, you may be disappointed. You can't get inside the stone circle, you can't get inside the stone circle, you can't get inside the stone circle, you can't get inside the stone circle, you can't get inside the stone circle. walk along a circular path that goes all the way round.
Inside the museum, you'll find over 250 objects and archaeological finds from nearby museums in Salisbury and Wiltshire, including :
- Jewelry
- Ceramics
- Tools
The visit to Stonehenge and the visitor center will take around three hours. You can also discover other sites nearby for a day trip.
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