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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Something else to do/see near Stonehenge

45 replies

NancyJoan · 05/04/2023 17:39

13 yr old DS loves history, and wants to go to Stonehenge in the summer. It’s a long drive for us, so I’d prefer to do an overnight stay. What else can we see/do? We like history/art/ literature. We’re coming from South Wales, so something on the way/on the way home would be best.

OP posts:
dragonmummy17 · 05/04/2023 17:45

We've stopped at Salisbury a few times, there's some national trust places not too far from there too

Floralnomad · 05/04/2023 17:47

Salisbury is lovely and Bath is less than an hour by car . Longleat is also in the area .

MissVantaBlack · 05/04/2023 17:56

Wookey Hole is an hour away

arguablycool · 05/04/2023 18:00

Old Sarum, Salisbury cathedral, Avebury?

midsomermurderess · 05/04/2023 18:01

I believe that Salisbury has a marvellous cathedral, famous no less, as far as Russia, for its 123-metre spire.

MrsMoastyToasty · 05/04/2023 18:07

Roman Baths in Bath
SS Great Britain in Bristol
Avebury ring. (Like Stonehenge , but less well known)
Glastonbury Tor and Abbey
Wells Cathedral
Tyntesfield House near Clevedon

youngestsister · 05/04/2023 18:09

A visit to Stonehenge is rubbish - we've been - and a total waste of money. Very busy, and the stones viewed from a distance. Salisbury cathedral much better!

Whichwhatnow · 05/04/2023 18:12

Stonehenge is a massive waste of time - small and unimpressive. Nothing really to see there. Wookey Hole and Cheddar Gorge are good.

Whichwhatnow · 05/04/2023 18:13

Salisbury, Glastonbury, Bath as mentioned by others are also all good.

PeskyRooks · 05/04/2023 18:25

What about
Old Wardour Castle
Knowlton Church
Sherborne Castle
West Kennet Long Barrow & Silbury Hill
Shaftesbury Abbey

HelpMeGetThrough · 05/04/2023 18:29

I drive past Stonehenge multiple times a year. A long drive to see and underwhelming pile of rubble, really isn't worth it.

Bigtom · 05/04/2023 18:51

If you are a member of English Heritage or the National Trust, it’s free to visit Stonehenge. If not, you can very close via public footpaths. As others have said, Avebury is nearby and worth a visit.

DumbPrinceAndHisStupidWife · 05/04/2023 18:56

Avebury is much much nicer than Stonehenge. I honestly wouldn't bother with Stonehenge. I used to work for EH and got to do the stone circle experience which made it slightly more worthwhile, but really, Avebury is better.

Original poster
NancyJoan · 05/04/2023 18:57

Thanks everyone. I can’t say I’m hugely enthusiastic about it, but DS wanting to do something that isn’t on a screen is worth pursuing, and we are NT members so won’t have to pay. Salisbury looks nice, and those Russians weren’t wrong, @midsomermurderess! 123 metres!

OP posts:
DuchessOfSausage · 05/04/2023 18:57

Salisbury Cathedral is definitely worth a visit.

LIZS · 05/04/2023 19:01

Salisbury or Winchester. If they like Roman sites try Silchester.

megletthesecond · 05/04/2023 19:03

Hawk Conservancy. The vultures and owls are amazing.

megletthesecond · 05/04/2023 19:04

Ah, I missed you liked history and culture. Ignore me!

Witsend101 · 05/04/2023 19:05

Stourhead (national trust) isn't far, tenuous literature link as some if Pride and Prejudice film was shot in the gardens. We enjoyed visitng stonehenge, we walked through the fields from visitors centre and there are maps of burial mounds.

PeskyRooks · 05/04/2023 19:09

If you are NT members you can go to Mompesson house in the cathedral close in Salisbury free

aprilshowers2015 · 05/04/2023 19:11

From Stonehenge you can drive into Salisbury and visit Old Sarum on the way (the site of the original cathedral) then onto the main Cathedral.
Head out West to Wilton House (fab stately home that is often used as a filming location for The Crown, Bridgerton etc). Then onwards to Old Wardour Castle, easily one of my favourite places locally. It was featured at the start of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves as Locksley Castle. Keep going west to Shaftesbury and you'll find Gold Hill from the Hovis Adverts.

If you can't tell, I'm local, so feel free to ask any questions!!

Peekingovertheparapet · 05/04/2023 19:12

I’d consider an early start to see the stones (unlike some others upthread I actually enjoyed seeing them). Salisbury is close and is a nice city, but for overnight I think I would pick Bath. We stayed with kids at the Hampton by Hilton a while back and had a great time. The Roman Baths are excellent, both kids (6&8) were totally captivated by their audio guides.

Sidge · 05/04/2023 19:17

Avebury is almost better than Stonehenge as you can walk between the stones. Pretty little village too.

Lacock Abbey is interesting, they filmed some of Harry Potter there.

Stourhead and Longleat aren’t far.

Ticktocktimebomb · 05/04/2023 19:19

Avebury isn’t far from Stonehenge and is far more interactive. You can walk amongst the stones and physically touch them. There’s also The Avenue which is the road (marked by stones) which takes you up to the circle itself. The same area (all walking distance) includes the West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill so the whole thing takes up a whole day whereas Stonehenge takes 30 min and you’re done. If he’s keen to do Stonehenge anyway I’d suggest doing both as they would compliment each other.

PeskyRooks · 05/04/2023 19:39

Also there is Salisbury museum in the cathedral close.
@aprilshowers2015 we are near neighbours!