When most people think of Stonehenge, they picture the iconic stone circle standing mysteriously on Salisbury Plain. Visitors often spend just an hour or two at the site, snapping photos of the massive stones before heading back to London or Bath.
But this ancient monument and its surrounding landscape offer far more than a quick photo opportunity. Here are 20 unexpected things you can do while visiting Stonehenge that go beyond the typical tourist experience.
Attend a Solstice Celebration
Few experiences compare to witnessing the sunrise during the summer or winter solstice at Stonehenge. During these special access events, visitors can enter the stone circle and watch as the sun aligns perfectly with the ancient megaliths.
The atmosphere is magical, with people from various spiritual traditions gathering to celebrate alongside curious tourists.
Visit Lesser-Known Woodhenge
Just two miles northeast of Stonehenge sits Woodhenge, a prehistoric monument that once featured wooden posts in a circular pattern. Today, concrete markers indicate where the original timbers stood.
This site receives a fraction of Stonehenge’s visitors, offering a peaceful alternative for exploring the area’s Neolithic heritage without the crowds.
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Trek the Great Stonehenge Cursus
This massive prehistoric earthwork extends for nearly 1.8 miles across the landscape. Walking the length of this ancient path provides a different perspective on Stonehenge’s setting.
The purpose of this massive earthwork remains a mystery, which adds a layer of intrigue to your countryside stroll through history.
Explore Durrington Walls
This massive henge enclosure is believed to have been the settlement for the builders of Stonehenge. Recent discoveries have revealed evidence of houses and feasting.
The sheer scale of this settlement site, spanning nearly 500 yards across, helps visitors appreciate the community that created Stonehenge rather than just the monument itself.
Go Stargazing
The open landscape surrounding Stonehenge offers exceptional dark skies for stargazing. Bring a blanket and some hot drinks for an evening of astronomical observation.
The connection between Stonehenge and celestial alignments makes this activity particularly meaningful, as you’ll be gazing at the same stars that guided the monument’s creators.
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Join an Archaeological Walk
Several tour companies offer specialized walks with archaeologists who explain the broader prehistoric landscape. These experts reveal features most visitors miss entirely.
The landscape around Stonehenge contains hundreds of burial mounds, earthworks, and other ancient features that tell a rich story about prehistoric Britain.
Hunt for Wildlife
The surrounding grasslands support diverse wildlife, including rare birds and butterflies. Dawn visits offer the best chance to spot foxes, rabbits, and various bird species.
The chalk grassland ecosystem is particularly special, hosting plant species that have become increasingly rare in modern Britain.
Visit West Kennet Long Barrow
This 5,600-year-old burial chamber is more ancient than Stonehenge and offers the chance to walk inside a prehistoric monument. While you can’t walk among the stones at Stonehenge, you can walk inside this prehistoric burial chamber and be in immediate contact with Neolithic design.
The intimate atmosphere of the interior chambers is both educational and emotionally moving.
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Photograph Unusual Angles
Avoid the cliché postcard shot and seek out unusual angles. A misty early morning, unusual weather patterns, or concentrating on small details can make your photography experience remarkable.
Expert photographers advise visiting during the ‘golden hours’ of dawn and sunset when drama comes to the ancient stones with their light.
Picnic at King Barrow Ridge
This elevated area offers stunning views of Stonehenge from a distance and makes a perfect picnic spot. The ridgeline features ancient burial mounds that add historical context to your meal.
From this vantage point, you can appreciate how Stonehenge fits into its broader landscape setting.
Cycle the Stonehenge Landscape
Numerous cycling routes wind through the surrounding countryside, connecting various prehistoric sites. Biking allows you to cover more ground than walking while moving slowly enough to absorb the atmosphere.
Local bike rental shops provide maps of recommended routes for different fitness levels.
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Experience Stonehenge by Horseback
Several stables offer guided horseback tours through the landscape surrounding the monument. This traditional mode of transport offers a fresh perspective on the ancient pathways.
Moving through the landscape on horseback connects you to how people would have traveled during earlier periods of history.
Visit Stonehenge Brewery
Image Credit: DepositPhotos
Located in nearby Netheravon, this small craft brewery produces ales inspired by the ancient monument. Their tasting room offers samples of beers with names like ‘Druid’s Brew’ and ‘Solstice Ale.’
The brewery uses locally sourced ingredients, creating a literal taste of the Salisbury Plain.
Volunteer at Dig Sites
Various organizations offer volunteer opportunities during active archaeological seasons at excavations near Stonehenge. Getting your hands dirty connects you directly with the landscape’s hidden history.
No experience is typically required, as archaeologists provide training for basic excavation techniques.
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Explore Avebury Stone Circle
Just 20 miles north of Stonehenge, Avebury features an even larger stone circle you can walk among freely. The village built inside the circle adds a unique charm to this less-restrictive monument.
The on-site museum displays artifacts discovered in the area, providing context for both Avebury and Stonehenge.
Hunt for Fossils
The chalk landscape is filled with many fossils, which sometimes appear after heavy rain. Local guides can take you to suitable places where collecting is allowed.
Discovering a small fossil provides a tangible link to the deep time depicted in this old landscape.
Join a Dowsing Tour
Whether you’re a believer or a doubter, dowsing tours provide a strange insight into Stonehenge’s alleged energy lines. Guides supply dowsing rods and a lesson in this ancient practice.
The activity led to interesting discussions about the various ways that people have understood Stonehenge over the centuries.
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Take a Crop Circle Tour
The adjacent wheat fields are usually spotted with crop circles in the summer, providing contemporary mystery to timeless mysteries. Human or not, the big circles are impressive and make great photography.
Local farmers sometimes allow visitors access to these circles for a small charge.
Visit The Stonehenge Inn
This historic English pub in the village of Durrington serves substantial meals and local beers in an 18th-century building. Their Stonehenge-themed menu offerings and historic setting beautifully cap a day of discovery.
The walls are lined with historic photographs of Stonehenge, illustrating how the site has evolved over the past century.
Learn Flint Knapping
Periodic workshops show visitors how the tools of the Stonehenge period were made from nearby flint. Making your stone tool makes you a part of ancient technology.
This interactive experience makes visitors appreciate prehistoric Britain’s technological advances beyond just the movement of enormous stones.
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Ancient Wisdom for Modern Travelers
Stonehenge has drawn visitors for thousands of years, each generation finding new meaning in its ancient stones. Today’s travelers have unprecedented opportunities to engage with this landscape through activities that educate, inspire, and occasionally surprise.
By looking beyond the iconic stone circle, visitors can deepen their understanding of one of humanity’s most enduring monuments and the sophisticated society that created it.
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