DAY TRIPS FROM LONDON - London 2015 - page 783

GETTING TO STONEHENGE
Stonehenge is about 90 miles southwest of central London. To reach it from London, you
can take a bus tour; go on a guided tour that uses public transportation; or do it on your
own using public transport, connecting via Salisbury. It's not worth the hassle or expense
to rent a car just for a Stonehenge day trip.
By Bus Tour from London: Several companies offer big-bus day trips to Stonehenge
from London, often with stops in Bath, Windsor, Salisbury, and/or Avebury. These gener-
ally cost about £ 45-85 (including admission to Stonehenge), last 8-12 hours, and pack a
45-seat bus. Some include hotel pickup, admission fees, and meals; understand what's in-
cluded before you book. The more destinations listed for a tour, the less time you'll have
at any one stop. Well-known companies are Evan Evans (their bare-bones Stonehenge
Express gets you there and back for £ 44, tel. [phone] or US tel. [phone],
www.evanevanstours.co.uk ) and Golden Tours ( £ 44, tel. [phone] or US toll-
free tel. [phone], www.goldentours.com ) . International Friends runs pricier but
smaller 16-person tours that include Windsor and Bath ( £ 119, tel. [phone],
www.internationalfriends.co.uk ) .
By Guided Tour on Public Transport: London Walks offers a guided “Stonehenge
and Salisbury Tour” by train and bus on Tuesdays from April through October ( £ 60, in-
cludes all transportation, Salisbury walking tour, entry fees and guided tours of Stone-
henge and Salisbury Cathedral; buy all tickets from guide; cash only, Tue at 9:15, meet at
Waterloo Station's main ticket office, opposite Platform 16, call or check website to verify
price and schedule, advance booking not required, tel. [phone], recorded info tel.
020/7624-9255, www.walks.com ) .
On Your Own on Public Transport: Catch a train to Salisbury, then go by bus or
taxi to Stonehenge. Trains to Salisbury run from London's Waterloo Station (around £ 37
for same-day return leaving weekdays after 9:30, 2/hour, 1.5 hours, tel. [phone] or
0845-748-4950, www.southwesttrains.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk ) .
Once in Salisbury, you can take The Stonehenge Tour bus to the site. Their distinct-
ive red-and-black double-decker buses leave from the Salisbury train station (also stops
at bus station) and make a circuit to Stonehenge and Old Sarum, with lovely scenery
and a decent light commentary along the way (£14, £26 with Stonehenge and Old Sar-
um admission; tickets good all day; buy ticket from driver; daily June-Aug 10:00-18:00,
2/hour; may not run June 21 because of solstice crowds, shorter hours and hourly depar-
tures off-season; 30 minutes from station to Stonehenge, tel. [phone], timetable at
www.thestonehengetour.info ).