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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 02 March, 2023
Expert travel writer: Annabelle Thorpe

There’s nowhere else in the UK that quite matches Stonehenge for history, atmosphere and mysticism.

An ancient burial site dating back to at least 2,500 BC, the iconic stone circle is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. Surrounded by burial mounds, and Bronze Age and Neolithic monuments, Stonehenge offers a unique glimpse of England’s pre-history.

The state-of-the-art visitor centre has over 250 archaeological exhibits discovered around the site, alongside a 360-degree virtual experience of standing among the stones. Next to the centre, a clutch of re-created Neolithic houses gives an insight into how people lived 4,500 years ago.

While much has been discovered about the site, Stonehenge remains shrouded in mystery to this day. No one is sure for certain what purpose the structure once served. Was it a temple for sun worship, a healing centre, or simply an elaborate burial site?

Most mysterious of all is how our Neolithic ancestors – more than four millennia ago and using only primitive tools – managed to manoeuvre the huge stones, the heaviest of which weighs around 50 tons. It was once thought the stones had been transported from the Preseli Hills in Wales (more than 150 miles away), but a recent theory suggests the stones may have come from much closer, deposited near the site by the Irish Sea Glacier during the last Ice Age.

While you’re there 

Salisbury’s medieval cathedral, a short drive from Stonehenge, is another must-visit, home to the best-preserved of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta, a highly significant historical document from 1215. The Magna Carta Libertatum was an English legal charter that required King John of England to proclaim certain rights, respect certain legal procedures, and accept that his will could be bound by the law, thus limiting his powers.

Price from: £22
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 4+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Trains from London Waterloo take just over an hour to reach Salisbury. Driving to Stonehenge from London takes about two hours. The site lies off the A344, and there’s ample parking. Taxis and local bus services are available from the station to the visitor centre, and shuttles run from the centre to Stonehenge itself (included in entry price).

Check the website to see if tickets must be booked online ahead of time – but it’s always recommended as capacity can be limited. Audio guides are available to rent at the visitor centre.

The Stonehenge Tour is a hop-on, hop-off bus service that picks you up in Salisbury town centre and runs to Stonehenge from Salisbury cathedral, via Old Sarum and Amesbury. On the way you get commentary about Stonehenge and other local history and legends.

When to do it

The site and visitor centre are open all year round, seven days a week. Last entry is two hours before closing time.

Stonehenge is at its most atmospheric as dusk creeps in, so stay on until closing time and try to visit outside high summer, when it remains light until late into the evening.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Stonehenge Half Day Tour with Entry and Extra Time

Stonehenge Half Day Tour with Entry and Extra Time

London

Visit Stonehenge without a guide and explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site at your own pace on the London to Stonehenge Independent Trip. ...

£59 | Rating 4.05 / 5 [124 ratings]

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London to Stonehenge Shuttle Bus and Independent Day Trip

London to Stonehenge Shuttle Bus and Independent Day Trip

London

If you'd like to visit Stonehenge without a guide, pre-book now for a fast, hassle-free independent day trip. It's the best way to arrange a...

£62 | Rating 4.05 / 5 [711 ratings]

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Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London + Admission

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London + Admission

London

This wonderful day trip will take you to three of the UK’s most iconic locations - Royal Windsor Castle, mysterious Stonehenge and charming ...

£69 | Rating 4.61 / 5 [1790 ratings]

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Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London

London

Windsor has been the home of Kings and Queens for centuries. Wander its cobbled streets and see the largest occupied castle in the world - h...

£69 | Rating 4.55 / 5 [688 ratings]

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