Our last day of the trip started in Southampton, at the end of our Celebrity Apex cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France. Our flight home to LA wasn’t until the evening, so we had a whole day to fill, with all of our luggage, before a 10+ hour flight. We solved it by going from Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge on a Celebrity tour.
It turned out to be a great find, even though Stonehenge itself wasn’t quite what I expected.
Why We Booked a Stonehenge Tour With Heathrow Drop-Off
If your flight is later in the day, you have a problem: what do you do with yourselves, and with all your luggage, until it’s time to go to the airport? It’s hard to do anything on your own when you’re dragging suitcases around.
So we booked an excursion called Destination Highlight: Stonehenge with Airport Drop-off (LHR). It cost us $633.96 total for the four of us. Getting from London to Southampton at the start of the trip had cost us a few hundred dollars, so we basically paid an extra $300 for our family of four to see Stonehenge on the way to the airport. I think that’s worth it. What else are you going to do to kill time?
My husband and I had also always wanted to see Stonehenge, so this was our chance.
You can also book this kind of tour on your own. Private and small-group companies run Southampton to Heathrow tours that stop at Stonehenge, and some add Windsor or Salisbury. For us, the cruise line’s guarantee to get us to the airport on time was worth it.
Getting Off the Ship in Southampton
This was a super early day, and it was very hard to wake up for. Remember, we had been in Paris all day the day before and then had to come back and pack. It’s OK. It’s not like we do this every day, or even every year.
We were up at 6:00 a.m. to give ourselves enough time to shower and have a nice breakfast to fuel up for the long day ahead. We were off the ship around 8:00 a.m.
Because we booked our Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge tour through the ship, we were some of the first ones off. That meant no crowds while we found our luggage. We picked up our own bags in the baggage claim area, and we were guided straight to our tour bus, which was waiting right outside the terminal. The driver loaded our luggage onto the bus, and we found our seats. It was very easy, organized, and not stressful at all.
How Long Is the Drive From Southampton to Stonehenge and Heathrow?
The drive from Southampton straight to London is about two and a half hours. Going from Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge broke that up into two shorter rides:
- Southampton to Stonehenge: about 1 hour (we didn’t hit any traffic)
- Stonehenge to Heathrow: about 1 hour and 15 minutes
I loved how this broke up our travel time. It’s hard for kids to sit in a car for a long time and then sit for another 10+ hour flight. This gave us a chance to walk around, be outside, see something different, and tire ourselves out a little so we could relax and sleep on the flight home.
Our First Look at Stonehenge: “That’s It?”
Once you get to Stonehenge, you take a shuttle from the visitor center up to the stones.
I remember the first thing I said when I saw them: “That’s it?” My husband and I started laughing. Stonehenge was a lot smaller than I expected. I was expecting something grander and more impressive.
It isn’t that impressive when you just look at it. But when someone tells you the history and the background, it becomes really interesting.
Our Guide Made the Visit for the Kids
We found our tour guide up at the stones and asked her to explain Stonehenge to the kids. She talked with them for a good 20 minutes. She was a young woman who was very knowledgeable about the site. Her father worked there too, and she had a bunch of interesting stories about growing up and spending so much time at Stonehenge. It was interesting, and it killed some time.
Can You Touch the Stones at Stonehenge?
No. You have to stay on a roped path that goes around the circle, so you’re not even remotely close enough to touch them. But you’re close enough for a full, unobstructed view of the stones. It was close enough for us. Yes, it would have been cool to touch them, but they couldn’t preserve something like this if everyone could.
If you really want to walk among the stones, English Heritage offers a separate Stone Circle Experience outside regular opening hours. You have to book it ahead, and it isn’t part of a cruise excursion.
How Much Time Do You Need at Stonehenge?
Not as much as we got. Our tour gave us about three hours there, and that was way, way too much. It was super cool for about 15 minutes, and that was it. The girls thought it was cool for a bit, but they got bored with that much time.
We took a quick look at the visitor center, but the kids weren’t very interested. We also looked around the gift shop, and there’s a little café for snacks. Whether you go on your own or as a stop from Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge, you don’t need nearly that long.
Go Early to Avoid the Crowds
Try to get there early in the morning. By the time we left, it was super crowded. That means a long line to board the shuttle up to the stones, and another long line to take it back down. If the line is long, you can also walk between the visitor center and the stones. It’s about a mile and a half.
Stonehenge wasn’t windy or cold the day we went. It was nice and warm, even hot, so take your fans with you.
Is the Stonehenge Gift Shop Worth It?
We didn’t buy anything at the gift shop or the café. I didn’t see anything super unique that I could only find there, and when you’re heading from Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge, everything you buy ends up in your carry-on. I feel like I could buy anything I saw there online and have it shipped home, instead of lugging it around London, the airport, and the flight home.
You can find tickets, hours, and visitor information on English Heritage’s Stonehenge page.
What Time Does Your Flight Need to Be?
Celebrity guaranteed we would be at the airport by 3:00 p.m. That was perfect for us, because our flight wasn’t until 6:15 p.m. They won’t even let you book this excursion if your flight is too early. Celebrity wants to give you about a three-hour window at the airport.
Getting to Heathrow on Time
We weren’t nervous about making our flight at all. Because we booked through the cruise line, they guaranteed we’d be at the airport by a certain time. That guarantee gives you great peace of mind, so you don’t stress about anything.
The bus got us to Heathrow with plenty of time. It dropped everyone off at their own terminal, but most of us were flying out of Terminal 3, like we were. We had about three hours before our flight, which was good, because security took forever. After that, we still had time to sit down for an early dinner at The Curator before boarding.
Was the Stonehenge Airport Excursion Worth It?
Yes. Should you see Stonehenge? Yes, it’s something cool to see once in your lifetime. I just don’t feel the need to go back.
The real gold find here isn’t Stonehenge itself. It’s an excursion that includes transportation to the airport. We wouldn’t have been able to enjoy Stonehenge on our own with all our luggage. Booking through the cruise line meant our bags were stored on the bus, we got to enjoy the day, and we were dropped off at the airport on time.
If our flight were in the evening again, I would book an airport excursion through the cruise line again. I would just pick a different stop next time. I think there’s one that goes to Kensington Palace, which I’d be interested in.
Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge: Quick Answers
How long does a Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge tour take?
Our day ran from about 8:00 a.m. at the port to arriving at Heathrow with about three hours to spare before our evening flight. The drives were about an hour to Stonehenge and about an hour and 15 minutes to Heathrow.
What time does your flight need to be for a Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge tour?
Celebrity guaranteed arrival at Heathrow by 3:00 p.m. and wouldn’t let you book with an earlier flight. Ours left at 6:15 p.m.
Can you touch the stones at Stonehenge?
No. You stay on a roped path around the circle, but you get a clear view. Getting inside the circle is only possible on English Heritage’s separate Stone Circle Experience, and you still can’t touch the stones then.
How much does the Celebrity Stonehenge with Heathrow drop-off excursion cost?
We paid $633.96 total for two adults and two kids.
What happens to your luggage when you go from Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge?
The driver loads it onto the bus, and it stays there while you visit Stonehenge.
Is Stonehenge good for kids?
For a short visit, yes. Our girls, 8 and 11, enjoyed it for a bit, especially the guide’s stories, but three hours was too long for them.
More From Our Europe Trip
This post is part of our series on our summer trip to London and our Celebrity Apex cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France.
London With Kids
- Virgin Atlantic Review: Flying LAX to London With Kids
- London Marriott County Hall Review: A Family Stay by Big Ben
- London With Kids: One Big Thing a Day (Our Easy Itinerary)
- Getting Around London With Kids: The Best Ways, Honestly
- Dining in London With Kids: Our Honest Reviews of 4 Spots
Our Celebrity Apex Cruise
- The Retreat on Celebrity Apex With Kids: Was It Worth It?
- Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour From a Cruise Ship: Fun, Hot, and Worth It With Kids
- Porto Cruise Port Without an Excursion: Hot Dogs, Vinho Verde, and Shopping With Kids
- Vigo and La Coruña Cruise Ports With Kids: A Walking Tour, Galician Food, and Gelato
- Bilbao Shore Excursion With Kids: The Guggenheim, the Market, and the Pintxos We Missed
- Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge: Our Cruise Excursion With Kids
- Le Havre to Paris on a Cruise With Kids: Is the Long Day Worth It?
Planning a cruise? These are already on the blog:
