Stonehenge and Salisbury have a reputation as a costly trip, but a surprising amount of the area is free. The great monuments of the landscape, the best views of the cathedral and several of the most atmospheric walks cost nothing, and a few smart choices on tickets and hotels can cut the rest of the bill. This guide shows where to spend and where to save.
The free list
Start with Avebury, where you can walk among the stones of the largest circle in Britain at any time of day without paying for entry, though parking at the village is usually charged. Nearby, Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow are free, and the long barrow lets you walk into a Neolithic tomb. Close to Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls are free and quiet, and the National Trust landscape routes cross the ridges around the stones, with free paths past barrows and the Cursus and distant views of the monument. In the city, the Town Path across the water meadows gives the best view of the cathedral for nothing, and the Cathedral Close is a pleasure to wander at no cost. Evensong in the cathedral is a beautiful and low-cost way to experience the building.
Where it is worth paying
Stonehenge itself is a ticketed attraction, and it is worth booking in advance for a timed slot, because it guarantees entry and can be cheaper than paying on the day. Salisbury Cathedral is worth the admission, particularly because the ticket covers the Chapter House and the Magna Carta, and children under twelve are admitted free. Old Sarum is among the cheapest of the paid sights, and booking online ahead usually saves money. If you plan to visit several paid heritage sites, such as Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Old Wardour Castle, consider a membership, because English Heritage members are admitted free and the card quickly pays for itself on a longer trip. National Trust membership works the same way at Avebury Manor, Mompesson House and Stourhead.
Getting around cheaply
A car makes a budget trip easier, but parking costs add up, and Stonehenge requires a pre-booked space if you drive. Without a car, base yourself in Salisbury and use a mix of local buses, the dedicated bus to the stones, and taxis for short hops. A shared day tour from London or Bath can be cost-effective if it bundles transport with admission, and it saves you the cost of parking and fuel, though a private tour is a luxury. Walking is the cheapest and often the best option in the city itself, and the sights of the old centre are only a few minutes apart.
Eating and staying for less
The weekly Charter Market in Salisbury, held on Tuesdays and Saturdays, is a good source of picnic food and snacks, and a picnic by the river or at a hillfort is a classic budget lunch. Many pubs offer lunchtime deals that are cheaper than dinner. For a hotel, the Premier Inn at Bishopdown is the value pick, a short drive from Old Sarum, and the Holiday Inn near Stonehenge includes free parking, which can offset a higher room rate for drivers. Rates rise at weekends, school holidays and midsummer, so look for midweek stays and flexible rates booked early. A room with breakfast included can save a surprising amount over the course of a trip.
Small savings that add up
Bring a refillable water bottle and a flask, because cafes at heritage sites can be pricey and there are few shops on the walking routes. Visit in the shoulder seasons, when accommodation is cheaper and the free sights are at their best, and check whether children's tickets or family tickets reduce the cost of the paid ones. Travel light, so that you can walk between the cathedral, the museum and the market without taxis, and take advantage of the fact that many of the best experiences, such as dawn light on a stone circle or mist over the water meadows, cost nothing at all.
A sample budget day
Spend the morning on the free circle at Avebury and the walk to Silbury Hill and West Kennet, picnic on the ridge, and drive back to Salisbury for a late-afternoon walk across the water meadows. The next day, book a timed Stonehenge ticket early, then walk the free landscape paths and see Woodhenge, and finish at Old Sarum. That is two days of top-quality sights for the price of one ticket and one admission, and it shows how much of this landscape is open to everyone.