Stonehenge, A Day Trip from London
March 16th 2008 02:30
Stonehenge, by Frederic Vincent
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Photographer: Frederic Vincent, shared on Wikimedia Commons. Thank you for sharing.
Stonehenge, Famous Standing Stones in the South of England
Stonehenge was originally a circle of giant upright stones in a field near Salisbury in the county of Wiltshire. The site is remarkable because of its age (about 5,000 years ago), the fact that the stones are believed to have been quarried far away (possibly Wales) and moved here, the precise alignment of the stones to match the movement of the sun, and the size and shape of the stone circle, particularly because there are lintels still intact on top of some of the standing stones.
Who made it and why is not exactly known, though there are theories of course. Ancient sun-worshippers is a popular theme.
Visiting Stonehenge
Stonehenge is owned by the government and managed by English Heritage. It is a world heritage site, and as such receives many visitors every year.
You can get there by car, bus (tours from London are easy to find), and by train plus bus or cab from Salisbury. It's about 1 hour and 40 minutes by car from the centre of London, depending upon traffic of course. Head for Amesbury, via the M3 and the A303 travelling east and south from London. Stonehenge is a very popular site and the signage is pretty good.
There is a visitor centre with a gift shop and cafe (light refreshments).
You cannot walk up to the stones and touch them. For almost 30 years, they've been fenced off to protect them from humans. Don't let that deter you. You can walk around the site and get a good look at this immense ancient monument, and do your best to figure out who put it there and why.
Stonehenge is one of the must-see sites in a visit to England, unless you just really really hate being outside.
Accessibility
English Heritage publishes an accessibility guide to their sites. For Stonehenge, they offer one wheelchair that may be borrowed at the entrance, paths of tarmac and grass, audio tour, Braille and large print guides, audio tour with hearing loop, and wheelchair-accessible toilets. It is always a good idea to check ahead of time to make sure the facilities are what you expect. Don't rely on my summary alone if it's really important to you to have current details.
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Comment by Louie
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Cool post, thank you.