The evening, stop by stop
The evening, stop by stop
A single day out of London that works its way through four prehistoric sites before the gates open just for your group.
- Earls Court
Board the coach
The coach leaves from opposite Earls Court Underground Station, Warwick Road exit, Bus Stop C, SW5 9TB. Your exact pickup time is printed on the voucher after booking.
- Avebury
Walk the village stone circle
A guided walk around part of Avebury's circle, then free time in the village — lunch at the Red Lion pub is a popular choice, though food and drink aren't included.
- Silbury Hill
See Europe's tallest prehistoric mound
A stop at Silbury Hill, a chalk mound almost 40 metres high and roughly 4,400 years old. Climbing it isn't allowed, so you take it in from the field path below.
- West Kennet
Step inside a 5,000-year-old tomb
A short walk up to West Kennet Long Barrow, where you can go inside and stand in the burial chambers, built around 3650 BC.
- Stonehenge
An hour inside the inner circle
Special access begins once the site has closed for the day: a fully guided hour among the stones. English Heritage's one hard rule is that nobody touches, leans on or climbs them.
- The drive home
Back to London
The coach heads back into central London, with the tour manager confirming drop-off points on the way since timing can shift with traffic.
Times move with traffic and the season, so the tour manager confirms pickup and drop-off on the day — treat the order above as a guide, not a timetable.
Special access, by the rules
Special access, by the rules
"Special access" is a specific, limited arrangement English Heritage makes for small groups outside normal opening hours — not a paid shortcut to the front of a queue.
Outside public opening hours
English Heritage runs these sessions only in the early morning or evening, outside the hours the site is open to day visitors, so your group has the stones without the daytime crowds.
One rule that matters
English Heritage is specific on this point: no touching, leaning on, standing on or climbing the stones. Your guide repeats it on arrival, and it's the condition that keeps the access available at all.
A guided hour, not a free wander
You're taken around the inside of the circle and the wider landscape — which takes in the Slaughter Stone and the Heel Stone — with a guide, rather than left to explore alone.
Numbers are kept small
English Heritage limits every special access session to a small group, split again once inside the circle itself, so the stones never feel as crowded as they can during the day.
A landscape older than history
A landscape older than history
One World Heritage Site, not two attractions
UNESCO inscribed Stonehenge and Avebury together in 1986, under one listing covering the whole prehistoric landscape rather than two separate stops. The Crown Estate owns Stonehenge, English Heritage manages it, and the National Trust holds much of the land around Avebury.
Centuries of building, not one project
Stonehenge went up in stages from about 3100 BC to 1600 BC, with the outer ring of sarsen stones raised around 2500 BC. Avebury's bank, ditch and stone circles belong to roughly the same few centuries, part of the same long span of building.
Stone moved without wheels or engines
The sarsens were dragged from West Woods, about 16 miles north of Stonehenge; the smaller bluestones travelled from Wales, roughly 150 miles away. How either journey was made is still debated among archaeologists.
Built to catch the solstice sun
Stonehenge's main axis lines up with the midsummer sunrise in one direction and the midwinter sunset in the other, an alignment that has drawn study and speculation since the eighteenth century.
What's part of this evening
What's part of this evening
| Stop | What you get | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Avebury and Silbury Hill | A guided walk around part of Avebury's stone circle, free time in the village, and a stop to see Silbury Hill. | Avebury is normally open and free to visit on your own — this coach brings you with a guide and keeps the day moving to a timetable. |
| West Kennet Long Barrow | A walk up to the barrow and entry into its burial chambers, built around 3650 BC and tall enough to stand up in. | Most chambered long barrows this old have ceilings under a metre high, which makes this one unusual. |
| Stonehenge inner circle | An hour inside the stone circle once the site has closed to the public, fully guided by English Heritage's rules. | A standard daytime ticket keeps visitors on the path around the stones — it doesn't include entry inside the circle. |
Before you go
Before you go
Finding the coach
Pickup is opposite Earls Court Underground Station, Warwick Road exit, Bus Stop C, SW5 9TB. Your exact pickup time is printed on the voucher you get after booking.
Dressing for an English evening outdoors
Stonehenge sits in the open on Salisbury Plain, so bring a layer even in summer — the coach heads out in the evening and the wind picks up once the sun starts to drop.
Mobility
The tour isn't suitable for anyone with mobility impairments; the ground at Avebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow is grass and uneven in places.
Cancelling or changing plans
Cancel free of charge up to 14 days before departure through GetYourGuide. Closer to the date, the booking is no longer refundable.
Inside the circle
Photographs are welcome, but nobody may touch, lean on, stand on or climb the stones — English Heritage enforces this for every visitor inside, tour group or not.
What the day covers
Door to door from central London, the day runs about 11 hours with a tour manager and a live English-speaking guide throughout. The stop order above is a guide and can change with traffic or weather.
Read before you book
Read before you book
The Stonehenge evening tour, stop by stop
What an 11-hour day out of London actually covers, from the Earls Court pickup to the drive home.
Worth a read before you go → inside the rope lineWhat "special access" at Stonehenge actually means
Why the inner circle is normally off-limits, and the rules that keep it open to small guided groups.
Worth a read before you go → beyond the circleAvebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennet: the landscape around Stonehenge
Three Neolithic sites that are part of the same UNESCO World Heritage listing as Stonehenge, and part of this tour.
Worth a read before you go → choosing your visitA standard Stonehenge ticket or this special access evening: which to choose
What each kind of visit actually gives you, so you can decide if the evening tour is worth it for your trip.
Worth a read before you go → practical notesWhat to know before an evening at Stonehenge
Dress, timing, mobility and cancellation details worth checking before your coach leaves London.
Worth a read before you go → special occasionsPlanning a Stonehenge evening for a group or a celebration
Booking ahead for a birthday, anniversary or a group of friends who want the inner circle to themselves.
Worth a read before you go →FAQ
What people ask before they book
Is this the same as a normal Stonehenge ticket?
No. A standard daytime ticket keeps visitors on the path around the stones. This evening tour includes an hour inside the stone circle itself, at a time English Heritage has closed the site to everyone else.
Can we touch the stones once we're inside the circle?
No. English Heritage's one firm rule for everyone with special access is no touching, leaning on, standing on or climbing the stones, and your guide repeats it on arrival.
Where do we meet the coach, and what time?
The pickup point is opposite Earls Court Underground Station, Warwick Road exit, Bus Stop C, SW5 9TB. Your exact pickup time is printed on the voucher after you book.
How long is the whole day, door to door?
About 11 hours from central London and back, by luxury coach, with a tour manager and a live English-speaking guide throughout.
Is Avebury guided, or do we explore on our own?
Part of Avebury's stone circle is a guided walk, then you get free time in the village. Lunch at the Red Lion pub is a popular choice, though food and drink aren't included.
Can we go inside West Kennet Long Barrow?
Yes. The tour includes a walk up to the barrow and entry into its burial chambers, which date to around 3650 BC.
Is the tour suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties?
It isn't. The ground at Avebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow is grass and uneven in places, and the day involves several separate walks.
What if our plans change after booking?
Yes, up to a point: GetYourGuide refunds you in full if you cancel 14 days or more ahead of departure. Once you're inside that window, the fare is no longer refundable.
Booking this evening
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The stones, the fence gone, nobody left but your group and the evening sky.
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