Stonehenge and Salisbury day trip from London
A day trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury from London: Salisbury Cathedral, with the tallest spire in Britain and the best-preserved Magna Carta, the hill fort of Old Sarum, the stones of Stonehenge, and an evening walk across the water meadows. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Stonehenge and Salisbury in 1 day
Day 1
Salisbury Cathedral
A 13th-century cathedral with the tallest spire in Britain and one of four original copies of the Magna Carta.
Old Sarum
The hilltop ruins of Salisbury's first settlement, an Iron Age fort later home to a Norman castle and cathedral.
Stonehenge
The prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain, built in stages about 5,000 to 4,000 years ago, with a museum at the visitor centre.
Harnham Water Meadows
Riverside meadows south of the city with the view of the cathedral that John Constable painted.
Getting there
Trains from London Waterloo reach Salisbury in about 1 hour 30. The Stonehenge Tour bus leaves from Salisbury station and stops at Old Sarum on the way; it takes about 30 minutes to Stonehenge. Coach tours from London are the alternative.
Staying in London? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Stonehenge and Salisbury
Open all year. Spring and autumn are quieter at Stonehenge; summer is busiest. Around the summer and winter solstices special access draws large crowds. Winter days are short, so start early.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Stonehenge and Salisbury on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Stonehenge and Salisbury on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Stonehenge and Salisbury on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United Kingdom from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Stonehenge and Salisbury
- Book Stonehenge's timed tickets ahead, especially in summer and at weekends.
- A shuttle runs between the Stonehenge visitor centre and the stones, about 2 km apart.
- See the Magna Carta in the cathedral's Chapter House before the afternoon groups arrive.
- Bring a rain jacket: Salisbury Plain is open and windy.
- Check the Stonehenge Tour bus's last departure so you don't miss the train back.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Old Sarum: MARKEDWARDS, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Salisbury Cathedral: Antony McCallum: Who is the uploader, photographer, full copyright owner and proprietor of WyrdLight.com, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stonehenge: garethwiscombe, CC BY 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
