| Published in Attractions / Places of Interest |
Stonehenge, England
Stonehenge, England. 
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, two miles (3 km) west of Amesbury. It consists of a ring of standing stones, with each standing stone around 13 feet (4.0 m) high, seven feet (2.1 m) wide and weighing around 25 tons.
Archaeologists believe it was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. Radiocarbon dating suggests that the first bluestones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC, although they may have been at the site as early as 3000 BC.
One of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom, Stonehenge is regarded as a British cultural icon. It has been a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument since 1882 when legislation to protect historic monuments was first successfully introduced in Britain.
The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage; the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.
Stonehenge is in a World Heritage Site of over 2000 hectares that is considered one of the most archaeologically rich in Europe. It is home to some of the most important Neolithic and Bronze Age finds and structures in the UK, and contains some 200 scheduled monuments. It is also the site of one of the biggest Chalk grassland reversion projects in the world.
Visitors are no longer permitted to touch the stones, but are able to walk around the monument from a short distance away. English Heritage does, however, permit access during the summer and winter solstice, and the spring and autumn equinox. Additionally, visitors can make special bookings to access the stones throughout the year.
Sarsen Stones at Stonehenge.
Things to see and do
• Stone circle. Iconic symbol of Britain, a walk around the Stone Circle is the centrepiece of any visit to the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site.
• Neolithic houses. Visitors can walk around the Neolithic houses outside the visitor centre. Visitors can chat with volunteers and discover how the houses were built using authentic materials and techniques, based on the evidence of dwellings found nearby. Visitors can watch demonstrations about ancient domestic skills - flint knapping, making rope out of rushes, and grinding grain with a quern and a rider.
• ‘Standing in the stones’. Visitors can watch the seasons pass and take a trip through time with an audio-visual 360 degree view from inside the stones, in the visitor centre.
Address and Fees
Near Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7DE
Entrance to Stonehenge is now managed through timed tickets and advance booking is the only way to guarantee entry.
Walk Up Prices
Adult - £21.10 (with Gift Aid £23.30)
Child - £12.70 (with Gift Aid £14.00)
Concession - £19.00 (with Gift Aid £21.00)
Family - £54.90 (with Gift Aid £60.60 )
Parking: during peak times a £5 refundable parking charge is collected on arrival. This is refunded at the admissions point when purchasing your ticket. The £5 fee does not apply to those who book in advance.
Last admission time is 2 hours before the advertised closing time. All education group visits must be pre-booked. The Gift Aid admission price includes a voluntary donation of 10%.
Sources
• www.wikivoyage.org
• www.wikipedia.org
• www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge
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