Stonehenge Travel Guide

Trek Zone

Unesco • Locality

Facts and practical information

Located in the beautiful region of England, Stonehenge is a historical landmark that never fails to captivate visitors from around the world. This iconic site is shrouded in mystery, with its origins dating back thousands of years. As you approach Stonehenge, you can't help but be in awe of the massive stone circles that stand tall against the backdrop of the English countryside.

Steeped in ancient history, Stonehenge is believed to have been erected between 3000 and 2000 BC, making it older than the pyramids of Egypt. The purpose behind its construction remains a subject of debate, with theories ranging from a sacred religious site to an astronomical observatory. Regardless of the true purpose, the sheer magnitude of the stones and the precision with which they were placed is a testament to the ingenuity of our ancestors.

Visiting Stonehenge is a truly immersive experience. As you wander through the stone circles, you can almost feel the weight of history bearing down on you. The stones themselves, some weighing several tons, are a marvel of engineering. Many wonder how our ancestors managed to transport and arrange them in such a precise manner.

To enhance your visit, audio guides are available, providing fascinating insights into the history and significance of Stonehenge. These guides offer a deeper understanding of the site, allowing you to appreciate its cultural and historical importance. As you listen to the stories and legends surrounding Stonehenge, you can't help but feel a sense of wonder and reverence for this ancient monument.

Surrounding Stonehenge is a landscape that is both serene and breathtaking. Rolling green hills stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a picturesque setting for this ancient wonder. Take a moment to soak in the beauty of the English countryside and imagine what life was like for those who once gathered at Stonehenge.

Alternative names: Height: 13 ftElevation: 325 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 51°10'44"N, 1°49'30"W

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EnglandUnited Kingdom

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Stonehenge Top Attractions

Stonehenge Attractions - What to See and Explore

Stonehenge offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Stonehenge Cursus, Bush Barrow, Normanton Down Barrows, Stonehenge Landscape. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Archaeological site
Stonehenge Cursus
The Stonehenge Cursus is a large Neolithic cursus monument on Salisbury plain, near to Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. It is roughly 3 kilometres long and between 100 metres and 150 metres wide.
Archaeological site
Bush Barrow
Bush Barrow is a site of the early British Bronze Age, at the western end of the Normanton Down Barrows cemetery. It is among the most important sites of the Stonehenge complex, having produced some of the most spectacular grave goods in Britain.
Archaeological site
Normanton Down Barrows
Normanton Down is a Neolithic and Bronze Age barrow cemetery located about 0.6 miles south of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.

Archaeological site
Stonehenge Landscape
The Stonehenge Landscape is a property of The National Trust, located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. The estate covers 2,100 acres surrounding the neolithic monument of Stonehenge, which is administered by English Heritage.
Nature • Natural attraction • Hill
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in the south western part of central southern England covering 300 square miles. It is part of a system of chalk downlands throughout eastern and southern England formed by the rocks of the Chalk Group and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, but stretches into Hampshire.
Archaeological site
Cursus Barrows
The Cursus Barrows is the name given to a Neolithic and Bronze Age round barrow cemetery located mostly south of the western end of the Stonehenge Cursus. The cemetery contains around 18 round barrows scattered along an east-to-west ridge, although some of the mounds are no longer visible.
51°10'44"N • 1°49'36"W
Excavations at Stonehenge
Records of archaeological excavations at the Stonehenge site date back to the early 17th century.
Archaeological site
Cuckoo Stone
The Cuckoo Stone is a Neolithic or Bronze Age standing stone. The stone, which is now fallen, is in a field near to Woodhenge and Durrington Walls in Wiltshire, England. It is part of the wider Stonehenge Landscape.
Archaeological site
Vespasian's Camp
Vespasian's Camp is an Iron Age hillfort just west of the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. The hillfort is less than 3 kilometres from the Neolithic and Bronze Age site of Stonehenge, and was built on a hill next to the Stonehenge Avenue; it has the River Avon on its southern side and the A303 road on its northern edge.
Nature • Natural attraction • Hill
North Wessex Downs
The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is located in the English counties of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.
Observatories and planetariums
Archaeoastronomy and Stonehenge
The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge has long been studied for its possible connections with ancient astronomy. The site is aligned in the direction of the sunrise of the summer solstice and the sunset of the winter solstice.
Archaeological site
Bluestonehenge
Bluestonehenge or Bluehenge is a prehistoric henge and stone circle monument that was discovered by the Stonehenge Riverside Project about 1 mile south-east of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.
51°10'44"N • 1°49'34"W
Altar Stone
The Altar Stone is a recumbent central megalith at Stonehenge in England, dating to Stonehenge phase 3i, around 2600 BCE. It is identified as Stone 80 in scholarly articles. Its name probably comes from a comment by Inigo Jones who wrote: ‘.. whether it might be an Altar or no I leave to the judgment of others’.
Archaeological site
Coneybury Henge
Coneybury Henge is a henge which is part of the Stonehenge Landscape in Wiltshire, England. The henge, which has been almost completely flattened, was only discovered in the 20th century.
51°10'45"N • 1°49'32"W
Aubrey holes
The Aubrey holes are a ring of fifty-six chalk pits at Stonehenge, named after the seventeenth-century antiquarian John Aubrey. They date to the earliest phases of Stonehenge in the late fourth and early third millennium BC.
51°10'44"N • 1°49'34"W
Q and R Holes
The Q and R Holes are a series of concentric sockets which currently represent the earliest known evidence for a stone structure on the site of Stonehenge.
Archaeological site
Ebsbury
The site of Ebsbury, in Wiltshire, England, includes the remains of an Iron Age enclosed settlement, field system and possible hill fort, and a Romano-British enclosed settlement.
Park • Vernacular architecture
Lake House
Lake House is an Elizabethan country house dating from 1578, in Wilsford cum Lake in Wiltshire, England, about 7 miles north of Salisbury. It is a Grade I listed building. The gardens are Grade II listed in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
51°10'44"N • 1°50'2"W
Heel Stone
The Heel Stone is a single large block of sarsen stone standing within the Avenue outside the entrance of the Stonehenge earthwork in Wiltshire, England.

Day trips

Stonehenge – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Stonehenge, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Salisbury Cathedral (Salisbury), Paultons Park (New Forest), Stourhead.

8 miS
Medieval edifice housing the Magna Carta
Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury
Salisbury Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an architectural marvel and a place of worship that dominates the skyline of Salisbury, England. This Anglican cathedral, completed in the 13th century, is renowned for having...
20 milesSE
Theme park, Amusement park
Paultons Park, New Forest
Nestled in the scenic beauty of the New Forest in Hampshire, Paultons Park is a vibrant and beloved theme park in the United Kingdom that promises a day of fun and adventure for families and thrill-seekers alike. Known for its friendly atmosphere and diverse range of...
22 milesW
Scenic walking areas, Garden, History museum
Stourhead
Nestled in the verdant Wiltshire countryside, Stourhead is a stunning example of an 18th-century English landscape garden. This picturesque estate, with its classical architecture and tranquil lake, is often referred to as a living work of art.
19 milesW
Garden, Historical place, History museum
Longleat, Warminster
Nestled in the lush Wiltshire countryside, Longleat stands as a magnificent testament to England's stately architectural heritage. This grand home, located near the town of Warminster, United Kingdom, is renowned for its Elizabethan Renaissance architecture...
24 milesE
History-rich Medieval place of worship
Winchester Cathedral, Winchester
Winchester Cathedral stands as an imposing and awe-inspiring landmark in the historic city of Winchester, England. A beacon of architectural splendor, this grand cathedral has been a place of worship and pilgrimage for over a millennium.