VisitWiltshire Visitor Guide 2024

Stonehenge
Unique and
Two inimitable
stone circles…
one outstanding
World Heritage Site.
Unforgettable
Nowhere else in England has such a
concentration of fascinating iconic sites as
Wiltshire. For thousands of years, travellers have
been seduced by their grandeur and magic.
They continue to inspire a sense of wonder
in today’s visitors.
Stonehenge and Avebury. Two inimitable stone circles. One
outstanding World Heritage Site. One that also embraces West
Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill and numerous associated
sites across the wider landscape. Together they have a
magnetism that has drawn people to them for thousands
of years and celebrations marking the summer and winter
solstices still take place today. No visit to Wiltshire would be
complete without experiencing their magic for yourself.
Stonehenge, the world’s most famous prehistoric monument,
is the only henged stone circle to feature lintels across some
of its stones. Avebury, though less well known, is the largest
megalithic stone circle in the world, and the only one to have a
village built partly within it. Whilst their origins and meaning have
been lost in the mists of time, together they have a magnetism
that continues to draw people to them after thousands of years.
If you stand on Salisbury Plain at sunrise or sunset, it’s easy to
see why the ancient Britons believed Stonehenge was special.
One of its many unique features is its orientation on the rising
and setting sun, although why it was built in this way remains an
enduring mystery. Stonehenge visitor centre brings its story to
life through outstanding exhibitions showcasing items on loan
from nearby museums, a superb 360° audio-visual stone circle
experience, and replicas of Neolithic houses built from authentic
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