It’s perfectly possible to visit Avebury and its associated sites in a day from London. This is how I would do it.
Places to visit there are:
- the henge and stone circle that surround the village
- the National Trust manor house with cafe and small museum
- Silbury Hill
- West Kennet long barrow
- The Sanctuary stone circle (site of)
- Start of the Ridgeway at Overton Hill
- The Avenue standing stone route to Avebury
Swindon has great connections from London Paddington, and then there is a regular bus service, the 49, from Swindon to Avebury (and back). Timings below are correct at the time of writing (April 2026) but check the links before travel. Good connections also to Bristol, Reading etc.
Trains from Paddington to Swindon:
Rail journey planner
08:18 arrives 09:07
08:30 arrives 09:23
08:48 arrives 09:38
etc
Bus 49 from Swindon-Avebury
From Fleming Way Stop Y to the Red Lion, Avebury
Timetable Free with Freedom pass
09:25 arrives 10:01
09:55 arrives 10:57
10:25 arrives 11:01
etc
Link to suggested tour* of the main sites – about 6 miles, 3 hours including stops – including the bank and ditch and sarsens within the village itself, the manor house (with cafe and small museum) and a walk past Silbury Hill to West Kennet long barrow, returning via the Sanctuary then along the sarsen avenue to the village.
*free access on OSmaps including gpx file
Bus 49 from Avebury-Swindon
Timetable
16:07 arrives 16:47
16:42 arrives 17:07
17:07 arrives 17:47
etc
Trains from Swindon to Paddington
About 5 trains an hour, about 50 minutes
