Stop-off At Stonehenge

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With Covid-19 causing such a huge global disruption, many people had numerous travel dreams dashed. But this period did give people a great opportunity to see what is on their doorstep and explore their own country. At the time, the UK was my home and here is my account of one of England’s most visited landmarks. So let’s dive into my ‘Stop-off At Stonehenge’.

The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge dates back 5000 years. It is believed that construction began back in 3000 BC!

While Stonehenge is definitely worth the visit, I would not advise making it your sole destination for a trip.

Located in Wiltshire, England, it is now an ‘English Heritage’ site. So for those visiting, it is worth heading to the English Heritage website, as cardholders get free entry to Stonehenge. Otherwise, tickets can be pre-purchased online at a discounted rate right here via Stonehengevisit.co.uk.

A great time to view the stones would be at sunset to get some great photo opportunities. For this reason, it would be a good idea to pre-book to avoid disappointment.

Cooky’s Cue 💮

Avoid peak times as queues can get very large and car park very full

What To Expect

If you are arriving via sat nav, you will be taken to the front car park and visitor centre. This has a ticket office, cafe and gift shop. From the time of entry, you are then given a two-hour ticket. This is what I could not understand. At no point was there any reason to be given a two-hour window to visit the monument. That said, two hours is plenty of time here.

The ‘stones’ are approximately 1.5 miles away from the visitor centre. There are free buses if you wish to wait in another line, but the walk is pleasant. The buses also bring you back. So just hop on one to get back to the visitor centre. The reconstructed homes of ancient locals are worth a wander around and obviously the exit is via the gift shop. However, there are some interesting things to see in there so it is worth a walk around.

Up Close And Personal?

Unfortunately not. You can no longer walk ‘amongst’ Stonehenge. Instead, you have kept a distance away via a rope barrier. The advantage of this is that everyone can get clear photos of the structure without having hundreds of tourists ruining your shot!

This said it does make it a little anticlimactic. If you want to get photographs then you would need to be in this area. However, there is a walkthrough adjacent to the stones, where locals walk their dogs which allows you to see Stonehenge… through the hordes of tourists. I would not recommend this as if you have made the effort to travel, see it properly. Obviously, your contribution via ticket purchase helps ‘English Heritage’ make trips like this possible.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

Is Stonehenge worth the trip? In a word, yes. My advice. Go and see Stonehenge but don’t make it the sole purpose or destination of your trip.

To visit the English Heritage site, we travelled from the West Midlands, near Birmingham. We travelled down through the Cotswolds, which have some beautiful little villages to stop off in. I then made my way to Oxford for lunch and a walk around the ancient city. Then onto Salisbury and stopped the night there. Up bright and early, a few hours at Stonehenge and then onto the city of Bath and back home. There is so much around within an hour’s drive of each other. Bulk up your trip and take a look again at the English Heritage website. If you plan to visit any more of their sites, it may be worth becoming a member. Find out more… [CLICK ME]

Who doesn’t love a road trip in the summer months with a close friend?

Cooky’s Cue 💮

Joining English Heritage costs from £4 a month and KIDS GO FREE

Spots To Stop

What made this trip so special was being able to travel with a close friend I met over 10 years ago while travelling in Australia. Wanting to show him some sites, we just got in the car and pieced our journey together from place to place. The Cotswolds are really beautiful. Slaughter and Stow-on-the-wold were beautiful. Below is a slide show of a few of the spots we stopped to bulk up our trip. Salisbury is about 20 minutes from Stonehenge and well worth a visit of the sensational Cathedral. Bath is around a 90-minute drive, but again, shrouded with history and so worth a visit. The Roman Baths are also an English Heritage Site, and discounts are available for members.

Set aside a few days to explore and you won’t regret it!

Cooky’s Cue 💮

Need somewhere to stay during your trip? Take a look at my ‘Travel Offers’ page to help save you money on your accommodation [CLICK HERE]

Are you in the UK and looking for hidden gems?

Check out my blog about one of Manchester’s best-kept secrets, and why a visit the city is not complete until you see this ‘Mini Marvel Of Manchester’