England is so rich with history that I think it is sacrilegious not to experience all the old ruins and monuments while you are there. So, off we went to Stonehenge. One of the ‘Wonders of the World’.
How to get to Stonehenge
Stonehenge is easy to get to from London and there are a number of ways to get there.
- Catch a train into Salisbury and then take the Stonehenge tour bus.
- Take a day trip by bus from London, which takes around 2.5 hours, or join one of the many Stonehenge tours.
- Hire a car for the day. This allows you to visit Stonehenge in the morning and then check out Salisbury before you head back.
Cloudy sky over Stonehenge.
A Brief History
Built around 3000 B.C, Stonehenge is considered the most architecturally sophisticated and only surviving linteled stone circle in the world, and in 1986, Stonehenge was one of the very first sites to be added into the UNESCO World Heritage list in the UK.
Stonehenge standing stones.
A Visitors Guide
After buying our tickets and picking up our audio guide (and guidebook) we headed into the new Exhibition centre. I suggest starting here, as you get to wander through different rooms allowing you to view artifacts from the site and learn about the site’s history. We spent a good hour in here, as there is a lot to take in. From there we headed outside to wander around the replica Neolithic houses, which I found very interesting. There are volunteers around for any questions you may have on the huts or how they lived. Here you can also watch demonstrations on how domestic skills were put to use.
Neolithic Hut.
Transportation example of Stones.
Now it was time to make our way to the site. You have a couple of choices on getting there – you can catch the mini bus or walk through the fields. We decided to walk through the fields. If you have a pram, like we did, you can still walk through the fields, it just takes a bit longer to navigate. The walk is beautiful and scenic, which is like every walk in England!
Letting the fields lead us.
Fields and Burial mounds.
You will notice when you get to the site that you are no longer allowed near the stones themselves, and they have put in place a path that leads you around. On this path is where your audio guide comes into play. There are markers with numbers to program into your audio guide to help you navigate your way around, collecting information about Stonehenge as you go. Don’t rush through this part. Take in all the information while looking and imagining a time from long ago.
Horseshoe Entrance View.
Inner Circle.
Heel Stone.
When you have finished wandering around the site, head to the mini bus for the ride back and reward yourself with something from either the cafe or shop (we rewarded ourselves with both).
Dean and Krisztina at Stonehenge.
After Stonehenge
After visiting Stonehenge I recommend checking out Salisbury if you have your own form of transportation or if you are going there for the train service back to London. Salisbury is a beautiful town and the Cathedral is worth exploring, especially if you would like to see the Magna Carta, which is one of the most celebrated documents in English history.
For further information on visiting Stonehenge click here.
If you would like to know more about the Magna Carta click here.
I hope you find this post helpful. Have you been to Stonehenge and if so, did you enjoy walking among one of the ‘Wonders of the World’?
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