How to Visit Stonehenge for FREE in 2026 – Wiltshire’s Best Kept Secret!
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If you’re looking to learn how to visit Stonehenge for free, keep reading this post.
I’ve always been one to pay for attractions. In fact, I often will just pay the cost of the ticket when I travel, as you only live once, right? But, Stonehenge, I have a little bit of a gripe about.
The price to enter Stonehenge is £28 (£25.40 without donation), and you also have to pay to park up at the visitor centre in peak season.
That’s without the price of your travel. Last year, English Heritage made millions alone from Stonehenge. A historic site that was left here 5,000 years ago.
But, being a Wiltshire lass, I know a few secrets, one of them being how to see Stonehenge completely FREE!
Now, just before you panic, there is nothing illegal about this.
In fact, you will be walking on a public footpath around a metre away from the general public who have paid to visit the stones.
You essentially get the exact same view, without spending a single penny.
Sound good? Okay, let’s do this!
Step by step instructions on how to visit Stonehenge for free
Step 1: Start out on Fargo Road, in Amesbury, Wiltshire
Stonehenge is based in Amesbury which is out in the middle of the Wiltshire countryside!
The site is a stand-alone monument and you can actually pass it along the A303 road. So, if you didn’t want to get up close, you can catch a glimpse here. There’s always traffic, so you’ll be going slow enough to see.
If you did want to get up close to the stones, then plug Fargo Road (Lark hill) into your Satnav.
You can no longer park up on the A303 and the ‘old’ car park I read from older reviews is now the Visitor centre.
Fargo Road connects both the pathway to Stonehenge and Woodhenge if you wanted to check that out. You’ll know you’re in the right place when the road is blocked off and you see the sign.
Make sure you’re parked up on the side nearest to Stonehenge. Once I got here, I just plugged in Stonehenge and followed the road until I could see the pathway;
Step 2: head down the gravel path all the way to Stonehenge
Once you’re parked up, head down the long gravel path towards Stonehenge.
If you’re not sure where the path begins, just plug it into your Google Maps from Fargo Road and follow the route. It will take around 15 minutes to reach the site.
I got lost around 4/5 times, so you don’t have to! Having not done this since I was a kid, I wasn’t sure what fields were permissible in getting to Stonehenge.
Turns out, none of them were! Most of the meadows came to dead ends of electric fences.
But my detour led me to lots of cute sheep (and unfortunately, their poop).
S,o lesson learned, don’t veer off the gravel path or walk through any of the gates until the very end!
You will see the buses dropping the visitors off, and that’s your turn-off point.
Step 3: Go through the public pathway gate
When you get to the bottom of the gravel path, you will come to the area where the tourists are dropped off by the shuttle buses to see Stonehenge.
You obviously can’t walk through the normal entrance without a ticket, but you can walk along the public pathway for cyclists and pedestrians, which is right next to it.
Again, this is not illegal as it’s public land and you can walk here free of charge.
Step 4: Meet the stones
You made it! You should now be face-to-face with the incredible Neolithic site of Stonehenge.
One of the best-known prehistoric monuments in Europe.
It’s an epic site to behold that brings an air of mystery. How did they get here? Why was it built? Your mind will be racing.
And the best bit? It didn’t cost a thing!
If you look at the picture below, you’re only a couple of metres away from the ‘observation path’.
It’s good to note that you can’t get in amongst the stones even with a paid ticket, so you’re essentially seeing the same view!
Of course, you have a barbed wire fence in the way, but it’s still a beauty.
Go at your own time
What I loved about seeing Stonehenge this way was that I got to have it pretty much all to myself.
The first ticket entry is at 9.30 am and, from then on, it’s packed with visitors all day until 8 pm!
I wanted to see it early morning and in peace, and this way allowed me to do that. It was a magical feeling.
How to visit Stonehenge for free on the Summer Solstice
Every year for Summer Solstice, on the eve of the longest day of the year, Stonehenge opens its doors for the public.
On June 20th of each year, you can enter the site for free and climb amongst the stones in celebration!
I’ve done it a couple of years in the past and I love it.
Everybody waits amongst the stones for the sun to rise to mark the earliest sunrise and the latest sunset.
You will hear drums going all night, dancing, partying and all sorts and everyone cheers when the sun goes up.
It’s a tradition that has been running for more than 5,000 years, so I would definitely recommend it if you’re in UK for the solstice.
In recent years, I’ve been celebrating a little closer to home at a lesser-known, but equally beautiful, stone circle called Avebury.
Each year for the solstice, visitors walk amongst the stones waiting for the sun to come up.
As a plus, Avebury is free to the public all year round. Not just for the summer solstice.
Related Post: How to celebrate Avebury Summer Solstice
So, that’s how to visit Stonehenge for FREE! Never pay again…
So, there you have it, an easy step-by-step (completely legal) guide on how to visit Stonehenge for free.
I think that the view you get from this platform is just as good as paying for a ticket, and a visit really isn’t worth it.
Save your cash and do it this way instead. Plus, you can go for sunrise and have it all to yourself, a bonus.
I hope you enjoy feeling the energies of Stonehenge, let it bedazzle you without hurting your wallet!
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Thanks for the tip????
Hi Mariam, No worries! I hope you enjoy your time there :) Thanks for stopping by, Sophie x
A great walk to Stonehenge without the expense! Thank you. I did lose the gravel path though and had to jump over a fence!
Hi John, no worries and I’m glad this post helped you. Yes, it can be easy to lose your way but glad you found it in the end :) hope you had a great time. Sophie x
Hello Sophie, do you think I can go to this free way with my 2 little dogs in bags (I want to take photo of my Yorkies w Stonehenge) or it is prohibited?
Hi Anna, the walkway is a permissive pathway so you’re free to roam and you can keep dogs with you on a lead or bag (there are lot’s of sheep around this area). As for photos there is a fence so you may have to take it with the fence in it. There is little posts but I don’t think they would sit on those. I’m sure the photos will turn out lovely though :) thanks for reading and have a lovely time there! Sophie x
Hello Sophie, I followed your directions and my daughter and I successfully visited Stonehenge for nothing today – thank you! It would otherwise have cost £30.40 for us to see the stones. We had a great view of them and a lovely walk to get there too x
Hi Chris, ah I’m so happy this post helped you and you got to see Stonehenge for free! It is such a lovely walk, isn’t it? Great saving too. Thanks for your support. Sophie x
Hi sophie how far is it from where you park on Fargo road to Stonehenge?
Hi there, it will take roughly fifteen – twenty minutes if you continue straight down the path from Fargo road. Don’t divert from the path or enter any of the gates until you reach the bottom gate where it says ‘permissive pathway’ by where the Stonehenge buses drop off. Hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by. Sophie x
Wow…. This information is very usefull. I would like to try this method out when I’m in UK in November 2019. But can this be done, without the need to rent a car ? I mean can we use public transport ? Is there any buses that will pass by these routes.
Hi Vignes, you can get a bus to Stonehenge from cities like Salisbury. But, it will drop you at the Visitor Centre. Unfortunately, to get to this location you do have to have a car really. Unless you don’t mind walking for around an hour? You will have to pay to get through to the Stonehenge site from the main carpark. But, you could easily walk over to the location on the map in this post and head over! Sorry to not be of more help. Sophie x
If you can get to the visitor centre by bus you can easily walk the rest of the way. They don’t check that you have a ticket until you actually get to the site.
Hi Jon, thanks for this, I wasn’t aware of that. I guess most people would be heading there by car as it’s quite remote and you have to pay to park/have a ticket to do so. But, if you can get there by public bus and walk that’s also a good option! Thanks, Sophie x
We went last week and paid. I told my daughter we saw people on a pathway, googled it, read you blog, and she is off to Larkhill NOW. Thanks.
Hi Les! Ah, I’m so happy you found my blog. I wasn’t sure if Stonehenge was open at the moment being honest! To be fair though, it is lovely to pay and step inside to see it up close and read the exhibits etc. But, if you weren’t swayed by the price tag, seeing it for free via the pathway gives you a bit of flexibility too! Thanks for recommending :) Hope your daughter has a great time! Sophie x
Thanks for the advice on this, followed all your instructions today 16/10/20 and everything was exactly how you described!
Hi Martin, I’m SO happy the walk worked out okay for you and your visit! Isn’t it amazing? Thanks for letting me know :) Sophie x
Thanks :)
Took us straight there and our little pup got to come with us :) x
Hi Sajel! I’m so happy the post helped you! Aw, glad you had a great time with your puppy :) Enjoy! Sophie x
Wonderful article on Stonehenge access. Totally agree with your thinking about Heritage England restricting access and making a £73m + cash cow of this place. The car park, visitor centre, with 80% of the building being a Retail Outlet!
Keep up the good work.
Trevor
Thank you and Exactly! It’s making endless profit on an ancient sit that was meant for all! Thank you so much! Sophie x
Sophie….Thanks for the information!! I will be in London with my husband and parents in September. My parents are elderly and might need a motorized scooter or wheelchair for touring. Do you think these would work on the gravel path? Thanks for your time!
Hi Vickie, that’s amazing about your trip and I’m so excited for you. I’m going to be honest, a scooter/wheelchair may be a struggle on that gravel path. It is flat the whole way and You’ll be walking for around 15 minutes to the stones. But, it is a stretch and I’m not sure if the gravel path and sharp stones would potentially damage the scooter/wheelchair. If I was going to be on the safe side I would say to make use of the accessibility with English Heritage as they have bus travel and ramps etc. As well as a good path for wheelchairs. But, I know it’s a pricey ticket. So, it will be a judgement call. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help! I just don’t want to recommend the walk and then it not be possible for you all! Sophie x
Hi Sophie, just done the walk from Fargo Rd great ! and saved the 2 of us £40 ish ( incl parking) would just like to say we parked at end of Willoughby Road where it meets Fargo Road, in case it helps others, as we had gone too far the other end of Fargo Road and then realised & drive back on ourselves. Many thanks for your tips most appreciated ?
Hi Catherine, I’m so happy that my post could help you and that’s a huge saving! Thanks for the tip about Willoughby Road as well as I’m sure that will help others :) Glad you had a lovely time and you had great weather! Sophie x
We loved your free Stonehenge guide – for a family of 4 it would have cost £70 (2021) which is really disappointing unless I signed up and joined English heritage – so we decided on your alternative, Avebury – oh my goodness we spent 6 hours at the site touching the stones a lovely walk and picnic amongst sheep wild flowers stones and the wishing tree. We did the national trust museum, manor house and gardens – loved the shops in the hamlet too. I felt quite chilled and didn’t want to leave, my 7yr old son bought a crystals book from the henge shop which led to an obsession with stones and crystals so maybe it’s done something! I would love to go back for sure – we did a drive by stone henge on the way back to our campsite and we felt stone henge was quite underwhelming compared to our Avebury experience. Thank you for your blog we will however try it out properly and visit SH but for now we felt very happy ?
Hi Kirsty, ah I’m so happy that my guide could help you out! It does add up when you have a family so totally worth parking up and walking over. Avebury is one of my favourite places in the world and I always recommend it over Stonehenge as there is so much more to do and it’s free. I’m so happy you had a lovely holiday and your kids had so much fun! Thanks, Sophie x
is this still feasable nowadays? Thanks
Hi Steph, Yep the permissive pathway is accessible all year and always as it’s a public walking trail. Hope you have a good time! Sophie x
Hi Sophie, thank you for you brilliant tips!
I am planning to visit Stonehenge soon and was looking at your guide. I have been searching for and trying to locate the sign: ‘Stonehenge World Heritage Site’ (where the red car is parked in the pic) but not having much luck.
Would you please help me with this (…as I’m not sure whether the sign has probably been removed?).
Your help will be much appreciated…
Thanks
Jay
Hi Jay, brilliant I’m so glad you plan to visit! It’s a gorgeous place and i’m sure you’ll enjoy the walk. The road where the red car is parked on is Fargo Road. Here is a google pin – https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fargo+Rd,+Salisbury/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4873e66f2a88286d:0x14a6173b1297a15f?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiy8Lzn9430AhWJN8AKHdTJAlQQ8gF6BAgOEAE. Enjoy Sophie ! X
well done great advice..a group of us from ireland went recently unfortunately it was during storm Arwen.wind sleet snow and cold.still a nice day wouldnt have been as memorable..parked on the Fargo road no problems.asked a passing local for the gravel path and away we went..
owe you a pint cheers mick
Aw that’s great that you had a good time Michael! Shame about the storm but it may have made it a bit more dramatic with fewer crowds! Glad you had a good time. Sophie x
Stonehenge and similar sites are always best approached on foot, so the drama unfolds as you approach and you appreciate them on the human scale in which they were conceived. I wandered up from Salisbury one day. Arriving in a shuttle bus really does miss the point. I learned that at Callanish out on the isle of Lewis. This is really true when arriving at Avebury on the old Ridgeway. I don’t really understand why folk would want to _start_ their long journey there and finish in suburban Goring- or is it Streatley?- rather than be rewarded at the finish. Great site, btw.
Hi Arthur, I totally agree! Arriving on foot at ancient sites is the only way to experience it if you can manage the walk as that’s how it would have been all those years ago. But, I guess it’s about accessibility to open it up for more people however I may disagree with the charges for it! I’ve walked some of the Ridgeway around Barbury Castle and stuff and it always feels very untouched and you could almost imagine you’re back in time. Thank you! Sophie x
Hi Sophie, Brilliant article. My wife’s been unwell for a few years & she’d love to see stone henge but like yourself, I don’t like the way English heritage run the show! Is there a pub or bed & breakfast nearby so we can spend a few days at the location. Many thanks. Andy Morgan.
Hi Andy, sorry to hear you’re wife has been unwell. The walk is a lovely way to see Stonehenge for free and you get to spend as long as you like there! All the big players can be found near Amesbury/Salisbury like Travelodge, Holiday Inn, Mercure, and a Premier Inn which are just a few miles from the site. But, you can also find the Rolleston Manor B&B that’s a little closer in Shrewton which is more of a retreat. Hope this helps :) Enjoy your visit! Sophie x
@Sophie Pearce, many thanks for the reply. I’ve got my eye on staying at the George hotel amesbury as I like to support local small businesses. What other sites do you recommend us visiting nearby. Cheers. Andy Morgan.
Hi Andy, yes very nice choice! I would recommend visiting Salisbury, Old Sarum and perhaps the Old Wardour Castle too :) Winchester is also just a short drive away. Thanks, Sophie x
Hi Sophie,
thank you for your great tip :) We’re planning on leaving early tomorrow to get there before the rush. When I google it and redirect the route it tells me I will be crossing private land. Hopefully nobody will stop us, and its just a glitch in the system. Wish us luck!
Hi Amber, there is a permissive pathway to access the Stonehenge Site. Pedestrians are allowed to walk there :) Have an incredible time. Sophie x
@Amber,
Hi Amber, did you have success in visiting the site as per the article & other reviewers.. ?
We’re a group of 14 looking to spend ridiculous amounts for tickets and not be permitted near the stones – pointless then paying..
Our intended trip is on 04th Aug.. Cheers
Hi Shay, I would 100% recommend visiting via the public pathway route especially as you’re a big group. The cost is a lot! Sophie x
Thank you so much for such a great tip! You saved our family tons of money and we still got to experience the majesty of Stonehenge. Super grateful for you.
Hi Lindsey, no worries at all! So glad I could help and hope you all had a great time! Sophie x
Great trip to the ancient stones. Followed your instructions….. just to update you, the long gravel road is now fully open and one can drive right up the the final footpath. A lot of caravans parked also. I wish I had driven all the way down… it was a very hot day.
Once again, thanks posting your guide to the stones.
Hi Mahmood, I had no idea! Usually, it’s completely blocked off so it must of recently opened up or it’s only open in summer. I’ll make sure to update my post :) Sophie x
Thank you Sophie for sharing this fabulous tip! We went today and saved us tickets for a family of 4 and were absolutely stunned by the proximity of our view :)
Hi Alicia, you’re more than welcome! Glad I could help and you had a good time :) Sophie x
Hey Sophie, we are going to do this next month, just wondering, can you access the public pathway gate at any time of day? Sounds like you did this early in the morning? We probably won’t be that early but I’d love to get there before the “paid” sections open up at 9:30am.
Hi Pedro, yes the permissive pathways are open 24 hours a day! So, you can turn up any time. I got there around 8.30am I believe so around an hour before the first entry at English Heritage :) Hope this helps! Sophie x
Just to add the Winter Solstice event falls on the 21st of December which is very popular and druids attend. They open the stones up on this day. So, maybe avoid that day if you want it quiet or plan it if you like a celebration! Sophie x
@Sophie Pearce,
Just wanted to thank you for the info on this Sophie. We went early over the Christmas holiday and were able to drive right up to Stonehenge and walk on the public path before anyone else was there. It was cold and raining sideways but that felt perfect for some reason. Thanks again!
Hi Pedro! Ah, I’m so happy to hear this :) Stonehenge really is special and there’s something so magical about that place! I’m so happy you had a good time. Thank you for reading, Sophie x
Hi Sophie, thanks for the very information post. I’ll be holidaying with my dog and we are thinking of dropping by. Do you know if dogs are allowed on this free public footpath? I have not read any information confirming if dogs (on lead) are allowed. Many thanks!
Hi Joan, I’ve not seen any signs of dogs not allowed there. But , I’d definitely keep them on a lead due to the sheep! :) Hope this helps and have fun! Sophie x
Can you get there by regular bus from Salisbury?
Hi Art, sorry for the late reply! Yes, you can. You can take the Salisbury Reds bus service from the city centre to Larkhill. Then, you can walk to Stonehenge from there. Alternatively, yuo could get dropped off at the visitor centre and visit that way but it will be a bit of a walk :) Thanks, Sophie x
Thank you for the tip! The gate beyond the Stonehenge sign was open, so we could drive pretty much all the way in and park with the campervans. Stonehenge was then just 2 minutes away, brilliant!
Hi Steph, Ah I’m so happy that it all worked out for you and you had a great time :) Thanks for reading! Sophie x
Hello! Do you know if they keep this trail open even when the normal trail is closed? I mean like early in the morning or when the site closes on Jun 21.
Thanks!
Hi Diego, I believe they keep the trail open but if you’re visiting for Solstice I would recommend parking up and going in for free :) It’s busy but a wonderful atmosphere and you get to touch the stones! Sophie x
Hi,
Many thanks for this detailed article on how to see the stones for free.
Followed it and saved ourselves £45.
Cheers,
Tim & Helen
Hi Tim and Helen, ah you’re so welcome and what a saving! Glad you had a good time :) thanks for reading, Sophie x
Hi Sophie, thank you so much for the info, I don’t know if you’ll see this today, and I’m going this weekend, so fingers crossed ;) I can take a bus from Salisbury train station or the city centre (Google Maps says the X4) to Larkhill and then from there, I can walk to Stonehenge, right? I want to be sure because Google Maps is telling me that it takes over one hour from Larkhill to Stonehenge (walking) but I don’t think that’s accurate going by your post and that I can see “Fargo Road” on the map, so I’m just assuming it is not showing the short path there for some reason. I hope that’s the case and I don’t get lost haha. I will update my comment if I can next week so more people can have the info (I can only go by bus because I don’t have a car like that you and a comment said, I think it’s better to approach these sites walking).
Hi Anna, I hope you managed to find your way? Sorry, I had a problem with comments this year and only have just managed to get them to work! I hope you had a good time? Sophie x
Hi,
Thanks for the tips but just wanted to let you know that you can actually drive right up to the Stonehenge rather than park so far away… it definitely was not a 15 minute walk and it would’ve saved us so much time had we parked closer.
Hi Jessica, thanks for the update. From memory the walk was only around 30 minutes from Fargo Road.