Stonehenge Location, Directions & How to Get There

Stonehenge sits on the open expanse of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, roughly 85 miles southwest of London. Getting there is straightforward once you know your options.

Exact Location

Address: Stonehenge, Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7DE Coordinates: 51.1789° N, 1.8262° W OS Grid Reference: SU 122 422 what3words: ///brave.rigid.lodge

Use the postcode SP4 7DE for the Visitor Centre, not the stones themselves. Satnav pointing directly at the monument will take you to a roadside layby on the A303, which has no facilities.

From London by Car

Take the A303 westbound from the M3. The journey is approximately 90 minutes in normal traffic. The Stonehenge Visitor Centre is clearly signed. Parking costs around £15 and must be pre-booked online during busy periods. Do not try to park on the roadside verges — it is unsafe and actively discouraged.

From Salisbury

Stonehenge is just 8 miles from Salisbury city centre via the A303. By car it takes around 15 minutes. The Stonehenge Tour bus also departs from Salisbury Rail Station.

By Train

Take London Waterloo to Salisbury (approximately 90 minutes). From Salisbury station, the Stonehenge Tour bus runs seasonally and drops you directly at the Visitor Centre. The return ticket includes a hop-on hop-off service via Old Sarum.

By National Express Coach

During summer months, direct coaches run from London Victoria to Stonehenge. Check the National Express website for current timetables and booking.

By Guided Tour

The easiest option for most visitors is a guided day tour from London. Transport is handled for you, no parking stress, and many tours include Salisbury Cathedral or Avebury as a second stop.

• Departures typically from central London hotels or Victoria
• Tours last 8–10 hours in total
• Small group and private options available

Detailed Driving Directions from Bristol, Oxford and Birmingham

If you are driving from elsewhere in the UK, here are the most common routes:

From Bristol (approximately 55 minutes, 45 miles): Take the M4 eastbound from Bristol to Junction 18 (Bath). From Junction 18, take the A46 south toward Bath, then follow signs to the A36/A366 toward Warminster. At Warminster, join the A303 eastbound for approximately 12 miles. Stonehenge is clearly signed from the A303 — you will see the monument on your left as you approach. The Visitor Centre car park is at Junction 2 of the A303/A360 roundabout. An alternative, more scenic route is via the A36 through Bath and the Wylye Valley — it adds 15 minutes but passes through some of Wiltshire’s prettiest villages, including Mells and Frome.

From Oxford (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, 65 miles): Take the A34 south from Oxford toward Newbury and Winchester. At the Tot Hill interchange, join the A303 westbound toward Andover and Amesbury. Continue on the A303 for roughly 30 minutes through the Salisbury Plain. The Stonehenge exit is clearly marked with brown tourist signs approximately 2 miles after the Countess Services roundabout near Amesbury. Note that the A303 westbound from the Tot Hill junction can get congested on Friday afternoons and school holidays — aim for a mid-morning departure if possible.

From Birmingham (approximately 2 hours, 115 miles): Take the M40 south from Birmingham toward London. At Junction 9, merge onto the M42 north briefly, then follow the M5 south toward Bristol. At Junction 8 of the M5, take the M50 west (or continue on the M5 to Junction 7 for the A44 toward Worcester if you prefer a cross-country route). The most direct route for most Birmingham drivers is to stay on the M5 to Junction 15 (the M4 interchange), take the M4 eastbound to Junction 18 (Bath), then follow the A46 south and A303 eastbound as described in the Bristol directions. Alternatively, take the M40 south to Junction 9, then follow the A34 south and A303 westbound as described for the Oxford route — this adds about 15 minutes but avoids M5 traffic around Bristol. Allow extra time if driving on a summer Saturday or bank holiday weekend; the A303 between Andover and Amesbury is a single-carriageway section that bottlenecks quickly.

Parking Tips and Costs

The Visitor Centre car park has approximately 500 spaces and costs £15 per car when pre-booked online (slightly more on the day if spaces remain). During peak periods (June–August, bank holidays, and solstice events), parking must be pre-booked at least 24 hours in advance. Motorhome and coach parking is available but must be reserved separately. There are no electric vehicle charging points currently at the Visitor Centre, though several are available in Amesbury (1.5 miles away) and at Solstice Park Services on the A303.

Whatever your method, book early in summer — spaces and parking fill up quickly.