Stonehenge FAQs: Every Visitor Question Answered (2026)
Stonehenge is open daily (except 25 December) from 9:30am, closing at 5pm in winter and 6pm in summer. Last entry is 2 hours before closing. Adult tickets cost approximately £22–£29 online (15% cheaper than gate prices). The nearest train station is Salisbury (15km away); the Stonehenge Tour Bus connects hourly. The car park postcode is SP4 7DE; parking costs £4 for non-members via Pay By Phone app. Dogs are not permitted in the monument field. Photography is allowed. Touching the stones is not permitted during standard visits.
This page answers the most common questions visitors have about Stonehenge before and during their visit, drawn from English Heritage’s official guidance and independent visitor experience. If a question is answered in more detail on another page of this guide, a link is provided.
Tickets and Entry
How much does it cost to visit Stonehenge in 2026?
Online admission (booking in advance) saves 15% compared to the gate price. Approximate 2026 prices:
- Adults: £22–£29 depending on season and day
- Children (5–17): £13–£18
- Under 5: Free
- Family (2 adults + up to 3 children): from approximately £44
- English Heritage members: Free
- National Trust (England) members: Free
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes — strongly recommended. Stonehenge operates a timed-entry system and popular slots (particularly 9:30am on summer weekends) sell out well in advance. Online booking also saves approximately 15% versus the gate price.
Is there a booking fee?
No. There is no booking fee when buying directly through the English Heritage website.
Can I visit Stonehenge for free?
Yes, in several ways: English Heritage members and National Trust (England) members enter free (membership card required; timed slot still must be booked). The summer and winter solstice events also allow free public access, though these events are extremely crowded. A public footpath near the site gives a distant external view for free, but does not provide access to the Visitor Centre, shuttle, or viewing path.
Can I walk inside the stone circle?
Not during standard visiting hours. The viewing path circles the monument from approximately 10 metres distance. Walking inside the stones requires a separate Stone Circle Experience booking (£70 adults, £40 children 5–17), which takes place outside normal opening hours at dawn or dusk.
Can I touch the stones?
No. Touching the stones is not permitted during standard visiting hours, to protect the monument from erosion and contamination. Some tactile replica stones near the Neolithic Houses can be touched.
What if I arrive late for my time slot?
English Heritage will try to accommodate late arrivals. If your slot is at capacity when you arrive, you may be asked to wait for the next available slot. During busy periods this can add 30 minutes. Arrive on time or slightly early.
Is there a time limit once I enter?
No. Once you have checked in during your booked slot, you can stay until the site closes. There is no maximum stay.
Opening Hours and Closures
What time does Stonehenge open?
9:30am every day, year-round (except Christmas Day).
What time does Stonehenge close?
- 1 January–27 March 2026: 5:00pm (last entry 3:00pm)
- 28 March–6 September 2026: 6:00pm (last entry 4:00pm)
- 7 September 2026–16 March 2027: 5:00pm (last entry 3:00pm)
Is Stonehenge open on Bank Holidays?
Yes — Stonehenge is open on all bank holidays including New Year’s Day, Easter, and May bank holidays. The only day it is closed is Christmas Day (25 December).
Is Stonehenge open at Christmas?
Closed on Christmas Day (25 December) only. Open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day (26 December) during normal seasonal hours.
Getting There
How do I get to Stonehenge from London?
Four main options:
- By car: M3 then A303, postcode SP4 7DE, approximately 2 hours
- By organised tour: Depart Victoria area, approximately 2 hours coach travel
- By train + bus: London Waterloo to Salisbury (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes), then Stonehenge Tour Bus (approximately 30 minutes, hourly)
- By coach: London Victoria to Salisbury (approximately 3 hours), then Tour Bus
What is the postcode for Stonehenge?
SP4 7DE — this navigates to the Visitor Centre car park. Do not use other postcodes.
Is there a direct bus from London to Stonehenge?
No standard public bus goes directly. The route is: train from London Waterloo to Salisbury, then the Stonehenge Tour Bus from Salisbury station (hourly service).
Is there a train to Stonehenge?
There is no station at Stonehenge. The nearest station is Salisbury (15km away). From Salisbury, take the hourly Stonehenge Tour Bus or a taxi.
Parking
How much does parking cost at Stonehenge?
£4 for non-members, paid via the Pay By Phone app only (no cash or card machines at the car park). Free for English Heritage and qualifying National Trust/associated members.
How do I pay for parking?
Via the Pay By Phone app. Download it before your visit — it is not practical to set up on arrival. Instructions are posted around the car park.
Is there parking at the stone circle itself?
No. The car park is at the Visitor Centre, approximately 1.5km from the stone circle. Take the free shuttle bus or walk from the Visitor Centre.
At the Site
How long does a visit take?
Most visitors spend 1.5–2 hours covering the stone circle, Visitor Centre, and Neolithic houses. Visitors who want to explore the wider National Trust landscape can spend 2.5–3 hours or more.
Is there a shuttle bus?
Yes — a free shuttle bus runs every few minutes between the Visitor Centre and the stone circle (approximately 5–10 minutes). It is accessible for wheelchairs and Class 2 mobility scooters (max 600mm x 1000mm). No pre-booking required.
Can I walk from the Visitor Centre to the stones?
Yes — there is a walking route of approximately 1.3km each way through the National Trust prehistoric landscape. Allow 25–40 minutes each way. The walk is pleasant and gives a much better sense of the setting than the shuttle.
Are there toilets at the stone circle?
No. Toilets are only at the Visitor Centre. Use them before taking the shuttle or walking to the stones.
Is there a café?
Yes — the 110-seat café at the Visitor Centre serves hot and cold food and drinks. It does not require an admission ticket to use. High chairs are available; children’s lunchboxes are available.
Can I bring food?
Yes. Picnicking is permitted in the monument field (with views of the stone circle) and in designated areas near the Visitor Centre. Food is not permitted on the stone circle viewing path.
Is the Visitor Centre worth visiting?
Yes. The exhibition includes over 250 archaeological objects, interactive displays on how the monument was built, a 360-degree audio-visual theatre, and the reconstructed Neolithic houses. Allow 30–45 minutes for a meaningful visit.
Photography
Is photography allowed at Stonehenge?
Personal photography is permitted throughout the site, including at the stone circle. Photography of the monument for personal use is unrestricted.
Can I use a drone at Stonehenge?
No. Drones are strictly prohibited at Stonehenge and in the surrounding landscape.
Are there restrictions on commercial photography?
Yes. Commercial, media, or professional photography shoots require prior permission from English Heritage. Contact them directly before your visit.
When is the best light for photography?
Early morning (9:30am opening slot) for soft morning light; late afternoon for long shadows and warm tones. Winter visits on clear days produce particularly dramatic photographic conditions.
Dogs, Children, and Accessibility
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are welcome in the Visitor Centre grounds and car park, but they are not permitted on the shuttle bus, inside the Visitor Centre exhibition, or in the monument field around the stone circle. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the entire site including the shuttle and stone circle.
Is Stonehenge suitable for children?
Yes. English Heritage has invested heavily in child-friendly features: interactive exhibition, reconstructed Neolithic houses with docents, family trails, activity packs, and a pocket money souvenir range. Children aged under 5 are free.
Is Stonehenge wheelchair accessible?
Yes — substantially. The main visitor route (car park, Visitor Centre, shuttle bus, stone circle viewing path) is accessible. The shuttle has ramps and accommodates one wheelchair or small mobility scooter per journey. A Changing Places toilet with ceiling hoist is available. Twenty-two Blue Badge parking bays are near the Visitor Centre.
Is a carer admitted free?
Yes — one essential carer or companion is admitted free of charge alongside a disabled visitor.
Tours and Inner Circle Access
What is the best tour from London to Stonehenge?
It depends on your priorities. Half-day tours suit visitors who want just Stonehenge; two-stop tours (Stonehenge + Bath, Stonehenge + Windsor) suit first-timers; inner circle access tours suit those who want to walk among the stones.
Can I walk inside the stone circle on a tour?
Only during Stone Circle Experience sessions, which take place outside normal opening hours. The English Heritage Stone Circle Experience costs £70 for adults and £40 for children (5–17). Commercial inner circle tours from London are also available.
When is the best time to visit Stonehenge?
Early morning (9:30am opening slot) on a weekday between April–June or September–October gives the best balance of good weather, manageable crowds, and soft morning light.
What to Expect
What will I see at Stonehenge?
The stone circle viewing path gives close-up views of the monument from every angle. The Visitor Centre has an exhibition of over 250 archaeological objects. Reconstructed Neolithic houses near the Visitor Centre show how people lived when Stonehenge was built. The wider National Trust landscape contains burial mounds, the Avenue, and the Cursus.
Is Stonehenge worth visiting?
Yes — the monument is more impressive in person than photographs suggest. The scale of the sarsens (up to 9 metres tall, 25 tonnes), the quality of the Visitor Centre exhibition, and the extraordinary setting on Salisbury Plain combine to make a visit genuinely memorable. Reviews from millions of visitors consistently rate the experience highly despite the viewing restrictions.
Why can’t I walk among the stones?
Access to the stone circle interior was restricted from the 1970s onwards to protect the monument from erosion, ground compaction, and physical damage from the volume of visitors. The viewing path from approximately 10 metres delivers excellent views of the stones from all angles while preserving the monument for future generations.
Is Stonehenge crowded?
It depends on when you visit. The peak crowds (July–August weekends, 11am–2pm) can make the viewing path feel busy. Early morning visits on weekdays in spring or early autumn are significantly quieter. The timed-entry system prevents overcrowding within each time slot.
