Is Stonehenge Worth It?

Note: Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link to make a hotel booking. Full disclosure policy here.

Is Stonehenge worth it? This mysterious monument is a popular day trip from London, but is it actually worth your time? Here’s everything you should know about visiting Stonehenge before you go.

This guide will help you decide if Stonehenge is worth it, or if you can skip it.

Stonehenge is a monument located in the countryside of Wiltshire, just over two hours from London by car. The nearest city is Salisbury, which is about a 20-minute drive from the ruins.

Not much is known about the origins of Stonehenge, which is part of its alluring mystique. It’s believed that the monument was constructed at the end of the Stone Age, possibly as a temple or burial site for Neolithic people. However, nothing is known for sure about who built Stonehenge, or why it was built.

Despite its cryptic origins, this collection of stones on the Salisbury Plain is one of the most popular tourist attractions in England, receiving more than 1.3 million visitors every year.

But is it a worthwhile attraction, or an overrated tourist trap? Let’s get into it!

My Experience Visiting Stonehenge

I visited Stonehenge back in 2019 while on a road trip around England with my dad and my brother.

We stopped at Stonehenge on a rainy morning in early June and there were very few other visitors. The moody weather and lack of crowds provided the perfect atmosphere. Based on my budgeting records, three tickets cost us $65. And based on the exchange rate at that time, that averages out to 17 GBP per ticket.

Visiting Stonehenge was definitely worth it to me. Seeing the monument up close was a cool experience. But based on several factors, I don’t know if I would currently recommend it to other travelers.

Why Stonehenge May Not Be Worth It

First, let’s talk about why Stonehenge may not be worth it to you. Then I’ll get into the scenarios where I think visiting may be worth it to you to help you decide whether or not you should go.

Here are the reasons you may want to skip Stonehenge:

Tickets Are Expensive

The number one reason you might want to skip Stonehenge is because of how expensive it is. Ticket prices have gone up a ton since I visited in 2019, and in my opinion it’s way too much now.

You can check current ticket prices right here, but at the time of writing this, a standard adult ticket is between 22.70 GBP and 28.60 GBP depending on day of the week and time of year that you visit. (And be sure to book your tickets online in advance — they cost even more if you want until the day of!)

All that includes is access to a small museum and the monument itself, and I don’t think it’s worth it.

High Crowds

I got lucky visiting on a rainy weekday morning in early June, and there were very few tourists around. However, Stonehenge is extremely popular and depending on when you go, it can be very crowded.

For example, on a weekend in July or August, you might be shuffling around Stonehenge with thousands of other visitors. And it’s not a particularly large site, so you would really feel the crowds.

If you have to visit Stonehenge in high season, it may not be worth it.

It’s Out of the Way

Getting to Stonehenge from London on public transportation requires taking a train to Salisbury, then transferring to a bus that goes to the visitor’s center. The total journey takes around 2.5 hours.

If you’re driving yourself, it still takes over two hours from London.

I definitely don’t think Stonehenge is worth it for a day trip from London if it’s the only place you’re going to visit. It’s not worth four to five hours in transit for a maximum of an hour and a half at Stonehenge.

Limited viewing options

You know those photos you’ve seen of Stonehenge at sunrise or sunset with beams of light shining through the stones? Yeah, you won’t actually be able to see that for yourself because of the opening hours.

Stonehenge opens every day at 9:30 AM and closes between 5 PM and 7 PM depending on the time of year. So you can’t actually visit the monument at sunrise or sunset, only during daylight hours.

You also can’t walk between the stones or get super close to them. This makes sense to protect the monument, but know that you will be limited to a path that runs in a circle around Stonehenge.

Why Stonehenge May Be Worth It

Okay, so now I’ve talked about some of the reasons I don’t think Stonehenge is worth visiting. But let’s get into the scenarios where it is worth visiting. Like I said, I personally really enjoyed Stonehenge.

If you’ve always wanted to see it, this is what I recommend to have the best experience:

Visiting at the right time

If you can time your visit right, I think Stonehenge may still be worth it. As I mentioned, the site now offers date-based pricing for tickets, and you save 15% by booking your tickets online in advance.

You check current ticket prices on this website.

Basically, weekdays outside the summer months are the cheapest time to visit. If you can go on a weekday, you’ll avoid some of the weekend crowds. I would also recommend arriving right at 9:30 AM or else waiting until about two hours before Stonehenge closes in order to experience fewer crowds.

Visiting as part of a tour

Visiting Stonehenge might also be worth it if you go as part of a tour. This is a great thing to do if you don’t have your own car, are staying in London, and want to visit multiple destinations in one day.

Most tours combine a visit to Stonehenge with several other nearby destinations. Since you really only need an hour and a half or so at Stonehenge, this is a good way to maximize your day and see other places.

Here are some of the best Stonehenge tours from London to check out:

Stonehenge combines well with a visit to the charming city of Bath, the university town of Oxford, or Windsor Castle. These tours allow you make the most of your day and see other iconic destinations.