Day Trip to Stonehenge

How to get to prehistoric Stonehenge from London will be covered in this site. This great historic structure is one of the oldest and most important megalithic monuments in Europe. Dating from between 1850 BC and 1400 BC, the site has an abundance of theories surrounding the Stones; from a religious temple to an astronomical clock and even date back to the Bronze Age burial ground, circa 3500 BC.

Decide for yourself whilst discovering the history of this mysterious monument in the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

The fence around the monument which was added in more modern times for its own protection actually, makes it look like a caged animal and takes away the initial impact of the monument. The sight of the long, eerie collection of stones is still breathtaking though, and the way this monument interacts with the sun on certain days of the year is incredible.

The stones themselves are arranged in four groups within a circular ditch 300 feet in diameter. The outer ring, with a diameter of 97 feet, is a circle of 17 sandstones connected on top of a group of lintel stones. The second ring is of bluestones, the third is horseshoe shaped, and the inner ring is ovoid.

Some of the stones which weigh up to 4 tons each have stood alone since their arrival 5,000 years ago. It is thought they came from the Preseli Mountains in Wales, a distance of some 135 miles west of the Prehistoric site, and about 230 miles west of London.

Experience this iconic monument, and stand in ore as you view the site and take in the picturesque Salisbury Plain in the county of Wiltshire, truly a time to remember.

Stonehenge was at one time believed to be a druid temple, a theory contradicted by the fact that the druids didn't arrive in Britain until circa 500 BC. In 1963, British Astronomer Gerald Hawkins theorized that the collection of stones was a huge astronomical instrument used to accurately measure solar and lunar movements as well as eclipses.

Avoid visiting during the two weeks preceding Midsummer's Day (21 June), as security around the area is tightened because of the latter-day hippies and would-be druids who try to perform rituals at the monument at that time. Admission. Daily. Located 10 miles northwest of the City of Salisbury. Take the A345, then the A303.

If you decide to drive from London, take the M3 going south west from London and look for the A303 to Stonehenge. If you decide to go by rail, go to the Waterloo Mainline Train Station and take the train to Salisbury. Stonehenge can be reached by local bus from Salisbury.

Leave Stonehenge for London Short Trips