Stonehenge & Salisbury Cathedral from London or a Southampton Cruise

Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral are two of the most visited sights in England, and they are only half an hour apart. Most visitors come either from London or from a cruise ship in Southampton. Here is how to see both in one day, how long to allow and how a private tour with Travel Connect works from each starting point.

How far is Stonehenge from Salisbury?

The Stonehenge visitor centre is about 10 miles north of Salisbury city centre, usually a 20 to 25 minute drive. From the visitor centre, a shuttle or a walk of around 1.5 miles takes you to the stone circle itself.

How long to allow

Most visitors spend two to three hours at Stonehenge, including the exhibition, the reconstructed Neolithic houses and the walk around the stones. With the journey there and back, a half-day is comfortable.

Tickets

Stonehenge is run by English Heritage and entry is by timed ticket. At the time of writing (October 2026) adult tickets are £27.20 when booked online and £32.00 on the day, and children aged 5 to 17 are £17.20. Booking online in advance is cheaper and guarantees your entry time. Entry tickets are not included in our tour prices.

From a Southampton cruise: Stonehenge and Salisbury shore excursion

Stonehenge is around 35 miles from the Southampton cruise terminals, roughly an hour by road. On a private shore excursion your driver meets you at the terminal, takes you to Stonehenge and then into Salisbury for the cathedral and the Close, and brings you back to the ship with time to spare before all-aboard. Because the vehicle is yours for the day, there is no waiting for other passengers.

• Stonehenge & Salisbury from Southampton cruise terminal (6 hours): from £595 per vehicle.
• End of your cruise: terminal to Heathrow via Stonehenge (6 hours): from £595 per vehicle, with your luggage in the car all day.

Only need to get to or from the ship? We also run fixed-price Salisbury to Southampton cruise terminal transfers from £70 per vehicle.

From London: a private day trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury

Stonehenge is about 90 miles from central London, around two to two and a half hours by road. A private day trip collects you from your London hotel, visits Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral at your own pace and returns you to your door, without the fixed timetable of a coach tour.

• Stonehenge & Salisbury from London (11 hours): from £1,045 per vehicle.

Already in Salisbury?

• Stonehenge half-day tour from Salisbury (3 hours): from £315.
• Stonehenge, Salisbury & Avebury (8 hours): from £765.
• Stonehenge & Bath (9 hours): from £875.

All prices are per vehicle and include VAT, for an executive saloon with up to three passengers; larger vehicles for up to seven passengers are available. Stonehenge entry tickets are not included. Full details are on our private tours page.

What to expect on the day

Every tour is private and planned around you, so the timings below are only an example. Your driver adjusts the day to your Stonehenge entry time, your interests and, for cruise passengers, your all-aboard time.

Example day from a Southampton cruise (6 hours)

• Morning: your driver meets you at the cruise terminal with a name board and helps with any bags.
• About 1 hour: drive across the Hampshire and Wiltshire countryside to Stonehenge.
• About 2 hours at Stonehenge: the visitor centre exhibition, the Neolithic houses and the walk or shuttle to the stones.
• About 30 minutes: drive into Salisbury.
• About 1.5 hours in Salisbury: the cathedral, Magna Carta and the Close, with time for a coffee or lunch.
• About 45 minutes: back to the ship, comfortably before all-aboard.

Example day trip from London (11 hours)

• Early morning: collection from your London hotel or home.
• About 2 to 2.5 hours: drive west to Stonehenge, with a comfort stop if you wish.
• About 2 hours at Stonehenge.
• About 2 hours in Salisbury: lunch, the cathedral and the Close.
• About 2.5 hours: return to your London address in the early evening.

Your driver stays with you all day, so you can leave coats and shopping in the vehicle, and there is no group to wait for.

Salisbury Cathedral: what not to miss

Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in Britain, one of the four surviving original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta and the largest cathedral close in the country. Allow at least an hour; our Salisbury Cathedral visitor guide has more.

Tips for your visit

• Book your Stonehenge entry time first, then book your tour around it. Cruise passengers: tell us your all-aboard time and we plan the day back from it.
• Wear comfortable shoes and bring a waterproof layer: the site is open grassland and very exposed.
• Early morning and late afternoon slots are usually quieter.