54401LWE
Stonehenge visit
Windsor (& Runnymede) combined visit and lunch stop
- CHANGES ON OPERATION OF THIS DAY. ALWAYS CHECK VOUCHER FOR BOOKING TIME AT STONEHENGE. TIMINGS STATED HERE ACT ONLY AS A GUIDE.
- Entrances are paid by voucher for all 3 visits
- Check in advance for special events, closed areas of sites etc.
- Windsor audio guides now included, collect from old exhibition room near Round Tower.
- You are not allowed to guide within the castle precincts.
- Castle is closed Tuesday/Wednesday. St George’s Chapel is closed on Sundays.
- There are lots of places for lunch in Windsor town. Lunch will be late. Advise group of this. They may want to get a snack at Stonehenge.
all opening times, entrances, tel numbers etc. are listed on the yellow pages.
08.30 Depart Bath
(This assumes that you have a 9.30 booking at Stonehenge. Check your voucher, if you have a different time amend your departure accordingly)
En route to Stonehenge
On A36 out of Bath, you’ll see examples of a Wiltshire White Horse on the left (approx. 20 miles). Where the B390 joins the A390, you drive through the picturesque village of Shrewton. There’s an old village gaol – a small, circular, stone cell.
09.30 Arrive Stonehenge – 11.30 Depart
13:00 Arrive Windsor
16:00 Depart Windsor for London. Allow an hour depending upon location of hotel.
Stonehenge
- Booking times must be adhered to. You have a half hour window either side of your slot. If you know you are going to be vastly outside that time, then you need to phone ahead. Groups who do not follow this have been turned away.
- Two hours are now being allocated to this visit.
- If the weather is inclement you can shorten the time. However, remember that whatever the weather the group will have to wait for the mini coach and have the journey there and back which is 10 minutes each way. 90 minutes is probably the minimum that you could operate this visit.
2023 – There are no longer on-site audio guides. On the maps there is a QR code to download commentary to phones. But mobile data or wi-fi required. Groups don’t go via the visitor centre, which does have wi-fi, prior to boarding the shuttle bus. The night before encourage passengers to go to App Store (Apple/Google Play) to download audio guide.
Approaching the site.
From the west – Route remains the same. Visitor Centre is 1 ½ miles prior to the stones on A306 at Airman’s Cross. Follow signs for coach parking.
From the east – A344 is now closed. Continue along A303 at Longbarrow Roundabout turn right follow A360 and turn right into Visitor centre. Follow signs for coach parking.
Group Admission: At Stonehengethere is a Groups Welcome Centre, with toilet facilities at the Coach Park. There are no facilities at the Stones. There is also a dedicated Groups shuttle service directly ahead from Welcome Centre. Tour Manager to hand in voucher and collect tickets/wrist bands. Wrist bands are to be retained by passengers as they may be requested for use on the shuttle service to the stones and entrance to the exhibition.
The Visit: Groups visit the Stones first before returning to the Exhibition, Café and Shop. Once at the Stones the group can return to the Visitor Centre on an individual basis. Younger students (13-14) may be required to remain in teacher led groups.
Return shuttle journey – Group will be dropped at the main visitor centre. (See details below.) Allow time as there can be queues. The walk takes 30 minutes.
Visitor Centre
The main centre consists of two buildings. One houses new exhibition galleries and toilets, the other the shop and the restaurant. Between the two buildings is a large covered orientation space. This will probably be good place for the group to a re-assemble at end of the visit and then walk the entire group back to the coach park.
The Town of Royal Windsor
As you enter Windsor from the M4, Eton College will be on the left. Set down group in the coach park. Ensure passengers are aware of meeting point, time for departure and that they know they will be returning on their own. Restrooms are located in the corner by the shops in the coach park. If in doubt of Windsor layout then refer to the town map near staircase.
Walk group through coach park, up the spiral staircase (lift if needed), through the railway station to the High Street. The castle is straight ahead. Cross the road. The ticket office is on the right. Lead group into the ticket office (the group’s entrance is the door on the right). They wait in the Groups area while you give in voucher and receive wristbands. No tickets.
There are airport style security checks at this point. Admission includes audio guides collected from the old exhibition room near the Round Tower. Entrance to The State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and St George’s Chapel. Good idea to visit the Dolls’ House first, as queues are often lengthy. A Guard Change ceremony takes place on alternate days at 11am, weather permitting. Toilets and gift shops within the Castle precincts, Unicorn café located in the Undercroft next to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.