Has anyone taken the Stonehenge Inner Circle Tour with Astral Tours? I reserved it, but want to make sure it's worth the money. Stonehenge is the place my 12-year-old son wants to see the most while we are in England (besides Big Ben!). The last time I was at Stonehenge was in the '70s when you could freely walk around the stones. Do you get a decent view in the roped-off area if you do the regular tour?<BR>Thanks,<BR>Pam<BR>

I saw the Stonehenge with Evan Evans tours. It also included a trip to Bath. I think viewing it was just fine even though it was roped off. We were still very close. I don't know if you should JUST see Stonehenge. Hopefully the tour is also with something else. We were only at Stonehenge for like 30 minutes and just kept walking around it.

I took the Inner Circle tour last summer with 15 yo daughter and 13 yo son, partly because it was the only thing he specifically requested for our entire 3-week trip. We enjoyed it thoroughly and thought it a good value. It was a full day tour through the countryside, with a good chunk of time at the stone circle in Avebury (though not enough to enjoy both museums and the pub), West Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill, various neolithic sites, etc. <BR><BR>We took specific side-roads to see crop circles (which of course change all the time) which we never would have found on our own. The tour guide even took us past the pub where the circles are allegedly planned!<BR><BR>Stonehenge was the grand finale of the day, we arrived just before sunset as they were officially closing for the day. (I wish we had headed straight for the gift shop, LOL, as they closed ten minutes after we arrived and had some neat stuff.) We first approached outside the ropes, so everyone could get unobstructed photos, then spent an hour amonst the stones (after a strict speech from the site staff about not touching!). It really is diffrerent going amongst them, seeing them up close, how they're fitted together and covered with lichens and ancient graffiti. The driver provided wire dowsing rods so we could try our luck with the lay lines.<BR><BR>All in all, quite an experience! We were glad to have booked this tour, even though we had made good use of our car and were on a strict budget.<BR><BR>There is also someplace that you can write for an insiders' tour of Big Ben.

Pam - while you're in the area you should take your son to Avebury and Silbury Hill<BR><BR>Not as famous as Stonehenge, but Avebury is a vast series of stone circles, and you can walk among them, Silbury is a prehistoric man made mountain

Thanks for the help. Ellen, I'm curious about your tour -- you said it was all day; my e-mail from Astral says our tour leaves at 2:25 p.m. (returns around 10:30 p.m.). Was your tour the same amount of time? Did your tour stop for dinner somewhere?<BR>Vic, according to the website, the tour is supposed to stop at Avebury -- I certainly hope it does.<BR>Pam<BR>

Sorry, I don't remember the exact times of the Astral tour, it might have been those though I thought it started earlier; perhaps they've changed the schedule. Eight hours is enough of a touring day for me! <BR><BR>The only food opportunity was at the pub in Avebury, where there was also a snack bar/hot dog stand type of place near the museum. We chose to spend our time in the museums rather than the pub, and were glad we did. The docent at the more-traditional-type musem was one of the best I've ever encountered. The other museum has a fascinating video about the restoration of the Avebury circle. <BR><BR>As I mentioned, we are budget travelers. We brought a small cooler of sandwiches and drinks, and were the envy of the whole bus. Be prepared!