Travel Guide: Top Things To Consider Before Visiting Stonehenge
Stonehenge is easily one of the most popular and visited historical and travel destinations on the planet. These mysterious, silent, stone sentinels, planted into the earth for reasons and methods completely unknown 5000 years ago, are one of the seven wonders of the world and the most photographed place in England. They should absolutely be on your to-see list at some point or another. But of course, you cannot just travel to jolly England and see these stone guardians on a whim; rather, you can, but probably shouldn’t and would really regret it. So, why don’t we give you a few tips and things to consider before you hop on a plane?
Introduction
Before we start giving you headers, let us first go over some basic information about what Stonehenge actually is, in case you don’t know or are not sure. So, Stonehenge was built 5000 years ago in England, about 90 minutes from central London, for reasons we are simply not sure about. Whether it was a giant sundial, a place of worship, or perhaps even a sacrificial element, we will likely never know, but what baffles us most is not its purpose but how these massive stones were even brought there. The stones, each weighing 4 tons, are only found in a certain region of Wales, a staggering 200 miles away, and the fact that all these massive stones could get transported that far, 5000 years ago, continues to mystify and baffle historians today.
Book Your Ticket Beforehand
Only 7650 visitors are allowed to enter Stonehenge each day to help preserve the historical area, so booking your ticket beforehand is highly advisable and your best bet. If you want to make it really easy for yourself, you can just head to stonehengetickets.tours/stonehenge-tickets-skip-the-line/ and, well, skip the line. Without a ticket, especially on a busy day, you could very well be denied entrance and turned away. And that would truly be a pain after all the effort, travel expenses, and hardships that come with traveling in general. So, plan ahead and order your tickets in advance to avoid all the unnecessary annoyances later.
Arrive Early
If you are traveling by car, you should make every effort to come as early as possible since this is one of the most visited destinations in the world, and as a result, there are a lot of people rushing about everywhere. Try to get to the airport as early as possible, preferably before 10 a.m., which is when the daily rush really begins to pick up steam. If you don’t want to deal with loud, chattering youngsters on school excursions, tourists who are pushy and occasionally nasty while holding tripods, and the noise level that generally accompanies an airport, then you should attempt to get there early. If chance is on your side, you will be able to peacefully absorb the amazingly creepy and mysterious seclusion and ambiance of Salisbury, with the mist from England whirling around Stonehenge. Therefore, if you have any say over your schedule at all, you should make the most of it and get an early start.
Check the Forecast
Although there is an enclosed visitors center at Stonehenge, the monument itself and the ancient ruins are all located outside and are susceptible to the effects of the elements. Since we are dealing with England, which is known for having some of the stormiest and most unwelcome weather in the whole world, it is imperative that you check the weather prediction before going out for the day. Be careful to bring along raincoats or ponchos if there is a chance of precipitation in the region, and wear shoes that you do not mind getting muddy since the trails surrounding Stonehenge get muddy very fast.
Make a Day Trip out of It
If you are interested, know that Oxford is fairly near Stonehenge. If you still have some energy left, make it a day trip and go to Oxford or anywhere else you want to go after seeing Stonehenge. In addition to having what is undoubtedly the most well-known university in the world, the city of Oxford also has a large number of other interesting attractions and sites to visit.
If you are interested in history and all of the mysteries hidden in its impenetrable mists, or if you are interested in the most-visited places on Earth, or if you simply want to tick off each wonder of the Seven Wonders of the World list, you should really go visit this ancient and almost frightening site, populated by impossibly ancient and stoic stones set into the earth, revealing their mysteries to none. Stonehenge is absolutely fascinating.
