Stonehenge

Historic Site near Bath

Stonehenge is one of the most iconic prehistoric monuments in the world, known for its massive standing stones arranged in a circular layout. It is located on Salisbury Plain and has fascinated historians, archaeologists, and visitors for centuries. The exact purpose of Stonehenge remains a mystery, but it is widely believed to have been a site of religious and ceremonial significance, possibly related to astronomy or burial rituals.

The construction of Stonehenge took place in several phases, beginning around 3000 BCE during the Neolithic period. The stones themselves were transported from great distances, some coming from the Preseli Hills in Wales, over 150 miles away. This remarkable feat of engineering demonstrates the advanced skills and organization of the prehistoric communities who built it.

Visitors to Stonehenge can explore the site via a well-maintained visitor center that provides exhibitions about the history and archaeology of the monument. The visitor experience includes access to a stone circle viewing area, a reconstructed Neolithic village, and interactive displays. While visitors are not allowed to walk freely among the stones except during special events, the experience offers a deep insight into ancient British history.

Stonehenge is also closely tied to various cultural and spiritual events, especially the summer and winter solstices. Thousands of people gather at the site during these times to witness the sunrise or sunset aligning perfectly with the stones, an event that underscores the monument’s connection to celestial cycles. This has helped keep Stonehenge a living symbol of cultural heritage and ongoing traditions.

The site’s UNESCO World Heritage status highlights its global importance and the need to preserve it for future generations. Ongoing archaeological research continues to uncover new insights about Stonehenge and its surroundings, contributing to our understanding of prehistoric life in Britain. Visiting Stonehenge offers a unique glimpse into the distant past and invites reflection on human ingenuity and the mysteries of ancient civilizations.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.5 (63,714)

Stonehenge, near Salisbury SP4 7DE, is the legendary Neolithic monument of massive stones transported from distant locations and erected for unknown purposes; visitors describe a powerful, awe-inspiring experience arriving over the hill and walking the circuit around the stones while taking in the surrounding countryside. The site includes an impressive visitor centre with an exhibition, shop, café and toilets, helpful staff, wheelchair-friendly facilities and an audio guide app; shuttle buses run frequently between the centre and the stones, though it’s also possible to walk in about 20 minutes from the car park. Access rules prevent walking on the stones themselves; parking is ample and free to certain heritage members, and many recommend arriving early or joining a small tour to avoid crowds.

Ben

3 weeks ago

"Amazing experience... When coming up over the hill and seeing it off the road on the drive to the main entrance I got such an inspiring feeling.After learning more about it I felt even more inspired. The sheer determination and willpower to get these 5 - 60000lb Sarsen Stones over these distances is mind boggling. They still have no hard evidence on how they did it, and I doubt we ever will... The mystery and wonder that surround these stones is unbelievable. It's such a great experience to learn about all this. We went in November but we were lucky to catch early morning sunshine and less clouds, truly blessed. I recommend taking a tour out there, one that gets there when they open so you can beat the crowds and save on gas, money and time. We went with a small tour of about 15 people and it was just right and we were back in London by 2pm. They gave us a little over 2.5 hours there and that was plenty of time to stand in awe of the stones, go slowly through the exhibition and the small Durham houses. We even hit the gift shop (which had awesome stuff actually), the bathroom, and café for a last minute to-go coffee and hot chocolate (both were great). This is a MUST when in England! Highly recommend for anyone that has any passion for history 👍🏼🇬🇧 Cheers!..."

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Jackie Robinson

a month ago

"Plenty of parking, free to cadw, English heritage, and historic Scotland. Very Busy even at 10am. Free Busses taking visitors down every 5 to 10mins. And bringing back. No going on the stones. Very impressive visitors centre. Toilets, shop, cafe. All wheelchair friendly. Great audio guide app. Friendly staff. Soooo many nationalities visiting. Heard soooooo many languages. Wonderful place to visit. Better when not so many people, but over a million people visit so not any quiet time...."

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Ali Jafari-Gh.

a month ago

"A definitely must visit place! Stonehenge is not just a bunch of stones erected next to each other! It's an amazing structure with a 4,000-year-plushistory! The initial structure was erected long before the Pyramids or Persepolis (which was surprisingly missing from their timeline display).nThe stones weigh up to 30 to es and were brought from very long distances, which tells us just how much the site mattered to the people of that time!..."

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The Stonehenge appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Bath!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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