Is Stonehenge Worth Seeing?
Is Stonehenge worth seeing? How close can you get to Stonehenge? What else is there to do at Stonehenge? We answer these questions and more!
Visiting Stonehenge
Not far from London, is the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of over 100 stones. The drive from London to Stonehenge is approximately two hours. You can do the trip on your own or take a tour.
Personally, we didn’t feel comfortable driving on the opposite side of the road, so we chose to take a tour. The bus was comfortable and we enjoyed seeing the English countryside through the window.
Pro Tip: While you’re in England, make sure to visit some of the Best Vineyards In The UK!
History of Stonehenge
The construction of Stonehenge started roughly around 3000 BC. It was built in phases and was continuously used for over 2,000 years. And although we have been able to learn much about the site through archaeological means, there are still many unknowns about the monument.
What was Stonehenge used for?
Findings such as cremated human remains reveal that early on it was used as a cemetery. But what about later on? Some have speculated that it was a place of healing. Others, that it was a druid temple. Of course, there’s always the alien theory too.
Today, most archaeologists have come to the consensus that Stonehenge was a temple that was built in alignment with the movement of the sun. Today, there are still those who believe Stonehenge is a sacred monument and living temple, visiting during the autumn and spring equinoxes and the mid-summer and mid-winter solstices.
How did they get the stones there?
The prehistoric monument is comprised of sarsen stones and bluestones. The sarsen stones are a type of sandstone and an average stone weighs 25 tons. The sarsens most likely were brought over from an area called Marlborough Downs, approximately 20 miles away.
The smaller bluestones, weighing between 2 and 5 tons, were brought from Preseli Hills in southwest Wales which is over 150 miles away. That’s a long way to carry those heavy stones! Did they transport the stones over water? How did they move it over land? These are questions that we may never know the answers to.
Is Stonehenge Worth Seeing?
So is Stonehenge worth it? We definitely say yes. We love history and we’re fascinated by what humans have been able to do and create over the centuries.
While we were there, we marveled at the stones and wondered what it must have taken to move the stones over so many miles. What drove them to do it? If we were living back then, could we have helped? Would we have wanted to?
If you’re not that into history, maybe you’d think it’s just a pile of rocks. If you don’t like crowds, maybe you’d get a little annoyed. Stonehenge is one of the most visited sites in Great Britain, with over 1 million visitors a year.
If you are expecting a towering monument; you might be a bit disappointed in the size. They’re big, don’t get me wrong. But Stonehenge has been built up so much that we think everyone has this idea in their head that they’re some huge gargantuan-sized stones. However, with all of that said, we still think it was one of the highlights of that trip to Europe.
How Close Can You Get To Stonehenge?
We’re often asked, “How close can you get to Stonehenge?” If you’re expecting to walk among the stones, sorry. To preserve the site, visitors are only allowed to walk around the stones. But you can still get pretty close.
What To Do At Stonehenge
Another reason we think Stonehenge is worth seeing is that there’s more to the site than just the stones. With your Stonehenge entrance fee, you get a free audio guide so as you’re walking around Stonehenge you get to learn about the different stones and during what phase of construction they were built.
There is also a museum with over 250 archaeological items found in the area and recreations of Neolithic houses that show visitors what homes looked like 4,500 years ago. You can also test your strength and see if you can move a sarsen stone. For more information on things to do on-site, we recommend visiting Stonehenge’s website.
Is Stonehenge Accessible?
For wheelchair users and those with mobility issues, the main areas in and around the parking lot, the visitor center, and the Stone Circle are accessible by wheelchair via tarmac and grass paths. They also have some wheelchairs available upon request.
For those who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Stonehenge offers tour transcripts and audio installation transcripts. Additionally, assistance dogs are welcome at Stonehenge.
More Info and Tips For Visiting Stonehenge:
Here is some additional information you may find useful for your trip to Stonehenge:
- Stonehenge entrance fee is £20.90 for adults and £12.70 for kids ages 5 – 17. You should book your ticket to Stonehenge online to get the best price.
- Be mindful of the weather. Any rain will make the paths extremely muddy; your shoes will get dirty.
- Because the stones are in an open field, it’s cooler and the wind can be pretty strong. Dress appropriately.
- There is a small cafe to get snacks.
- Along with your Stonehenge day trip, you might consider adding a second stop. You won’t spend the whole day in Stonehenge, so we recommend getting there early and then spending the rest of the afternoon in nearby Bath.
Pro Tip: These are some other ruins that we visited and found fascinating: Teotihuacan in Mexico, Machu Picchu in Peru, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Tikal in Guatemala, and Copan Ruinas in Honduras.
Stonehenge Is Worth Seeing
We definitely think Stonehenge is worth it! It’s an iconic relic with such an interesting history. We may never find answers to all of the questions we have about it, but the mystery is just part of what draws you in.
Have you been to Stonehenge? What do you think, is Stonehenge worth visiting? We’d love to read your comments below! 🙂
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I do think Stonehenge is worth seeing, and would love to visit. I also think other lesser known Neolithic and Paleolithic sites in the UK and Ireland are worthy. There is so much we don’t know about these eras and the fact that dolmens and temples have survived makes them worthy of our attention, in my opinion. It’s also quite humbling to know that these regions have been inhabited for eons, and that our culture is just a blip by comparison.
I completely agree Betsy! I would have loved to spend some time in nearby Avebury since it is larger and less people go there. But since we were heading to Bath we didn’t have the time. And yes, very humbling and inspiring.
I visited Stonehenge more than a dozen years ago on an overcast day. The photo turned out better than I could have imagined. It was worth the trek from London. 🙂
That’s awesome! Getting a great photo can be hard if the weather is crap. And if people keep getting in the photo lol!
I was thinking of the same. For me, it was just to say that you’ve been there but I never found anything really special about it, to be honest. Though you could be right about not planning a day trip only consisting of the Stonehenge. Thanks for the tips, Vicky! Xx
Any time Trisha! 😉
This was a great read! I have always wondered how those rocks got there. Interesting to find out they still have no idea! I would love to visit Stonehenge as I’m also fascinated by all the big rocks humans have moved over time. Stonehenge, the temples of Angkor, the pyramids in Egypt, Machu Picchu, Hampi, they are all magnificent and intriguing!
The pyramids have especially intrigued me. One day I will see those as well. 😀
Always been fascinated by Stonehenge and will surely go one day – maybe they’ll have figured out the answers to all questions by then! ?
Hi Mar! Who knows, but hopefully you do get to visit one day. 🙂
Nice review of the area. It does look really worth a visit (I would have been disappointed if you said that it wasn’t). I was just in Peru and seeing those huge stone formations was really amazing.
Thanks Jennifer, it’s amazing what we’ve been able to create.
I’m pretty local to Stonehenge coming from Bristol but i’ve never actually been inside. We’ve always been on roadtrips, driven past and taken a picture from afar! It would be good to see Stonehenge up close!
Oh you definitely should Sophie! There’s so much to see inside!
I’ll have to add your post about Stonehenge to mine, since yours is more recent! When we visited, the neolithic houses weren’t there yet, neither was the opportunity to try to “pull” a stone. I guess we’ll have to go back again! Thanks for linking to #WeekendWanderlust!
You’ll have to go back then! 🙂
I’d say it’s absolutely worth seeing but like all historical sites you will likely get the most out of your visit if you do some reading and research in advance so you can really appreciate what you’re experiencing.
That’s true Vanessa; it’s always good to do some research beforehand. At least they have the free audio guides though so you can learn as you walk through.
I’m fascinated by history, too, and I’d love to visit someday! I try to transport myself back in time and wonder how it would have looked back then compared to now, and how everything got into place.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that does that Lauren! 😉
I’ve never been to Stonehenge. Never had much of a draw for me. It is fascinating, though… all of the unanswered questions about its mere existence.
Hi Toccara! Yes, I wonder if those questions will ever be answered?
It’s an historic icon, and for that reason I’d like to visit Stonehenge someday.
While we went to Stonehenge, we actually found a great spot along the road and just read about it in our Rick Steves Book and were still able to get awesome pics (and save a boatload of $$$!!!) I think you either love it or hate it when you get there
Oh wow, I didn’t know about that! It’s cool you were still able to see it.
These are some of the reasons why history is so fascinating. I wonder how they were able to move those rocks too. Very informative read Vicky!
Hi Kayla! We may never know how they moved them. But who knows what future studies will reveal! 😉
Stonehenge is an intriguing place.I would love to visit it in spite of the crowds. Many of the famous sights actually do not live up to our fantasies. However if you understand their history and significance, you would always appreciate them and their value.
I completely agree! I think a lot of times it’s what you make of it too. If you take the time to really know what you’re looking at, like you said, you can appreciate it that much more.
Did you take a tour or did you arrange a trip to Stonehenge independently? It appears that it is more cost effective with a tour, what would you say?
Hi Lisa! Yes, we took a tour and stopped in Bath on the way back. We felt it was definitely worth it for the convenience.
We toured Stonehenge at sunset with a tour company called Evan Evans. It was worth every penny. Small group tour and we were able to get up close and personal to the rocks. You only live once and sometimes a splurge for a more costly tour is worth it.
Oh, I totally agree Suzi! So glad you had a good time and were able to get up close. 🙂
Further to your reply regarding where the stones came from, there two types of stone: the Blue Stone and the Sarson stone. The former were brought some 125 miles and were dragged mainly overground by natives who wore harnesses. Therese stones were then formed into a circle which preceded the larger (outer circle). The large Sarcen, stone came from 23 miles away being moved on large logs. As the stone left the last log that log was moved to the front of the load so on. About 50 people were used to move around 30 stones to their present locationBrani. The approximate weight was 23 tons.
Thanks for the info! 🙂