Salisbury/Stonehenge DIY shore excursion from Southampton

[flahagan]

Five of us are traveling on the Princess Regal and will be in Southampton Monday, May 5, from 5 AM to 6 PM.  We would like to visit Salisbury and possibly Stonehenge, but the tours are REALLY expensive.  Is there a way to do this ourselves by using a train and HOHO bus?  Personally, I'd like to spend the majority of the day in Salisbury and it doesn't seem like it's that distant from the port.  I'd love to hear from any of you who've done this before.  Thanks in advance.

[John Bull]

Monday 4th or Tues 5th May??

Makes no odds because altho the first monday in May is normally a UK public holiday, in 2020 the holiday has been moved to Friday 8th May to coincide with VE Day 75th anniversary..

So ignore any diaries etc which show  monday 4th as a holiday. 

 

Princess ships aren't yet on the port schedule

  http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/ but it's a 25 minute walk or approx £8 taxi fare (you might need two) from the cruise terminal to Southampton Central station.

At the station buy return train tickets at £12.70 (sterling or plastic). Half-hourly direct trains to Salisbury, journey time about 35 minutes.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/

 

The Stonehenge ho-ho leaves from the station approach road, check out the timings - it's on its springtime schedule, only an hourly service & the first bus at 10am. So aim to take the 8.37am or 9.11am train from Southampton central station

 

http://www.thestonehengetour.info/

It's not possible to book a specified ho-ho time, so decide for yourselves whether to pre-book your tickets or buy from the ho-ho driver.

But, whether you buy your tickets on-line or from the driver, it's important that you buy your Stonehenge admission tickets with your ho-ho tickets because tickets issued by the ho-ho guarantee you admission on arrival (same applies to tour coaches, like ships' tours). 

If you buy Stonehenge admission direct from English Heritage you have to specify a half-hour arrival slot - if you miss that slot, or if you buy at the gate, there's a risk that your entry will be delayed if the site is over-subscribed.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/

 

An hourly ho--ho service isn't ideal because in pleasant weather 90 minutes is about right at Stonehenge. 

You'll have to decide to do it in 60 minutes (easy enough), or in 120 minutes & cut into your time back in Salisbury.

 

Take the ho-ho back to the Salisbury City Centre stop in New Canal. (you won't have time to hop off at Old Sarum)

The cathedral is a 7-minute walk from the ho-ho stop.

 

From the cathedral to Salisbury station is a 15-minute walk or a short taxi hop.

 

Assuming a back-on-board time of 5.30pm I suggest you aim to catch the 3.56pm train back from Salisbury (arrives 4.34pm), leaving the 4.34pm train (arrives 5.03pm) in reserve 

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Alternatively, because there are 5 of you, consider renting a self-drive car - there are several depots near the port. Specify automatic transmission if that's what you need, because most cars are shift-stick.

But you'll have to pre-book your Stonehenge tickets thro English Heritage - figure when you're likely to arrive, and book the time-slot after that in case you're delayed. If you arrive on schedule the worst that'll happen is a wait of half-an-hour.

 

JB 

 

 

[flahagan]

Thank you so very much for all of this information - you are a tremendous help!

[ducklite]

You could also consider renting a car for a day and driving yourselves.  The route from Southampton to Salisbury/Amesbury is quite direct on motorways almost the entire length.  It took us about an hour between the two.  Having a car would give you the freedom with visit on your schedule.  I'm pretty certain there are a couple rental companies located at or near the pier.  We used either Hertz or Avis (picked up in London and made a triangle that day) and got an automatic.  We both drive stick but it was just one less thing to have to worry about. The car rental was about $60 for the day for a compact.

[81Zoomie]

You could use Smiths transportation and leave the driving to them.  We had them meet us in London at the hotel and take us to Southampton.  We planned a stop at Stonehenge along the way, and the driver waited while we walked around.  Tickets for Stonehenge are for specific times and do sell out.  We bought our own online months in advance.

Edited January 12, 2020 by 81Zoomie