One of the most popular destinations for people who visit the UK is Stonehenge and there are so many reasons for this. However it is only once you visit and learn the detail about this spectacular site that you realise just why people come here from all over the world.
So what is it about Stonehenge that makes it such a popular place to visit? Well first of all, any site that is estimated to be up to 5,000 years old is pretty special, and there are very few sites of this age that are anywhere near as well restored as Stonehenge. To add to that when you consider the size of the stones - each of the standing stones are around 13 feet high and 7 feet wide, with a weight of approximately 25 tons, it is simply quite astonishing to think how something of this size could have been constructed so long ago. Because there is little evidence of how the stones were constructed, many theories have been suggested, but given the origin of the stones being predominantly local to the UK and the fact that there were neolithic techniques in place to transport heavy stone, the most likely theory is that the site was constructed over a period of several centuries - possibly longer (some suggest up to 1500 years!)
There is also something very significant about the design of Stonehenge that makes is such a big draw for thousands of visitors every year. The standing stones were aligned specifically to mark the movement of the sun and the changing seasons, whilst acting as a prehistoric temple to honour ancestors and mark important moments in the calendar. Therefore it comes as little surprise that on the solstice days we see extremely high numbers of visitors to the site. There are many other theories as to the purpose of the stones - some suggest it was built in order to predict eclipses whilst others have suggested it was a centre for healing.
One of the great things is that there will always be an air of mystery around the site - how was it constructed? What was the true purpose of it? But whatever you choose to believe you will always find some sort of evidence to support your theory. Even some people have made the suggestion that there was extra-terrestrial involvement with the site, but there have in fact been numerous UFO sightings reported in the area in the past couple of decades!
So what can you expect on your visit here? Not only will you be blown away by the sheer size of the stones and the effort that must have been put in to the construction, but you will learn so much about the history and also about the nature here. Indeed, there are rare bacteria on the stones which are protected and that is one of the reasons why you are not permitted to touch the stones themselves.
There are plenty of other added bonuses from visiting Stonehenge. It's a little over an hour from West London, and a visit here takes you into the heart of the British countryside, via one of the oldest roads in Europe - the A303 which dates back thousands of years! You are also a short drive to many other iconic places, such as the Roman city of Bath, the Avebury Stone Circle, the cities of Salisbury and Winchester, as well as Highclere Castle. Oxford is also an hour away.
So are you thinking of a visit? Global Dream Travel offers day trips here which also include a visit to Bath - for more details please click here.
Alternatively you may wish to visit as part of a wider tour. As experts in the UK and Ireland, we would be delighted to put together a bespoke itinerary for you - just get in touch with us today by clicking here or giving us a call on 347 748 1516.
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