Stonehenge
A prehistoric stone circle begun about 5,000 years ago, one of the world's most famous Neolithic monuments.
Stonehenge stands on Salisbury Plain and consists of two rings of massive stones. It was built over roughly 1,500 years, from about 3000 to 1500 BCE. The sarsen stones of the outer ring weigh up to 25 tonnes, and the inner “bluestones” have been shown to come from the Preseli Hills in Wales, about 240 kilometers away. The monument's main axis aligns with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset. Its purpose has been interpreted in many ways, including astronomical observation, ritual and burial. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1986, together with nearby Avebury. Your visit begins at the visitor center, which has exhibitions and a reconstructed Neolithic house. From there, take the free shuttle bus, or walk about 30 minutes, to the stones and follow the circular path around them. Standard tickets do not allow entry into the inner circle. Tickets cost about £28–34, and booking a timed slot on the official website is cheaper. It is about 1 hour by car from Bath and about 2 hours from London. Without a car, you can take the Stonehenge Tour bus from Salisbury railway station. The plain is windy, so bring a jacket.
Opening hours
About 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (extended to 7:00 p.m. in summer; check official website)
Nearby sights
- Salisbury Cathedral
- Avebury
- Lacock and Lacock Abbey
- Stourhead
- Castle Combe
- Prior Park Landscape Garden
- Cirencester
- Holburne Museum