Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Ancient Stones & Treasures of Wiltshire

Escorted Wiltshire tour: private Stonehenge access and two heritage steam trains

Ancient Stones & Treasures of Wiltshire, a rail journey with Great Rail Journeys

Great Rail Journeys runs this 7-day, 6-night escorted tour of Wiltshire from a single base at the Mercure White Hart Hotel in Salisbury, with a UK Tour Manager throughout. Guests make their own way to Salisbury to begin, then join a programme built around the county's ancient sites and rail heritage. A private tour of Salisbury Cathedral takes in the world's oldest working clock and an original 1215 Magna Carta, before an exclusive after-hours visit inside Stonehenge's inner stone circle, an area usually roped off to visitors. Other days bring a guided tour of the Avebury henge with lunch at the Red Lion pub inside the stone circle, a free day to explore Salisbury independently, and two heritage steam train rides, on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway and the East Somerset Railway, alongside visits to Old Wardour Castle and the STEAM railway museum. It suits history-minded travellers who want a fully guided week based in one place rather than changing hotels each night.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single traveller price (£1,799) is 50% higher than the twin-share price (£1,199), a notably high single supplement.
  • Lunches on days 5 and 6 are not included; they are taken independently at station cafés.
  • Travel to and from Salisbury at the start and end of the tour is not included; guests arrive and depart independently.
  • Day 3 includes only breakfast; dinner that evening is not included, likely because of the timing of the sunset visit to Stonehenge.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Salisbury

    Meeting up in the historic city of Salisbury

    Your holiday begins as you arrive independently in the cathedral city of Salisbury, where you meet the Tour Manager at the Georgian Mercure White Hart Salisbury hotel in the heart of the city. After checking in from mid-afternoon, there's time to explore the city including Cathedral Close, Mompesson House, the marketplace, quirky shops and Fisherton Mill art gallery. This evening the group is welcomed with a glass of prosecco before a three-course dinner in the hotel restaurant.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Salisbury

    Exploring Avebury's Neolithic wonders

    A guided tour of the prehistory galleries at Wiltshire Museum introduces Wiltshire's long history, including the largest collection of Early Bronze Age gold on public display in England. The group then drives to the World Heritage site of Avebury for lunch at the famous Red Lion thatched pub set in the middle of the stone circle. A guided tour and talk covers one of Britain's largest and most complex henges, dating from nearly 5,000 years ago. Free time follows to explore, including views of Silbury Hill from West Kennet Avenue and West Kennet Long Barrow. Return to hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Salisbury

    Salisbury Cathedral and private Stonehenge experience

    A private tour of Salisbury Cathedral reveals Britain's tallest spire (404 feet), the world's oldest clock (1386), and the best-preserved of only four original Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215. After some leisure time, the group travels to Stonehenge just before sunset for an exclusive experience inside the inner stone circle, usually roped off to visitors, to walk freely among the 5,000-year-old megaliths and enjoy the sunset. Note: on some departure dates the visit is at sunrise instead of sunset. On the 6th July departure there is a free morning before visiting Salisbury Cathedral. On the 3rd August departure, Days 3 & 4 are swapped.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Salisbury

    Full day at leisure to uncover Salisbury's treasures

    A free day to explore Salisbury independently. Options include the Salisbury Museum (local archaeology, natural history, art, Iron Age and Roman gold, the Amesbury Archer skeleton, and items from Old Wardour Castle) and Old Sarum, an Iron Age hill fort two miles north of the town with views across the plains, built on by William the Conqueror. The group regroups at the hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Salisbury

    Wiltshire rail heritage and the Swindon & Cricklade Railway

    After breakfast, the coach travels to Blunsdon station for a look around the railway museum before boarding a heritage steam train for a round trip on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway (2.5-mile route through Wiltshire countryside via Hayes Knoll and Taw Valley Halt). Lunch is independently at the Whistle Stop Café. The group then visits STEAM, the museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon, for an hour-long guided tour of iconic locomotives and railway history. Transfer back to hotel for dinner. Note: trains are steam-hauled where possible; heritage diesel may operate instead.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Salisbury

    Old Wardour Castle and the East Somerset Railway

    After breakfast, a visit to Old Wardour Castle, a 14th-century luxury residence and fortress that survived two sieges before being destroyed with dynamite during the English Civil War. Free time to explore the castle, climb the east tower, or walk to the lake and fairy grotto. Transfer by coach to Cranmore Station for independent lunch at the station café, then a heritage steam train for a five-mile round-trip into the countryside around Shepton Mallet on the East Somerset Railway. On return, free time to explore the museum, miniature railway and engine shed before transfer back to hotel for the final dinner. Note: trains are steam-hauled where possible; heritage diesel may operate instead.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, the Wiltshire holiday draws to a close. Guests check out of the hotel and can set off home or continue to explore Wiltshire independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A guided tour of Avebury's stone circle, one of Britain's largest and most complex henges, includes lunch at the Red Lion pub set in the middle of the circle.
  • Day 3A private tour of Salisbury Cathedral reveals Britain's tallest spire, the world's oldest working clock, and one of only four surviving original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta.
  • Day 3An exclusive after-hours visit inside Stonehenge's inner stone circle, usually roped off to visitors, lets the group walk freely among the 5,000-year-old megaliths near sunset.
  • Day 5A heritage steam train carries the group on a 2.5-mile round trip on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway through the Wiltshire countryside, followed by a visit to the STEAM museum of the Great Western Railway.
  • Day 6After exploring Old Wardour Castle, a 14th-century fortress destroyed by dynamite in the English Civil War, the group rides a heritage steam train on a five-mile round trip on the East Somerset Railway.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 6 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast each day
  • 1 lunch
  • 5 dinners
  • Welcome glass of prosecco on arrival evening
  • All guided tours and excursions
  • Exclusive access to Stonehenge inner circle at sunset/sunrise
  • Private tour of Salisbury Cathedral including Magna Carta viewing
  • Guided tour of Avebury stone circle
  • Heritage steam train on Swindon & Cricklade Railway
  • Guided tour of STEAM museum, Swindon
  • Heritage steam train on East Somerset Railway
  • Visit to Old Wardour Castle

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Lunches on Days 5 and 6 (independently at station cafés)
  • Travel to/from Salisbury (guests arrive independently)

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, the tour includes two heritage steam train rides, a 2.5-mile round trip on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on day 5 and a 5-mile round trip on the East Somerset Railway on day 6, plus all coach travel.
Is this trip escorted?
Yes, it's an escorted tour with a UK Tour Manager throughout, though guests make their own way to Salisbury to start and finish.
What hotel is used?
The tour stays at the Mercure White Hart Hotel in Salisbury for all six nights, a 4-star hotel.
What is the Stonehenge visit like?
An exclusive after-hours experience inside the inner stone circle, an area usually roped off to the public, timed near sunset.
When does it depart?
Seven departures are listed, in April, May, July, August and September across 2026 and 2027.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance, lunches on days 5 and 6, and travel to and from Salisbury at the start and end of the tour.

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