English
Heritage, the body that manage Stonehenge, allow small numbers to
visit the monument outside normal visiting hours.
Unlike during public opening hours there is no rope barrier barring
access to the stones themselves. You are free to touch and walk among
the stones.
Such visits are not allowed every day, indeed no such visits are allowed
in October and November. |
Stonehenge
at Dawn
From Inner Circle (Alter Stone) Out To Heel Stone |
Get
Up Close To The Stones
With A Special Access Visit
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Numbers are limited to around 25 at the very maximum and you are allocated
a time slot of one hour of access. During the winter this is at 8:00
in the morning, whilst during the summer the extended daylight allows
slots at 05:45, 06:15, 07:30 and up to two evening slots.
Unlike public opening you do not get the audio tour facility and the
gift shop and cafe/snack bar is closed. About the only thing that
is open is the toilets. The only company you will have is a security
guard to make sure you don't get up to mischief.
As a result you really do need a guide to make this worthwhile. Because
of the hours of the special access visiting slots and the remoteness
of the site you really need to take an organised tour or have private
transport from London.
Premium Tours and Anderson Tours operate Special Access Tours from
London. |
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Premium
Tours Special Access Tours
Because of the varying times of special access slots throughout the
year departure times vary. Clearly for morning visits, with a 90 minute
journey time from London and the latest slot being 08:00 it means
a very early start from your accommodation in London. There are also
evening slots.
(These tours sell out very quickly as the demand far outstrips supply
of available places - be sure to reserve your place early.
The tour twins Stonehenge with Bath and Lacock.
Lacock is a very picturesque village dating back to the Saxon era.
So pretty is the village that it has provided the setting for many
movies and television dramas including Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice
and more recently Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. Take a
walk before enjoying an early evening supper* (breakfast for morning
tours*) in The George, a vintage English pub built in 1361. (food/drink
not included).
Bath, a world heritage site, is a beautiful Georgian city with delightful
crescents, terraces and architecture. There will be time to visit
Bath Abbey, or to shop and explore.
Your guide will offer an optional walking tour to show you where Charles
Dickens lived and worked as a young man, and give you a chance to
sample cheeses fresh from the local dairy farms.
Enter the magnificent Roman Baths, where over one million litres of
boiling water still burst free from the hot springs everyday.
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Adult
Price: £79
Child Price: £72 (3 - 16 yrs) |
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| Premium
Tours Special Access Tours Dates |
MORNING
Dates
June
2008
12
July 2008
3,10,17,24,31
August
2008
7,14,21,28
September 2008
11,18,25 |
EVENING
Dates
June 2008
1,5,8,13,15
July 2008
6,13,18,20,27
August 2008
3,10,15,17,24,31
September 2008
4,7,17 |
Anderson
Tours Stonehenge Special Access Tours
An alternative operator is Anderson Tours that twin the special access
visit with Stonehenge.
Morning Itinerary
After the special access visit a short drive is taken through the
beautiful Woodford Valley and stop for a hearty traditional English
breakfast!
Next stop will be at Salisbury Cathedral, where you will have free
time to explore this beautiful and historic medieval Cathedral.
Price includes Special Access to Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and
English Breakfast plus of course the services of the guide.
Evening Itinerary
Before the special access visit a visit is made to Avebury, another
henge and much else Neolithic besides. A great training camp for Stonehenge
itself.
You will have free time to explore this picturesque and historic village
ringed by the largest stone circle in the world. Join your guide for
a pint of fine English Ale at the Red Lion Pub - the only pub in the
world located in the middle of a stone circle! (soft drink can be
arranged as an alternative option)
Also walk up the hillside to West Kennet Long Barrow one of the largest
Neolithic burial tombs in Britain and over 5000 years old.
Price includes Special Access to Stonehenge, expert guided tour of
Avebury and West Kennet Long Barrow and a pint at the Red Lion Pub.
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| Adult
Price: £75, Child Price: £69.50 |
Morning
Tours
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Evening Tours
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| Anderson
Tours Special Access Tours Dates |
MORNING
Dates
June
2008
13
July 2008
4,18
August
2008
1,8,15,29
September 2008
12,26 |
EVENING
Dates
September 2008
1,15, |
Small
Group Private Special Access Tours
Put your own group together and deal direct with English Heritage
to get an offer of an allocation of tickets. If you're lucky and get
an offer we'll sort the logistics out.
First of all though you need to see if your dates are available ...
Private
application for Special Access to Stonehenge
When you have a firm date and slot available, contact us and we'll
provide a quote for your transport needs including an experienced
guide.
This option only makes sense if you can get a group of between 6 and
16 together.
You will need to leave your London hotel at least 2 hours before your
special access slot.
Typical cost would be around £50 per person with an additional
visit, (normally to Salisbury or Avebury) - a tour length of around
7-8 hours. For early morning slots, where the bus will need to leave
London around 03:00, price will be nearer £60.
Use the enquiry form below: |
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