Salisbury's oldest tavern
The Haunch of Venison
What to order: a pint in the bar downstairs and, if you eat, some game in the dining room upstairs.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 51.07° N · 1.79° W
Stonehenge and Salisbury in a day, without a car and without a tour coach.
A direct train from Waterloo, a bus to Stonehenge with tickets included, Old Sarum on the way back, the cathedral with the tallest spire and its Magna Carta, and a 700-year-old tavern.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Bournemouth fromAlicante 2 h 30Málaga 2 h 45Fuerteventura 4 h 15Lanzarote 4 h 15Gran Canaria 4 h 30Tenerife Sur 4 h 30
Part of Salisbury
Add to my trip
Total time10 h
By car2 h 15 each way
Train1 h 30 from Waterloo
StonehengeBus with tickets
Cathedral£12.50 online
Magna CartaIncluded
DifficultyEasy
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave London 1 h 30 by train
direct from Waterloo
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1
Stonehenge and Old Sarum on the tour bus from Salisbury
The Stonehenge Tour from the station · ticket with admissions
+44 1202 338420
Activity company With The Stonehenge Tour (Salisbury Reds)Book - 15 min by bus
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2
Old Sarum, the first Salisbury
get off on the way back and catch the next one
- 15 min by bus
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3
The Haunch of Venison
inn almost 700 years old · book by phone
1 Minster Street, SP1 1TB Salisbury · +44 1722 411313
Bar €€Book - 10 min on foot
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4
Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta
admission included in the bus ticket · last entry 15:45
- 10 min on foot
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5
A walk through the Harnham water meadows to the Old Mill
the Constable view · if there is light left
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Back home 1 h 30 by train
from Salisbury · at Waterloo around 20:00
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Stonehenge and Old Sarum on the tour bus from Salisbury
Stonehenge from London is usually sold as a coach trip, with seven hours on the road. This plan does it by train and bus: an hour and a half on a direct train to Salisbury, and at the same station the tourist bus leaves that takes you to the stones with the ticket included. On the way back, the hill of Old Sarum and, in the afternoon, the cathedral with the tallest spire in England and an original Magna Carta.
The day, hour by hour
8:20 · Train from Waterloo. South Western Railway direct to Salisbury, around an hour and a half.
10:00 · Stonehenge. The Stonehenge Tour leaves from the station and arrives in half an hour. The all-inclusive ticket covers entry to Stonehenge, the shuttle to the stones and Salisbury Cathedral for later.
12:30 · Old Sarum. The bus returns via the fortified hill where the first Salisbury stood. Get off, walk round the castle and the plan of the old cathedral, and catch the next bus.
14:00 · Lunch at The Haunch of Venison. A tavern almost 700 years old beside the market square. Book by phone.
15:15 · Cathedral and Magna Carta. Entry is included in the bus ticket. The Chapter House with the Magna Carta; last entry at 15:45.
17:00 · Harnham Meadows. If there is still light, cross to the other side of the river along the Town Path, with the view of the cathedral that Constable painted.
18:30 · Return. Direct train to Waterloo.
With teenagers or in the rain
With fit teenagers, book the tower climb: 332 steps up to the base of the spire, with cathedral entry included. If it rains, Salisbury Museum explains who built Stonehenge.
Time4 h
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
The Old Mill
What to order: Sunday lunch or something light on the terrace by the water, after the walk across the meadows.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Salisbury
All year, with a winter bus timetable. In summer take the first bus to reach Stonehenge before the coaches. On Sundays the Magna Carta can be seen from 13:00 to 16:00.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Take the first bus
You reach the stones before the coaches do.
- 2Do not pay for the cathedral twice
It is included in the bus ticket.
- 3Check the winter timetable
The bus runs fewer departures out of season.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Stonehenge from London without a car?
Yes: a train to Salisbury and The Stonehenge Tour bus from the station.
Does the bus include entry?
The all-inclusive ticket covers Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral.
Is there time for everything in one day?
Yes, if you set out early: Stonehenge in the morning and the cathedral in the afternoon.
Can you see the Magna Carta on a Sunday?
Yes, from 13:00 to 16:00.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/england/salisbury/itineraries/stonehenge-by-train-and-bus
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.