How to take a Stonehenge day trip

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England. It is, perhaps, one of the most fascinating ancient ruins in the world, due to its peculiar arrangement. No visit to England would be complete without visiting the site that still mystifies archaeologists today.

Dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, the site has been dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and for good reason. If you want an interesting peek into how our ancestors once lived and their interesting culture, Stonehenge will give you exactly that.

How to get there

There are a few options to arrive at Stonehenge. Public transportation can be tricky and may take a lot of changing. If you want an easy day trip, try these methods:

Driving

If you are staying in London, Stonehenge is only about 115 km southwest from Heathrow Airport. Rent a car from the airport and take the M3 to A303 to Amesbury. When you arrive at the A303 Countess roundabout, you’ll travel west to continue to Stonehenge. Amesbury is pretty close to Stonehenge and provides lots of choices for a quick snack. If you decide to stay in the area overnight or for a few days, Amesbury also has plenty of accommodations.

Touring

Perhaps the best way to visit Stonehenge is to go with a tour group departing from a large city. The Stonehenge Tour is a specific group that will go directly to Stonehenge with ticket prices starting around £14. Other groups stop at Stonehenge on their way to Bath or Salisbury, which is a nice way to see many different cities on your holiday. Unfortunately, these tours usually only allot a short amount of time at Stonehenge. If you want to really see the area and all of the attractions, it is best to go with a specific Stonehenge tour.

What to see and do

Stonehenge is more than the Neolithic rocks that made it so famous. The site has been built up to educate and entertain. Here are some other attractions you won’t want to miss:

Neolithic Houses

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to have lived 4500 years ago? The Neolithic Houses of Stonehenge let you step back into a more primitive era and watch demonstrations of ancient domestic skills. You can watch what it was like to make rope out of rushes, grind grain, and more.

Stonehenge exhibition

The stones themselves are a beautiful sight, but what makes the ruins so fascinating is their story. The Stonehenge exhibition will give you a glimpse into the story, the landscape, the people, and the meaning of Stonehenge. You can view over 250 archaeological objects discovered here, including jewelry, pottery, tools, and ancient human remains, including a forensic reconstruction of a man found here who lived 5500 years ago.

The sun setting among these famous stones is a sight that will resonate with you for life and we know you are eager to start exploring. When you book your holiday, be sure to keep yourself protected and book travel insurance. Don’t let your trip go to ruins with Cover-More travel insurance.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Qalinx; cropped from original