Old Sarum ÔÇö the Iron Age hillfort and Norman cathedral ruin 2 miles north of Salisbury ÔÇö and Stonehenge together constitute one of the finest concentration of heritage sites in England. Visiting both in a single day from Salisbury is very manageable. Here's how to structure it.
Morning: Old Sarum
Old Sarum is managed by English Heritage and is a 20-minute walk from Salisbury city centre (or 10 minutes by bus on the X5 route from the station). Allow 1.5ÔÇô2 hours to explore the hillfort, Iron Age ramparts and Norman cathedral foundations. The views over Salisbury from the top of the mound are extraordinary ÔÇö you can see Salisbury Cathedral clearly in the valley below.
Old Sarum is also served by the official Stonehenge Tour bus ÔÇö if you plan to use the public bus for your Stonehenge leg, you can take it directly from Old Sarum without returning to Salisbury first.
Afternoon: Stonehenge via the Shuttle
Return to Salisbury (10 minutes by bus) and take the 12:05 or 13:05 Salisbury to Stonehenge Shuttle departure from Caboose. You'll arrive at Stonehenge by 12:40 or 13:40, leaving plenty of time for a thorough visit before the evening. Return on the 15:40 or 16:40 shuttle for a relaxed end to the day.
Combined Admission
English Heritage membership covers both Old Sarum and Stonehenge. If you're visiting both sites, membership is worth the investment ÔÇö it also covers many other English Heritage properties across England. Check english-heritage.org.uk for current membership rates.
Ready to visit Stonehenge from Salisbury? The shuttle departs directly opposite Salisbury Train Station. Just £20 return per person, all in.
Check availability 