Stonehenge
Amesbury, SP4 7DE (Map)
Phone: +44 870 333 1181
The great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge, at the centre of a World Heritage Site is an exceptional survival from a prehistoric culture now lost to us. Aligned with the rising and setting of the sun at the solstices, but its exact purpose remains a subject of debate.
Description
Mysteriously materialising out of the dramatic Wiltshire landscape is Stonehenge, part of the famous Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Sites and one of the most popular places to visit in the UK with your Great British Heritage Pass. A tour of Britain would not be complete without a visit to Stonehenge, where you will be mesmerised by the magnitude and spirituality of this awe-inspiring monument.
Set in a landscape scattered with ancient ceremonial and funerary monuments, the purpose of Stonehenge remains unknown. Previous theories have included speculation that it was a Danish coronations place or an astronomical computer. Today, scholars believe that Stonehenge was a prehistoric temple, with current theories suggesting it was a place for worshipping the ancestors, or a place of healing and pilgrimage.
Built in several phases between 3,000–2 ,400 BC, constructing Stonehenge required vast amounts of labour and ingenuity, including the transportation of bluestones over 150 miles from the Preseli Hills in west Wales, some weighing 5tons. Using only basic tools and methods of transport, exactly how pre-historic people completed this task remains a mystery.
One of the most important features of Stonehenge is its orientation with the rising and setting of the sun. The solstice alignment shows that Stonehenge was used at midsummer and midwinter, perhaps for ceremonies celebrating the passing of the year.
Following in the footsteps of the ancient people, a visit to Stonehenge entitles you to walk around the perimeter of the stone circle, allowing you to take in the sheer magnitude and magical atmosphere conjured in its shadow. You can listen to the audio tour, narrating various Stonehenge stories and discoveries and outlining some of the theories regarding the purpose of this famous monument.