Imagine you’re in a field in the English countryside. It’s a picture perfect scene for miles around. You see nothing but vivid green fields and picturesque trees. If you happen to be standing in a field just outside the small village of Amesbury, you’ll find yourself in front of a prehistoric stone monument that has baffled millions of visitors for years and showcases an era of humanity that no one knows anything about. It’s called Stonehenge and it’s your chance to see one of the most famous stone formations in the world.
In December 21 Stonehenge is seen by hundreds more visitors than usual for the winter solstice. It’s the shortest day in the year in terms of how long the sun is out for, and many pagans flock to the stones as part of a large celebration. They’ll stand around and worship the sun as it rises in the early morning.
Head there any other day of the year though, and you’ll be able to take in a site that you’ll question. Thinking about how the rock formation was assembled so many years ago without any sign of tools having been used has been a conundrum for many people who wonder which civilization spent their time around it.
The best of time to go is in the late afternoon. Wait around for the sun to start setting and you’ll be able to take some remarkable photos of the stones.
Sunset at Stonehenge, England
There are a number of ways you can reach the historical site. Almost all visitors are tourists out on a day trip. Many travel in from London. It’s further away from the capital then you’d think (almost at the other side of the country), so visiting from the capital involves a full day’s travel.
The easiest thing you can do is spend a night in a nearby town to get a taste of quieter English life.
Staying in Salisbury, Newbury or Bath is a great way to spend some time eating more traditional food and sampling local beer from small breweries that taste so much better than you’re used to.
Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, England, UK
Taking a Stonehenge bus tour is probably the best way to see the area. Dotted around the sites for miles are little pockets of history that date back centuries.
You can see the Avebury Circles. They’re not as well known as Stonehenge, but are over 10 times larger and over a thousand years older. And you can walk right up to them undisturbed, unlike its more popular cousin.
And if you get a chance, go and see the Cherill Horse. It’s a picture of a horse that has been carved out of a chalk hill. For over 300 years it’s remained the same and is a totally unique portrait, albeit one that’s 60m high.
You’re never too far away from a totally different history of England when you visit Stonehenge.
