Stonehenge: A Treasured Historical Site

Hey everyone, Mark here. Welcome back to another entry on my travel blog. This next stop is a cool one. This is the famous landmark, Stonehenge, located in the United Kingdom. This monument lies on an outstanding archaeological landscape. It’s super cool because these stones have been here for thousands of years and are one of the most well-known and treasured historical sites in the world. Keep reading to find out more about this awesome stop along our journey through England. 

History of Stonehenge

The rich history of this landmark is the most enchanting part of the experience. You can read all about the history and the interesting facts about the Stonehenge on their website. The Stonehenge dates all the way back to 3100 BC. The massive stones weigh hundreds of tons, making it a modern marvel. The fact that they are still standing after 5,000 years is incredible.

The stones were transported from long distances to be built on the land, but to this day, no one is 100% sure who built it. The bluestones came from the Preseli Hills, which is over 150 miles away, and the sarsens came from the West Woods, which is 15 miles north of Stonehenge. It is pretty spectacular that the stones have withstood all kinds of weather and other various elements for over 5,000 years. 

There have been several theories over the years about who built the monument and why. Nobody is completely sure what Stonehenge’s purpose was, but our tour guide told us that it was most likely used for hosting members of high society at that time. That’s simply one of the interesting facts about the unique monument. Did you know that Stonehenge is the only surviving stone circle in the world? Pretty cool, right? 

The Experience  

The Stonehenge was an amazing experience that I highly recommend. When you first start the adventure, you begin by taking a bus about 2 km to the site. Then you have to walk about 3/4 of another km to the actual Stone Circle. We got to go on a special tour that allowed us to walk through the circle instead of viewing them from about 150 feet away. You cannot touch the stones, but we were able to stand in between the rocks to take pictures.

Pictured below is me standing in front of one of the stones. They look massive in the picture, but they are even bigger in person. We were very lucky to experience the mystery of the Stone Circle up close. It was truly an unforgettable experience. I would 100% recommend choosing this tour if you are debating which one to do. Also, this tour is the only way to get pictures of the stones during the sunset.

There are also other activities at Stonehenge that make for a fun day. They have a Visitor Center that has a cafe, ticket office, gift shop, parks, and a museum. The cafe will provide you the refreshments you need for a picnic with one of the best views in the world. The cafe allows you to spend more time at the spot, especially if you have kiddos that get hungry. There is honestly so much to do and you could easily make a whole day experience out of it.

COVID-19  

They have a lot of COVID policies in place that will help people feel at ease while traveling to this spot. First off, they don’t allow as many people on the tours at one time to allow for socially distancing. The group that we went with was very small. They typically take about 14 people on each tour, but there were only six people on our tour. It was nice because I was able to get a lot of great pictures without having random people in the shot.  

They have also stopped using their audio-guide handsets at the moment due to sanitation issues, but you can download the guide for free on your phone, which is pretty cool. You just have to remember to bring your headphones, if that is something you are interested in. At the cafe, they are operating at reduced capacity as well. So, when the cafe is at a peak time, such as lunch, you may have to wait a few minutes before you can enter the cafe. Lastly, they do enforce that you wear a mask in all the indoor areas, including the bus. I am not sure if they have face masks there for you, so make sure you bring one along or you may be denied entry!

I am really glad that they are taking the time and consideration to enforce these policies for the safety of visitors. It makes people who are still traveling, like me, feel safer and more secure. I was impressed with how they’re handling everything during the pandemic at Stonehenge.

Should You Go?  

Before going, I honestly thought it may be somewhat boring taking photos in front of a bunch of standing rocks. However, when we were actually there, it was more amazing than I could have imagined. I would definitely recommend visiting Stonehenge to anyone, no matter their age, shape, or size. It was really interesting to learn about the site and capture the beautiful scenery. The only thing I would critique is that the area was very muddy, so don’t wear your nicest shoes! But this was not a deal-breaker for me. It was still an amazing experience and I am so grateful to have had it. 

I am also grateful for the COVID-19 policies they had in place that still made it possible to travel. They really put my mind at ease with their dedication to keeping everyone at the attraction safe during this pandemic. I can’t wait to keep exploring and sharing my experiences with you all. Until next time, keep a lookout for my next adventure as a big guy in a big world!