The honest answer: for most people arriving by train, the private shuttle is the best option. Here is why, and how the alternatives compare.
If you are arriving into Salisbury by train, travelling as a solo visitor, couple, or family, and want a guaranteed seat with no surprises, the private shuttle from Caboose is the best option by a comfortable margin.
It costs £15 return, which is cheaper than the Stonehenge Tour bus (£22 to £25) and dramatically cheaper than a taxi (£60 to £80 return for a solo traveller). It departs from a venue two minutes from Salisbury station where you can drop your bags and pick up a coffee before boarding. Your return seat is booked when you pay, so there is nothing to arrange at the far end.
The Stonehenge Tour (Salisbury Reds) is the better choice if you want to visit Old Sarum on the same day. The bus runs a hop-on hop-off route that includes Old Sarum before Stonehenge. If that dual-site itinerary matters to you, the public bus is designed for it.
A taxi makes financial sense if you have specific timing requirements that do not fit our fixed departure schedule, or if you have mobility needs that require door-to-door service. For groups of four or more, the per-person return cost of a taxi drops to around £15 to £20 — similar to our shuttle price, but without the guaranteed reserved seat or the included coffee and luggage storage.
Driving makes sense if you are already in the Salisbury area with a car and want flexibility over your arrival and departure times. Be aware that parking at Stonehenge is limited and must be pre-booked at £18 per vehicle. In peak summer months the car park can fill by mid-morning.