Something else to do/see near Stonehenge

[NancyJoan]

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.

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

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

Wookey Hole is an hour away

Old Sarum, Salisbury cathedral, Avebury?

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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!

Salisbury Cathedral is definitely worth a visit.

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

Hawk Conservancy. The vultures and owls are amazing.

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

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.

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

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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