Visit Stonehenge: discover this historic site

Make a visit Stonehengeto enjoy a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It dates from around the same time as Egypt's Great Pyramid.

Today, I'm going to tell you more about this place and what you can find there.

Visit Stonehenge: article summary

Visit Stonehenge: origins and evolution of the monument

The Stonehenge monument dates back some 5,000 years to the Neolithic period. It was originally a circular moat surrounding the remains of 64 cremations, known as the Aubrey Holes. It is the largest known Neolithic cemetery in the British Isles.

The stones themselves didn't start arriving until around 2,500 years BCThe site continued to develop until the Bronze Age.

The huge sandstone stones were dragged here from Salisbury Plain. It is thought that it took around 200 men about 12 days to pull a single stone from the shore. Marlborough Downs to Stonehenge.

The smallest stones came from the Preseli hills in West Wales, 250 km away.

Historical significance for the country

Stonehenge was once Britain's largest temple. The immense menhirs are methodically arranged to align themselves with the passage of the sun and the changing seasons.

The site has continued to evolve throughout history, with people returning for over 100 generations. as a place of worship and to honor their ancestors.

Visit Stonehenge: the site's recent history

In more recent history, Stonehenge was bought at auction in 1915 for £6,600 by a local man named Cecil Chubb.

Fortunately for us, he gave it to the British people three years later. It has now been restored by English Heritage, and the surrounding land is gradually being restored. restored to their original habitats by the National Trust.

Some practical information for visitors

Today, the number of people allowed to enter the inner site has been limited and the nearby road has been removed to facilitate conservation efforts.

The rather unpopular fence surrounding the site was added to protect the stones from graffiti.

Visit Stonehenge: what are the opening hours?

Stonehenge opens to tourists :

• 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the winter months
• 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. spring, summer and autumn

Make sure you know that the last entry is two hours before closing time.

How much does admission cost?

Admission is free for English Heritage members and National Trust members in England, but you still need to book your time slot in advance.

Overseas visitors who are not part of a tour can obtain a pass for the English heritage attractions that gives you free entry to over 100 English heritage sites.

If you are not part of a program, you will have to pay for your tickets. Pre-booked tickets for adults cost £20 and £12 for children.

Valuable tips for an optimal visit

It's easy to make the trip to Stonehenge on your own, but to get the most out of your visit, it's best to do some research and learn about the site's history at the visitor center before seeing the stones.

You can download a free audio guide to Stonehenge from English Heritage, which will give you much more context on what you're seeing.

How to get to Stonehenge

One of the best full-day excursions from London is the day trip to Stonehenge Inner Circle and Windsor.

Get up close and personal with Stonehenge's ancient stones on an after-hours guided tour.

If you're using public transport, the best way is to take a train to Salisbury. If you'd like to know more, I've written a full article on how to get there. to Stonehenge from London.

A visit to Stonehenge is a must when you're on vacation in England. You can discover one of the oldest sites in the world and soak up its special atmosphere.

What to do in London in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?

Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special London guide.

It's free and in PDF format.

All you have to do is tell me below which e-mail address you'd like to receive it at.

EDIT: you can't enter your email?

Take the quiz at the top of this article and you'll be able to register your email address to receive the special London guide!