Stonehenge is a 'larger than life' prehistoric monument. We learned a lot of really interesting facts about its uses and purpose while researching and also at the historic site. If you're planning on visiting be sure to do some light research prior to your visit. You will appreciate the experience so much more. Guest services: Our tour included an audio guide. Always bring an extra set of your own headphones. The bus drop off area is separate and located up a long winding hill. From that pathway, guests walk downhill where the cafe, restrooms, gift shop and gallery are located. The restroom facilities are very clean and this building is really nice. The gift shop has a variety of things all Stonehenge themed. We spent over €100.00 on knick knacks. Needless to say, it is pricey. There is a shuttle bus that picks people up and drops them off at at Stonehenge which is a short distance down the road. This is really the only way that it is accessible to the public. The shuttles run on a very regular basis. Stonehenge: It is really huge. You will be in awe of how people could move these stones thousands of years ago. It truly is a mystery. During regular hours it is partitioned off to keep people at a distance from the stones. However, you will be more than close enough to get great shots at every angle. Our visit wasn't too crowded, but it was also pouring rain, so I'm sure that had something to do with it being less crowded. Don't wear your good sneakers. Part of Stonehenge's pathway is on grass and part on gravel. There is absolutely no cover or shield from the elements so be sure to plan accordingly. Umbrellas in the gift shop start at €15.00. The energy at Stonehenge is vibrant and truly indescribable. I was in awe. The ride: From London the ride is about 1.5 hours each way. If you're taking a bus, be sure to book a comfortable one. We opted for Premium Tours, but Golden Tours probably would have been the better option. There will be some traffic, so this could impact your travel time also. Prepare: We left London, jett-laged, but happy to kick off our European trip. As always we checked the weather in London and headed on our way. We made one monumental mistake by checking the London weather because even though the forecast for London was beautiful, Stonehenge was our destination. HERE'S A TIP... check the weather in Wiltshire, since that's your actual destination. Geographically, it seems that the weather patterns in the States are pretty close, so this wouldn't be a big deal, but London and surrounding areas are known for their rain. Always be prepared. Bring an umbrella and a raincoat. Pack it in a backpack just in case. Visiting Stonehenge is an absolute must when in the UK! Enjoy and take lots of pictures. read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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How did those big stones get up there?!?? I remember reading about this in our world history books and was established back in the 3,000 B.C Located in the middle of beautiful green all around is Stonehenge. Getting to the location is a bit of a drive from any way you are coming but definitely worth it, don't think for one second you can't stop here if your in the area. Tons of free parking in a lot but it's always busy so you might have to wait around to get a spot. As you walk into the building you are able to purchase a ticket for a tour with a large group or a single ticket and you can walk and enjoy it on your own. I chose to walk it at my own pace. It starts off at one end and it's pretty much a big loop so everyone follows the flow of traffic. There is no time limit so take as much or as little time as you want, there are tons of people around so Waiting is normal to try and get a decent photo. As you exit you as exiting through a gift shop were you can purchase gifts and tons of souvenirs. This is about it for the most part, I would say a good 1-2 hours is enough to visit and enjoy Stonehenge. This is Definitely one to put on the BucketList! Hope you have a Blast!! read more

VISIT WITH A PRIVATE TOUR! Visiting Stonehenge is a pretty cool experience and Drew B. stated it well that the national Trust has done a great job with turning this site into a destination that keeps the tourists coming. Until a few months before my trip, I didn't know the stones were now blocked off to the tourists during park hours. I was bummed to find this out and considering I didn't want to take a tour to sit behind some ropes I was a little bummed. However we did some research and found there are a few companies that do private tours of Stonehenge. The tours occur before or after the park opens so they are either publicized as sunrise or sunset tours. They cost about 4 times the price of the regular tours but we figured if we were going, we may as well spend the money and get as close as we can. We chose a sunset tour out of London. Our specific tour made a couple other stops along the way and was all together a 12 hour day. However the true highlight of the trip was Stonehenge. We got there at about 7pm and our bus parked up in the parking. A Stonehenge bus took us down to the entrance to the stones and we walked up to the roped off section. Our group of 50 was then split into two groups. Half were able to roam among the stones while the other half stayed behind the ropes and a half our later your group switches positions so everyone gets time on both sides of the ropes. This was great since it allowed us to take pictures and enjoy the area without fighting people to look around. Stonehenge is absolutely gorgeous and it sits on top of a hill, not far from the road. When we stepped off the bus, you could smell the livestock around and you knew you were in the countryside. There are mounds set in the hills and our guide stated how they were burial mounds which I had never known about. The stones were much bigger than they look on TV or in pictures. Being close to them is very interesting and really makes you wonder how in the heck they really got there and why. There are of course speculations and educated guesses but we really do not know for sure. The sunset was gorgeous and it really was a beautiful site to see. We were lucky as we had a good tour guide who was able to show us carvings in the stones and tell us some history. The guard on duty was very friendly and overall we had a wonderful trip to Stonehenge. Definitely go, but please think of a private tour, it is well worth the money. Ours ended up costing about $125 (purchased online in US currency) per person but like I said, we also stopped at a few places along the way. (LaCock and Bath) Being behind the ropes, standing next to the stones makes all the difference. read more

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My visit to Stonehenge was one of many stops on a tour that I took from London. The drive to get there was long but worth it once we arrived. Although we had a tour guide we still utilized audio guides to help provide information about the sites. I found the audio guides helpful because it allowed you to explore the site at your own pace. Visiting the site was a great learning experience. The site definitely helps you to better understand the lifestyle of the people of pre historic Stonehenge. The site is very large and can get quite crowded and busy at times. This historical site is definitely worth a visit if your visiting the London area. read more

Stonehenge - Stonehenge buses - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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Far more than just rocks in a field, Stonehenge reverberates with a mystical energy. The echoes of many ages of history that have passed around them, yet they remain stoic, unchanged, unmoved. They remind us of a time when we were simpler, less concerned with technology and wealth. They are a symbol of a people (whomever they were) who dreamed together to design them, worked together to raise them, and gathered together to celebrate their achievement. There's a lesson to be learned there. read more

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Amazing amazing amazing! Walking through the fields and admiring these boulders was breathtaking. You're inches away from them and there's a close path all around them. It only take 5 minutes to walk around, there's small plaques and recordings to get more informed After your view you go into a modern store and cafe. Lots of washrooms available as well. read more

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Stonehenge, such an iconic and historical spot. If you are keen on history and stones and the way it was built as a temple and such, it's great. It's definitely worth the visit so you have said you've been, but I don't think paying the £20 more than once is necessary. From the entrance it's a 30 minute walk. I encourage you to take the walk as it is quite pleasant and the scenery was probably hands down the best part. It was pretty brilliant that they set it so you made a walk over. You go though fields of hay stacks, a forest of trees and then an opening of hills that leads you to the iconic stone monument. You can also take their bus shuttles which run every 5-10 minutes, it's included in the entrance fee! They've got an exhibition going more in depth of all how it came to be. Even apparently it was just recently discovered where the stones actually came from! Cool. Then you end up last at the cafe and gift shop. Some things are pretty great. Some sheep souvenirs, and even a travel neck pillow shaped as a Stonehenge. But for the most part it's your gift shop that has everything slapped on it to represent the iconic, historical monument. Would I go again? Not worth my £20. But definitely worth a trip if you happen to be in the area. read more

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Stonehenge was on my bucket list for awhile. Finally had a chance to visit while I was vacationing in London. Took a daylong bus trip to the countryside and Stonehenge was part of it. It's an incredible experience with a more incredible feeling of weirdness. Seeing the stones for real, feels like so surreal! Stepping back 5000 years in history, that is the best way to describe. The air is crisp, quiet. Only the sheep are moving quietly in the green grass, and the black crows were flying around. After we arrived, our bus parked at the designated area, we had been instructed to walk to the shuttle bus parking lot and we took a shuttle bus to the site. The Stonehenge stones are fenced off and can't be reached. No touching the stones! The walkway is clearly marked, easy to follow. During the walk around, you can listen to the tour guide through the earphones. There are plenty of photo opportunities! Take as many pictures as you like! Before returning to the tour bus, we had some time to experience the cafeteria. I got a pretty good espresso there, and some pastries and a sandwich. They sell a variety of food and drinks. Also, there is a gift shop. I guarantee that you can spend a lot of time here. They have so many wonderful gift items! read more

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I did a full day tour of stonehenge and the Roman baths and it was totally worth it to come out and see such an iconic historical monument. read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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It was a nice henge of stones. Henge means circle so I guess they got that right. They had buses that came every few minutes to take you up to the circle of stones. It was close to below freezing with wind when we went so we tried to make it quick. Once you get out there's a little path that goes up to the monument with people all around taking pictures. I thought all the people would ruin pictures but the way it was roped off you couldn't even see all the other people in the pictures. We walked all around and took pictures from every angle just like everyone else. The countryside was beautiful with green hills for miles. After coming back on the bus there is a visitors center and you can buy drinks and food. There are also little straw huts to walk around and look at. There was a museum but we didn't go in. Also there are bathrooms, which is good because we always have to go, no fail. It seems no one still knows the reason behind the massive henge of stones as we heard numerous theories. I guess it will always be a mystery! read more

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It really is a must when you're in England. We paired it with the Roman Baths and the town of Bath and that was really nice. Stonehenge alone may not be worth the 1.5-2 hours by coach, but pairing it with another stop definitely makes more sense. I forget the tour group we went through but Andrew was our tour guide, along with his walking stick named, Allen. English Bulldog. They were A+ read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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I think this is a great place to visit outside the city of London. I booked a tour to come here through Golden Tours so I had bit of limited time here. The tickets, a map, and audio tour was all included. Must admit they are stones but it is a phenomenal site nonetheless. Was a bit annoyed in how many people had selfie sticks and took like a million pictures but I guess I understand as I took a couple. The gift store I felt was a bit of a rip off though. The food hop was good though I recommend the hot pot stew; pretty good stuff. read more

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From start to finish, this whole experience was completely disillusioning. For starters, the trains running here only go about once an hour. They insist you buy tickets ahead of time, but it turns out you can buy them on site and avoid the service fee. Buying them ahead also doesn't mean you're exempt of paying a bus fee to and from the site. That bus runs rarely, it's expensive, and there's no other option to and from (except other tours). Once you're there, it IS cool. There's a little museum you can check out with plenty of relics and things to muse over, but it's pretty small. The site itself is tiny and roped off pretty far away... not really magical when you're there with tons of other tourists all vying to take pictures or selfies. If you take the shuttle up to the stones, you get dropped off... right into their gift shop. Literally you are funneled into it with every other tourist. Tons and tons of branded knick knacks! Glad I did it but can't and won't go back. Sheesh. read more

Talk about bucket list!!! I never thought this Northen California boy would ever see Stonehenge in person, but I did on my recent bucket list Euro trip! As far as getting there goes, my friends and I took a guided bus tour from London. We drove for a couple hours through the beautiful English countryside, which was worth it in itself! Sprawling green hills and farmland; this was definitely a drive that I'll remember forever! Upon arrival at Stonehenge, you're greeted by some much needed bathrooms (after that long drive), and a giant visitor center containing a museum, cafe, and souvenir shop. You then have to fall in line to take a 5 minute shuttle bus to the historical site itself, which is about a mile from the visitor center ( we were here on a Sunday afternoon, and the line for the shuttle took about 20 minutes). Then you get in another line, but this line is to actually view Stonehenge itself! The stones are blocked off, for obvious reasons, but you still get to be pretty close, as you can see in my pics. At any rate, this place is breathtaking and is a true marvel of human (or alien, lol!) engineering. I definitely had to pinch myself a couple times to see if I was really here present at one of the Wonders of the World! If you're visiting London, definitely book a tour and see this place. It's so worth it! read more

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So who's been inside the Stonehenge Circle?? ME!!! Tourists from around the world flock to Stonehenge to see these incredible stones. Most tourists can only view it from a distance, but 3 tour companies have exclusive access to provide inner circle access.... yes, as in you're inside the Stonehenge circle. I found EvanEvansTours had a tour on Saturday morning, which included Oxford and Windsor Castle. Booking it wasn't cheap, as it was over $300 for the 2 of us, and, we had to catch the bus at 5:15am. Was it worth it? Definitely! So my pickup time at 5:15 was at the Marble Arch Amba hotel, and we were instructed to be there by 5:00 am. Daniel from Evan Evans Tours was in the hotel lobby to check us in, and the bus arrived a little early. When we arrived at Stonehenge, there was another group in the Inner Circle, probably for the actual sunrise. We killed some time by looking at the mock village at the visitor's center, and the stone replica, before getting shuttled to the site. The Evan Evans tour said it was a sunrise event, it was not. However, it worked out since we got great photos without a lot of shadow. Since our bus had 30+ people, we were divided into 2 groups at Stonehenge. I was in the second group, so for about half an hour, we were asked to walk the perimeter of the circle, like a normal visitor would. At 8:30, our group switched, and we were inside the circle. Daniel was narrating the history of the monument, but I was realistic and knew that I wanted photos! So here's my photo from the Inner Circle. We could be close to the stones, as long as we did NOT touch them. If security spots any of us touching the stones, we would be kicked out of the area. Our guide let us wander a bit until 9:40, and then, we were off to Oxford. read more

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Yet another bucket list item checked off. It was cool to see and to say you were there. Took a tour down there, which wasn't too bad. Did the morning tour. read more

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Magical. Finally got the time to put this down. There's something about this place that makes you feel welcoming. It's hard to explain it. We took the bus here from London. A nice day, and a very pleasant few hours ride. We stopped by Bath first, but that's another story. Still haven't got a clue what these stones are all about. What's life without a little mystery right? Highly recommended. read more

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World class tourists located. Very well managed and protected! The area is always very busy, but clean. Ticket price included shuttle bus from the Visitor Centre to the Stoneridge. Non-stop shuttle buses one right after one. You don't have to wait for a long time. The walk is about 5 minutes from the tour buses parking lot to the shuttles, and about 10 minutes walking a circle in Stoneridge. But always give yourself 30 - 45 minutes because of pictures taking! read more

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i've always wanted to see the stone henge and it didn't disappoint. it's literally in the middle of nowhere read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

For our 2 week tour in England & Scotland, I hate to say this was the least interesting place to visit. The tour guide really built up the hype as this was our 1st stop and we started to take pictures from the tour bus when Stonehenge first came into view. As the tour guide pointed out, the one-lane traffic was awful. The visitor center is good as the admission was included in the tour. The center is informative. Too bad we didn't get a chance to hang in the gift shop as we need to go to the bathroom first before leaving. You need to catch a shuttle to the rock circle, or you can take a long, long, long walk over there. It was windy & hot that day (end of August 2022), but we did walk around the circle & took more pictures. The inner circle is roped off now as tourists had damaged them enough. Stonehenge itself is fine, the whole area is clean & neatly maintained, it's just personally I'm not into historical ruins. read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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I'd like to dedicate review number 1000 on one of my epic visits in Europe the past year, and that is the prehistoric monument filled with mysteries "Stonehenge". When planning our itinerary to the United Kingdom it was a no brainer to make it as part of our adventurous tour. I've seen it the 80's comedy classic National Lampoon's European Vacation and seeing it on documentaries like Travel Channel and National Geographic the theories how those structures came about and its purpose. All in all it draws my attention to see it up close and personal. When you are on the highway you can see Stonehenge in plain site, I was at awe. Our tour group was dropped off at the visitors center's parking lot. Since our tour guide provided us our tickets ahead of time, there was no need to get the counter. We went straight to the pickup area where there's a shuttle that takes you about eight minutes to the site. Upon arrival there's a walk way that leads you to the stone structures. Keep in mind there's boundaries. You can only be thirty feet away. But you'll be amazed how these gigantic stones stand in the countryside of England. The landscape surrounding Stonehenge is on a nice flat grassy field and you can see sheep's grazing in the area. We visited in March and the weather was colder. There's a gift shop that sells souvenirs. Interactive exhibits in museum and you can find pastries, soups, sandwiches, coffee and beers at their cafe to keep you warm. If you want to fill-in that bucket list of wonders of the world, it's destination Stonehenge. read more

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It's 6 miles north of Salisbury and has the most dense collection of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England with 100s of scattered burial mounds. It is also a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. Recent research (2011) indicates that the bluestones and sarsen stones were quarried in Pembrokeshire some 140 miles from Stonehenge. When driving to Stonehenge park your car in the visitors parking area across the street. It's 3 pounds and redeemable when you buy an admission ticket. Adult tickets cost 28 lbs.. When you leave the parking lot take the trial that leads you to the ticket booth and small snack bar and gift store. You then get your ticket and walk under the road tunnel to get to Stonehenge. The ticket also gets you an audio-guide. Bring your own ear buds, especially if you like the performance of yours. There are numbered stations on the walk around the outside trail. Stop and listen to the interesting and informative presentation. While standing on the trail you are about 50 feet from the stones. You are not allowed to go any closer. You can buy a Stone Circle Access Pass from the ENGLISH HERITAGE SITE that allows you to walk into the stone complex for an additional cost. No touching the stones and your visit to the inside stone area is outside normal operating time (9:30- 4 pm). The tour inside the stones is for 1 hour, a maximum of 26 people allowed and costs about extra 15 pounds. During the the summer and winter solstice and the spring and autumn equinox visitors are allowed to go into the stone complex. The Summer Solstice is quite a festive event. The celebrators are worth seeing. When at Stonehenge visit Winterbourne Stokes Barrow which is 1 mile west . They have a collection of every type of burial mound in the UK and breathtaking views of Stonehenge. read more

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Stonehenge was an amazing experience and highly recommend! It's about 2 hours from central London which you can go with renting a car or with a tour. You can either walk up to the site or take a little shuttle bus. The place usually is super packed, so the earlier you go, the better shots you can get. In the visiting center, there's audio guides in many languages as well as a food/beverage area where you can grab a bite to eat. Must try the hot chocolate! So delicious and milky. read more

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YES! I don't remember when I first learned that Stonehenge existed but it has been in my consciousness for a very long time. So I knew I would have to book a tour to go in person. And even though I was there on a cold, windy November morning, it was perfect. The tour company I booked got as to the site about an hour after it opened which meant leaving London pretty early. But it also meant that almost noone was there. We took a shuttle from the new facility buildings, you can walk to the stones (15 to 20 minutes too). Since I wasn't there on either Summer or Winter Solstice, you cannot walk amongst the stones which is just as well since people love to leave their mark on ancient monuments. I loved walking alone around the stones and while you can grab an audio tour thingy (comes with admission price), I preferred to wander in silence. The facilities are pretty great too with a reproduction neolithic village, museum exhibits, cafe, toilets, and a great gift shop. Now I want to go back and have an anthropologist lecture to me about all the different aspects of the site...because y'know super-nerd-girl. read more

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I knew I couldn't visit England without including a trip to Stonehenge. Since I had limited time, I signed up for the Premium Tours day trip. The ride from London was long, but we did stop in Windsor first so a short nap on the bus was needed anyway. The weather had been cloudy all day, so of course it erupted in a downpour as we inched closer to Stonehenge. I used the hashtag #moody unapologetically probably too many times that day. Nonetheless, the rain did set the eerie scene as our shuttle bus herded us up to the stones. The rain let up a bit while we were there, and you can hardly even tell it was raining in my photos. Woo-hoo. Seeing the stones up close was really cool, and since it was off season and cold, I could actually take photos without other tourists photobombing. Nice. There's a very modern gift shop and small eatery on site. I would recommend bringing your own bag for any purchases though. There's a hefty bag fee of like 5 pounds or something ridiculous like that. And it's not even a nice reusable bag. It's just a flimsy etched plastic one! On that note, I thought it was worth it for the pretty fleece I bought. Available in many colors. I chose purple. I understand visitation should be getting even easier in the future. They're creating a fancy bus area, so you don't have to walk a half mile to the bus after your shuttle bus drops you off at the visitor center. read more

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This place is very crowded does not matter what time of the year you are visiting. This is definitely a place to go if you first come to the UK. You will need to purchase ticket to get into the Stonehenge. Ticket is sold at the customer service place, then there will be a bus to take you to the Stonehenge. You can walk to the Stonehenge or take the bus there. It's bout 1 miles from the customer service place to the Stonehenge. If you don't purchase the ticket, you won't be able to go to the bus. You can walk around the Stonehenge without a ticket but you won't have a good view of it. read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

Stonehenge was something I knew I needed to see after taking an Art History course. Details: Visited with my family and tour group on August 10, 2013. It was a sunny, but breezy day and there were lots of tourists there. I almost missed getting in with my group due to the really long line at the restroom. Tips: - Stop for a bite to eat and rest stop before you get to Stonehenge. - Give yourself enough time to walk around and enjoy it. - Patience is necessary to handle all the tourists like yourself. - Definitely visit the store before you leave to pick up some books or mementos. History: It was built in the Neolithic Period or the New Stone Age. This is when humans started settling in fixed abodes and domesticating plants and animals. All the stones were aligned to mark the passage of the sun and changing seasons. The largest stones weighed as much as 40 tons and it took at least 200 people 12 days to transport the stones from about 15 miles to the north. The reason Stonehenge was built is still a mystery that archaeology cannot answer. Some think it was built for the farmers to mark the winter solstice and the turning of the year and some think it was just a burial ground since there are many burial mounds in the area. I'd highly recommend visiting this World Heritage Site, taking advantage of the audio tour and stopping by the Visitor Centre Store where they have a nice selection of books. read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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Our drive from London to Stonehenge officially kicked off our English countryside road trip. After a super stressful morning navigating our way out of London's roundabouts in a rental car, we were relieved to be driving highways and country roads to get here. When we arrived in the afternoon, it was sunny and unusually warm. We parked in the dirt overflow parking and paid 5 pounds (which were reimbursed upon leaving). We purchased our tickets at the very lovely and modern Visitors Center and checked out the primitive huts and little interactive things (like trying to pull a stone, yeah, no) and decided we were going to walk through the fields to get to Stonehenge instead of taking the complimentary shuttle. That was fun for the first 10 minutes until the sun started to really beat down (this is in August, mind you). Even the novel sheep grazing in the fields didn't make the walk any shorter. I believe it's about a mile walk from the visitor center to the Stonehenge viewing area, though it definitely felt longer. At the site, we walked around the thing and took pictures. We didn't do the audio thing, which would have probably made it more interesting but it definitely gets you thinking a bit about how these folks got all those giant slabs of stone out there...I know there are theories but how would we know for certain..? We ended up taking the shuttle bus back to the visitor center because hot and tired. Hangry too. read more

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A place I never thought I would see with my own eyes: Stonehenge and yet I was able to see it, walk around it, take tons ( I mean tons) of pictures of it, and was soo super excited to be lucky enough to see them. I know it might seem trivial to some, but for me I felt truly blessed to be there. When our travel plans were finally set, I knew I couldn't let this opportunity go by, I did research to see what's the best way to go, and learned that a tour bus is mostly the way to go, I really wasn't interested in touring with lots of people on the same agenda, so I kept looking around and found a smaller private tour (Anderson Tours) that went to Stonehenge, and it was about a group of 20, and we were on our own while at Stonehenge. Sweet! Lets go! After you have you ticket make your way to the queue for the Stonehenge shuttle to take you to the famous rocks. Once there, just take in the awe of the stones, do you feel different around them? Is there a vibe around them? I am in awe of them, between all the knowledge and technology we have, the mystery surrounding them, we still no real idea of how or why the exist. This was a great day trip and happy to have seen Stonehenge, another once in a lifetime experiences I can check off my list! read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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The day we visited it was bitter cold and windy, but you have to see Stonehenge at least once if you're ever in the UK. An hour train ride out to the country from London (which was beautiful) and picked up by a friend, we drove another 20 minutes or so out to Stonehenge. An audio headset is available as it is self guided and that is helpful as it will tell you where to walk, look out at the horizon here, see the fourth stone jutting up from the earth over there, etc., and the significance of each piece or area. You're not able to touch the stones or get closer than 20-30 feet, for obvious reasons. Very interesting to see in person, the man power used to move these stones, along with the religious significance dating thousands of years back, is awe inspiring. Lots of quaint, lovely villages within a few minutes driving, go grab a tea and something to nosh on after. read more

Stonehenge - Walkway up to the main area - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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Stonehenge must put out some kind of mystical gravity distortion field ... one that pulls in every tour bus or tourist with a car in southern England. Okay, I've seen this on a list of seven wonders of the medeival world, and if you're close by how can you not go to see it? The site is magnificent and evocative. The nearby museum and the free audioguide do a good job of trying to answer the big questions of who built this place, how, and why. The surrounding countryside of farms and rolling hills, dotted with ancient burial mounds and mysterious ditches, deserves a short hike if you have the time. However, unlike, say the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal that might surprise you with how big they are in real life, this has the opposite effect. The first impression is, "I thought it would be bigger" (must...resist...oh fine...that's what she said). Stop and chat with the well trained docents, if you want a little extra color. For example, we learned that the site has its modern uses. Several thousand people who self identify as modern Druids and Wiccans come here and worship each year, culminating in over 27,000 people for the summer solstice. They even tried hosting a music festival once...only once. The stones are roped off and access restricted since the 1970s. Before going we heard criticism of this policy. But the growing number of visitors had begun compacting the soil and causing destruction (even graffiti, smh). And honestly, I didn't think it was too limiting. You do get to completely circle the monument so you see it from every angle, and on one side you get very close, within a few yards. read more

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While no doubt a deserved World Heritage site and certainly a bucket list item, Stonehenge is somewhat uncompelling to see in person. The enforced distance from the stones really weaken the experience. That and the crowds disrupt the solemnity and awe that the site should impress one with. And perhaps because the henge is so familiar an icon, that once seen in person, it's a bit anti-climatic. We opted to walk the 1.5 miles from the visitor center to the stones (and took bus back). We hoped walking would've added to the experience of the place but while the trek was peaceful enough (you skirt the margins of sheep fields and pastures), it tended to be degraded by having to walk on the pavement and periodically avoid oncoming buses. I wish English Heritage had made an informative walking path to the henge instead of having to hike upon a blacktop roadway - it would certainly encourage more walking rather than riding. The visitor center museum has some nice displays on the history, layout, and interpretation of the site, and the Neolithic model homes are a hoot, being interactive and charming (try sitting/lying on a neolithic bed and you'll never complain about a mattress or futon again!). The gift store is rift with ticky-tacky stuff, though. Unfortunately, the EH treatment of Stonehenge borders on being overly commercial which also detracts from the experience. Do go early as possible because the crowds grow quickly in peak tourist season. We arrived right at 9:30 AM and finished around 11:00 and were glad - it started to get crowded already by 10 with tour buses arriving and by 11, it was swamped with long queues at the ticket booth. The visitor center restrooms are clean and roomy - plenty of stalls in ladies and gents to accommodate those busloads. Certainly Stonehenge is must-see, but for a better experience, do schedule in a visit to Avebury Circle where one can get a true hands-on and sincere experience of these Neolithic constructions. read more

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To all the people complaining it's too far away, do me a favor, do research next time (if you ever go back) and you will find you can book private showings for small groups through various tours. We booked one with Anderson Tours, less than £200 total for two people, they pick you up from several locations in the city, you and other 30-ish people get to go INTO the circle after the Stonehenge is closed to general admission. A local guide was also there to give us a full run down on the history. You can't touch, of course, but I was practically an inch away from the amazing stones. They also do a similar tour for small groups before dawn if you are willing to rise up and shine early. The stones are everything I expected. Magnificent, beautiful, mysterious, reminded me of how little we know about world before us. read more

Stonehenge - Inside the circle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

I won't be adding anything that hasn't been said before. Coming here and witnessing this place, a little slice of history and human ancestry was.. humbling to say the least. The place is gorgeous and pretty well managed. The cafe and the souvenir shop was grossly overpriced and there was no water fountain in site - I am still not docking a star because the place was so gorgeously beautiful. The shuttle system was pretty painless and love the little benches they have on the side for people to sit and rest. Oh and the sheep were so adorbs! read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

I'd gotten some mixed reviews about Stonehenge - people either agreed with our decision to go, or railed against it, telling us it'd be a waste of time. I'm honestly glad we went. The stones are impressive. The mystique around the "why" and "who" of it all intrigues me, and the "how" astounds me. I learned a lot about the area surrounding Stonehenge - I've never seen the term "barrow downs" used so often outside of a Tolkien book - and saw some stunning recreations of the way Stonehenge was configured over the many years. My only regret is that, because we visited with a tour bus, our time there was extremely limited. I would have loved to have spent more time with the Stones, and with the exhibits at the visitor center, but it was impossible with the schedule the tour company set for us. The visitor's center provides an audio guide, but I don't know if it's included in your ticket, or if it's extra, since we weren't given an option to use them. I'm a huge fan of audio guides, and I think I would have benefited from whatever knowledge they were imparting through that medium. The exhibits that we were able to see - at double-time, since we were due at the bus - were impressive and very detailed. There's a room that is basically an immersive experience, where they show you what it's like within the stones during every season. It's kind of cool. Definitely am glad we went, and would absolutely go back (on our own) the next time we're in the UK. read more

Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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What a wonderful and historic site. Our tour, from Evan Evans, included a plastic sheet with history and numbers to scan that would then have tap d entries that would start sharing the history of the site. Wonderful English history going back thousands of years. Very interesting place - this was our top priority when coming from the USA to England and we are so glad we did! read more

Not sure how you can rate something as iconic as Stonehenge as anything less than 5 stars. If you do you may offend the gods. We visited on a tour, and were given radios and headphones that had preloaded talking points as we walked around the site. It is quite striking to see, and has you asking yourself if it is real life. You walk around the stones from a distance and see them from many angles. There is a part in the loop where you can come closer to the stones and get some nice pictures. After you see the stones there is a nicely done visitor center and gift shop. It is actually very modern and is a nice close / start to the site visit. You go back and forth between the center and the stones via a bus, or by walking the ~1 mile road. The center has restrooms and food you can purchase. I recommend going in the visitor canter if you have time. Ask the staff anything, they were really willing to be informative. There is a cool Panoramic video that explains the history of the stones and how they came to be, with a couple of scenes of what the finished circle may have looked like. All in all, aside from being a must see in England, I highly recommend as the site is overall very excellent. read more

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I went on a trip to Europe by myself and was determined to explore England outside of London. I flew in from Venice and rented a car so I could drive out to some landmarks and attractions. I'm so glad I came to the Stonehenge! Parking is free. However, you do have to pay to enter the museum. I got through it in about half an hour. It's very small, but they have some great artifacts. Right outside the museum is a slab of a stone and some tent like camps to explore. The museum ticket includes admission on a bus to ride to and from the main attraction, the stones! You could certainly skip the museum and and bus ride and walk to the stones. However, make sure to take your walking shoes. The way it's laid out means you'll have to walk roughly 2 miles. I'm not sure if you need a ticket to come back. I didn't notice anyone checking. So it's possible to walk there and get a ride back. It was really a humbling experiencing. I would go back next time I'm in the UK. read more

Kinda expensive tickets to see a pile of rocks, isn't it? Even though it is historic and all. I was just as impressed with the 2 sheep dogs doing their job herding sheep in the field next to the pile of rocks that tons of people, including this old boy, came to see . Well, I'm on vacation so I am doing the tourist thing and making lots of merriment. read more

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Pretty cool landmark and exhibit. The prehistoric monument was fascinating. Though I would say it pays more for a private tour. During my visit, there were a lot of tourists so that definitely took away from the experience, not to mention it started raining. Nonetheless, being there in person and up close was a pretty amazing experience. read more

Stonehenge - Stonehenge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Amesbury, WIL

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