Is the trip to Stonehedge worth it?
Nov 14th, 2002, 09:00 PM
#2
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Just a gentle reminder, it's not called Stonehedge but Stonehenge. It's quite far from London so it will be a whole day trip. Most tours combine Stonehenge with Bath because there is not much else to see except Stonehenge. If you really want to see it, then go.
Nov 15th, 2002, 12:14 AM
#5
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Depends what interests you...<BR><BR>If you can conjure up a sense of wonder and amazement at what would make thousands of people move such enormous blocks of stone 60+ miles, and the sophisticated understanding (all those thousands of years ago) of astronomy, then go. <BR><BR>But to a more prosaic mind it's a lot of rocks in a field with a few not very prepossessing tourist amenities nearby. You have to put your imagination to work.
Nov 15th, 2002, 03:42 AM
#6
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Patrick, you crack me up! When I go to London in January with my boyfriend and my sister, we are renting a car and plan to stop at Stonehenge on the way to Salisbury, Bath etc over a 4 day weekend. Although I haven't seen it yet, I agree that if you combine it with a visit to a nice town/city it would be worth it. <BR><BR>I'm almost doing it just to say we saw it, although I am fascinated with the logistics of building it (just like Egypt's pyramids).<BR><BR>Patrick, I have read so many of your posts, and although I don't ask a lot of my own questions, preferring to research here and other places, I would like to thank you in advance for your great responses to others, which have really helped me lay out a plan for my trip. You are a great asset to these boards.<BR><BR>Happy travels,<BR>Karen
Nov 15th, 2002, 05:17 AM
#8
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Donna: the reason everyone is saying Stonehenge is a so-so site is because you view it from about 100+ feet away (behind a low fence). I think it would be more meaning for if you could walk up to the stones and touch them (but you are not alowed to do that anymore). We are going back to London in March and my mother is insisting on going back to Stonehenge 
Nov 15th, 2002, 07:55 AM
#9
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Patrick says it best.<BR><BR>Long ago, on my first visit to Stonehenge, the area wasn't fenced off. As a 12 year-old-kid, it was moderately interesting. A couple of years ago, my wife and I sped by at about 70km/hr and I asked her if she wanted to stop, and she said "No, I think I've seen enough."
Nov 15th, 2002, 08:26 AM
#10
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Erin, as Tina has pointed out, special groups are still permitted inside Stonehenge, entering after-hours. <BR><BR>When we did this in summer 2001 we were strictly forbidden to touch the stones but I have heard since then that this restriction has been lifted.
Nov 15th, 2002, 08:42 AM
#11
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We always drive past on our way from London to the south-west, as much as it drives my grandfather (the resident in England) to insanity because it really is out of the way and an indirect route to the south-west. However, I love to see it and imagine how the rocks got the way they are, and also to recall the cinefilms I've seen of my mother as a child with her brothers and sisters playing on the rocks. So for me, it is a very personal thing that makes me want to see it.
Nov 15th, 2002, 12:14 PM
#15
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What does everyone expect? McDonalds? Stonehenge is an incredible collection of prehistoric monoliths placed in a circular arrangement that allows the sun on the summer colstice to rise over the outlying monolith. Sorry, that's it. It doesn't have rides or a Mickey Mouse parade. When you come over the Salisbury plain towards London, and see it from about a mile or so away, it is trully an incredible sight. But, if you are expecting Universal Studios, go to Alton Towers.
Nov 15th, 2002, 12:26 PM
#17
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We were in London with our kids (a year ago) and took a train to Salisbury and the bus to Stonehenge. We had a great time. Salisbury is wonderful, the cathedral is beautiful and historical and they even have an original signed Magna Carta. We all enjoyed seeing Stonehenge - and the many sheep wandering about! It was a great day.
Nov 15th, 2002, 01:56 PM
#18
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Easy, Russell. I once wrote in this forum that the Albert and Victoria museum nearly bored me to death, though my wife thoroughly enjoyed the experience. And from the resulting venomous posts you'd have thought I was knocking the sincerity of Sister Theresa's efforts.<BR><BR>Stonehenge is a bunch of dang rocks . . . rocks that fascinate some and mean nothing to others. The fact donnae has asked the question suggest that the answer isn't obvious.<BR><BR>And, yes, I was expecting rides and souvenir shops and video games . . . maybe a shooting gallery . . . bumber cars . . . you, know the kind of stuff that they have at REAL historically significant sites.
Nov 15th, 2002, 02:19 PM
#19
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If you do to Stonehenge in the summer, there will be tour buses and lots of people. The stones are behind a fence so you see them from afar. I second the idea to get a private tour if you can when there are no other people. Another idea is to visit Avebury, which also has standing stones, but when I was there you could go up to them and sheep were grazing among them. I really enjoyed that area--we stayed a week and saw Salisbury, Bath, Warwick and the Cotswolds. If you can spread your time between London and the countryside, that is what I would recommend
Nov 15th, 2002, 02:24 PM
#20
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You canapply directly to English heritage for Stonehengeinner access at<BR><BR>http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/default.asp?wci=mainframe&URL1=default.asp%3FW CI%3DNode%26WCE%3D107<BR><BR>Or you can sign up for a guided tour, like Astral Travel's, which is a full day that includes Avebury, neolithic sites, crop circles, etc.
