10 Things to Do near Stonehenge

No one doubts that Stonehenge should be on the list of must-see places when traveling to London. However, there are many other nearby attractions that are also worth a visit, ranging from other prehistoric ruins to fascinating towns and cities.

If you have plenty of time, I recommend picking up a map of the area around Stonehenge, which has been designated a World Heritage Site. With that information, try to visit places like Salisbury, the Neolithic ruins of Avebury, Lacock, or Old Sarum, among others.

Only half an hour separates the Stonehenge monument from this World Heritage Site village. The beautiful town of Avebury is known for housing the world’s largest stone circle, its ancient tombs, and other remains from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

The ruins are located within the village and can be visited every day of the year. In addition to the stone circle, other highlights include Britain’s largest Neolithic tomb, the nearby Avenue, and Silbury Hill, Europe’s largest man-made mound. All of this makes it every bit as worthwhile as the best tours available in London.

Even if you’re a bit tired of archaeological sites, Avebury is still well worth a visit. There you can explore:

• St. James’s Church, built in 1000 AD, which you can enter for free.
• Avebury Manor, whose gardens are a must-see for those who have already enjoyed London’s parks.

How to get to Avebury

The most convenient way to get there is by booking a tour to Avebury in advance, as you’ll also get to explore other incredible villages in the area, always accompanied by an expert local guide—this will help you learn about the place and save you the hassle of planning.

In any case, besides driving there (about a 2-hour drive), Avebury is well-connected by train from London. You’ll need to take a train from Paddington Station (there’s a subway stop with the same name, and here’s how to navigate the London Underground ) to Swindon, and from there, take bus number 49.

If you’ve had the good sense to visit Avebury, you should try to make the most of its charms. In short, it’s the same as what you do in the British capital when you visit some of London’s hidden gems, beyond the most famous attractions. You can expect that visiting the stone circle and the museum will take you about an hour and a half. The rest of the time, you can:

• Visit the mansions I mentioned earlier.
• Discover some lesser-known but equally interesting spots like Windmill Hill, one of the oldest sites in the area. It’s believed to have been built around 3675 B.C. and served as a gathering place for festivals and trade. Over time, several burial mounds were built on that same elevated site, all of which are worth visiting.
• The aforementioned Silbury Hill, an artificial hill considered one of the country’s most mysterious prehistoric sites; at 30 meters high, it is the largest man-made mound in Europe.

How to get to the area around Avebury

Actually, the best way to explore the area around Avebury is on foot. Although there is a parking lot next to Silbury Hill, I recommend trying to get there on foot, just as you would for the rest of the town’s attractions.

Lacock is one of the most picturesque villages in the entire area and, in fact, is protected by the National Trust, an organization dedicated to preserving England’s historic and natural sites. You may have already seen some images of it, as it was one of the filming locations for the Harry Potter movies. It is, therefore, a great addition to a visit to Harry Potter-related sites in London.

The village is located in the north of Wiltshire, relatively close to Bath. Its origins date back to the 11th century, though its importance grew two centuries later when the nearby abbey was founded.

Strolling through its streets is the best way to immerse yourself in the typical rural architecture of southern England, which blends stone facades with white ones and half-timbered structures. Although these walks alone make the visit to the village worthwhile, you can always round out the excursion by visiting one of its churches, such as St. Cyriacus.

How to get to Lacock

If you’re in Bath or arriving from London, it’s quite easy to reach Lacock, as it’s only about a half-hour drive away. In that case, I recommend leaving your car in the parking lot at the village entrance and exploring its attractions on foot.

If you’d like to get there by public transportation, you’ll find several options:

• Train from London to Chippenham and then a bus to Lacock.
• Train to Bath and bus to Lacock.

Like some of the other places I’ve mentioned, Bath was also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is best known for its Roman baths, built over 2,000 years ago. To do so, they took advantage of the hot springs in the area.

Although it was the Romans who first began using these baths, in the 18th century the city became a gathering place for the London elite seeking to benefit from the properties of the hot springs.

Other attractions you can visit in the city—and for which there are tours to Stonehenge and Bath from London that combine both destinations—include:

• Pulteney Bridge.
• Prior Park.
• Bath Abbey.
• Several interesting museums.

How to get to Bath

A high-speed train departs from London’s Paddington Station and covers the route in just 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you prefer another option, there’s a regular train that leaves from Waterloo and takes an hour longer to reach Bath.

The National Express bus company operates a regular route connecting London’s Victoria Station with the city of Bath, but the journey takes 3 hours. That said, the price is significantly lower.

Finally, Bath is included in many organized day trips from London, which you can book here in advance. This is the best option if you want to combine your visit with a trip to Stonehenge.

As you may have noticed in my article on how to get to Stonehenge from London, almost all public transportation requires a transfer in Salisbury, and it’s also included in some of the organized tours departing from the capital. No matter how you get there, this city offers plenty of reasons to spend a few hours wandering its streets and discovering some of its most iconic spots.

Although simply strolling through the streets of this medieval city makes the visit worthwhile, you should know that:

• Salisbury’s main attraction is its magnificent Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Construction of this building began in the early 13th century, and the English Magna Carta is preserved inside.
• It’s also worth stopping by the Salisbury Museum, where part of the exhibition focuses on Stonehenge, making it the perfect place to delve deeper into the monument’s history.
• Finally, if you’re a fan of the country’s pubs, you shouldn’t leave Salisbury without visiting the Haunch of Venison. This establishment, which opened as far back as 1320, is every bit as good as those you’ll find in London’s nightlife scene—so much so that a visit is recommended by the prestigious National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.

Joaquín’s Traveller Tip

It’s quite easy to reach the Stonehenge megalithic monument from Salisbury. Just look for the bus called The Stonehenge Tour Bus.

How to get to Salisbury

• Salisbury’s train station is well-connected to London, making it easy to travel to the city. Trains depart frequently from London’s Waterloo Station, and the journey takes about an hour and a half.
• Another option for traveling from London to Salisbury is the bus, and in fact, there is a direct bus from Heathrow Airport itself. If you’ve decided to drive, the trip takes about 2 hours.
• Finally, the most convenient option is to book an organized tour from London to Stonehenge, such as one that allows you to visit Stonehenge, Bath, and Salisbury all in one day.

Just 14 kilometers from Stonehenge, history lovers can visit Old Sarum Hill, considered the birthplace of nearby Salisbury.

Old Sarum was first occupied by groups of hunters and later inhabited by some of the earliest farmers. A fortress was built there during the Iron Age, and over time, it witnessed the passage of Romans, Normans, and Saxons. In total, 5,000 years of human history.

The site, located on the hill itself, is currently part of English Heritage and is open to the public. Admission is required.

How to get to Old Sarum

Since it is located just about 3 kilometers from Salisbury, you can walk there from the city. Just head north and take the opportunity to admire the banks of the River Avon and part of Victoria Park and Hudson’s Field.

The town geographically closest to Stonehenge is Amesbury, so much so that many include it among the things to see when visiting the monument. This small town was founded in 976, though there is evidence that the area has been inhabited for about 10,000 years.

Amesbury is also known for its connection to the legend of King Arthur. It was there, in a convent, that Queen Guinevere took refuge after the king’s death at Camlann. Near this town, one of the most lavish Bronze Age cemeteries was discovered, where the remains of two men (possibly nobles of the time) were found surrounded by over 100 objects, such as gold earrings and copper knives. One of them is known by the nickname “King of Stonehenge.”

Strolling through the town’s surroundings, you can enjoy a unique view of the River Avon until you reach the crown jewel of Amesbury: its ancient abbey, now converted into the Church of St. Mary and St. Melor. The building dates back to the 10th century and was the burial site of Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry III.

How to get to Amesbury

Although the most convenient option is to join one of the tours that run from London to Stonehenge, you also have the option of taking one of the National Express buses.

You can also easily reach it from Salisbury, as you simply need to take one of the buses connecting this town with Stonehenge.

Just 3 kilometers from Stonehenge lies Woodhenge, a Neolithic wooden monument dating back to around 2500 BC—meaning it is practically contemporary with Stonehenge.

Woodhenge consisted of six ovals of vertical posts, surrounded by a ditch and a bank. The structure was built to align with the sunrise during the summer solstice at Stonehenge. This wooden monument is now part of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, along with the nearby South Circle of Durrington Walls.

It is aligned with the sunrise on the winter solstice (another of the best times to visit Stonehenge), so it is thought to have complemented Woodhenge. It is known that many people came to Durrington for winter celebrations even before the wooden structure was erected.

How to get to Durrington and Woodhenge

Both monuments are very easy to visit from Amesbury or Stonehenge, without needing to arrange any transportation.

Castle Combe is widely regarded as the prettiest village in England. It is a very small village, with just about 350 residents, where a sense of tranquility reigns, broken only by the visitors who come to explore it.

The village consists of just one main street, but the beauty of its buildings will make you want to photograph them one by one. Its location, nestled among wooded hills, also contributes greatly to its magical atmosphere.

As for the places you should visit during your stay, highlights include:

• The small Church of St. Andrew, with a history dating back at least to the 13th century.
• The White Hart, a pub that has been open for over five centuries.
• The Market Cross, in the market square.
• The village also boasts a five-star hotel (Manor House Hotel) with a Michelin-starred restaurant. This hotel is housed in a 14th-century building, and its gardens span over 140 hectares.

How to get to Castle Combe

One of the village’s attractions is its seclusion from major transportation routes. While this has allowed its streets to remain virtually unchanged, it also makes it somewhat difficult to reach.

The best way to get there if you don’t have a car is to take the train from London to Chippenham, which is about 5 kilometers away, or to Bath, about 10 kilometers away. From both cities, you can take a taxi or, if you’re in Chippenham, a bus.

It’s hard to believe that such a small town has over 500 buildings listed for their historical or artistic significance. This town, Devizes, is home to everything from Neolithic remains to industrial-era structures, with a medieval layer visible throughout its streets.

To begin with, Devizes is one of the most important hubs for learning about the history of Stonehenge and the other sites in the area, as it is home to the Wiltshire Museum, which displays all kinds of artifacts found in the various excavations carried out at Stonehenge and Avebury. There are also artifacts from Bush Barrow.

Once outside the museum, don’t miss:

• Take a stroll through the Market Place, a crescent-shaped square where a large open-air market is held every Thursday. From this very square, you can see the town’s brewery, crowned by a Victorian tower.
• Visit the neoclassical town hall, as well as the various Georgian houses.
• Nearby lies one of the most impressive works from the early industrial era: the Kennet and Avon Canal.

How to get to Devizes

There are plenty of buses from London to Devizes. You can find the schedules here. Currently, there is no train station in the town.