Did you know that it’s possible to walk inside the massive stone circles of Stonehenge in southern England? Well, it is! And you don’t even have to pay an exorbitant sum (compared to the already pricey ‘normal’ tickets, at least) for the privilege! It’s called the ‘Stone Circle Experience’, and a very limited number of these special tickets are available most days that the site is open to the public.
Read on to find out why I think it’s worth splurging on this experience, and all you need to know to plan your once-in-a-lifetime visit to the world’s most famous stone circle! Also keep reading if you’re more of a budget traveler, because there’s something here for you, too!
Is Stonehenge really that special?
This is a valid question. In fact, for a time I considered skipping Stonehenge entirely during my trip to southern England. But I am so glad I didn’t! Let me explain why.
Stonehenge is easily the world’s most famous stone circle, and because of that it gets crowded on peak days/times, or anytime really. That can be a turn-off for sure.
On the other hand, Stonehenge’s notoriety has also led to a lot of research about the site and investment in an informative Visitors Center. This means that you can really learn a lot about stone circles and the ancient cultures who built them by visiting Stonehenge.
But even more importantly, the site itself really is all that! There’s a reason people flock there, it’s not just hype. Stonehenge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, and it’s the best-preserved stone circle in the world.
Can you walk among stone circles elsewhere around the UK for free? You bet, and I’ve seen a few in other parts of southern England and in the Scottish Highlands. But while the ability to walk right up to them without buying a ticket (and in some cases with no one else around) was neat, they just paled in comparison to Stonehenge.
Is the Stone Circle Experience really that much better than a regular ticket?
Yes, yes and yes! And maybe yes one more time.
With a regular ticket the closest you’ll be able to get is about 10 meters away from the nearest outer stones, and it’s only in one spot that you can even get that close. Elsewhere you are confined to a circular pathway that’s 50-60 meters away. And since the visitor path goes all around the site, it can be really difficult to take any photos without a bunch of people in the background.
Compare that to being able to walk directly amongst the stones and get close enough to reach out and touch them – although you are NOT allowed to do so!! You’re also part of a very small group, so taking photos without a lot of random people in them is infinitely easier.
The times around sunrise and sunset, if you’re lucky to have clear skies, also make for some awesome photos. I visited during the earliest time slot, immediately after sunrise, and the light was really amazing.
What should I expect?
Things are changing in terms of how the Stone Circle Experience is conducted, so although this won’t reflect my experience I want to give you the very latest information! Here’s the scoop:
Beginning on 1st April 2025, groups for each time slot are limited to 52 people, which are then split up into two smaller groups that receive a guided tour of the inner and outer circles, respectively (so they switch places halfway through). There are two or three time slots in the morning and two in the evening. You’ll arrive at the Visitor’s Center and be met by your guide, who will escort your group onto a bus for the roughly 2km ride to the site.
The visit lasts one hour total, during which your guide will tell you what’s known about the stones’ gradual construction, possible meanings, restoration efforts, etc., and they are available to answer questions throughout your visit. When I visited, we were free to wander around the site as we wished; this may be changing with the new system, as I get the impression that they mean to ensure participants remain with their guide for the entire visit.
You should expect to see some pretty interesting stuff when you get up close, like how different some of the stones are from each other, evidence of how they were fit together, recent (as in the past century) efforts at restoration, and even some ancient and semi-modern graffiti!
As I said above, there are very strict rules about touching the stones – please, don’t even think about trying to sneak in a quick touch when you think no one’s looking. Not only could someone actually BE watching you, but these rules exist to protect the site and if too many people violate them the caretakers may be forced to stop allowing these special visits. In fact, I suspect that the latest changes might have something to do with people not respecting the rules.
There are other rules, such as no burning of incense or leaving behind trinkets, charms, etc. Again, please respect these rules to protect the site and to ensure that future generations can experience it as well.
And okay, I wasn’t going to mention this at first, but…if you’re wondering whether I felt anything special or mystical about the place during my visit?
Sorry, but no. The site no doubt had a lot of deep meaning for the people who built it, and some visitors claim to feel a special ‘aura’ there. In fact, a nearby local road has become an informal campsite where I’m told people sometimes camp for months at a time (or even permanently!) just to be near the place.
Maybe I’m just too pragmatic, but I felt nothing ‘woo-woo’; just the awe and wonder that came with pondering the deeper meaning of the place, and how the ancient societies who built Stonehenge managed to do so without any modern technology, or even the wheel!
How do I book my 'Stone Circle Experience'?
The official site is here and the page for booking the ‘Stone Circle Experience’ is here.
But there are some other very important things to know:
- You MUST book well in advance! Tickets are sometimes made available up to 10 months ahead of time. I booked in early May for a visit in mid-July and there were only a few spaces remaining, so I got lucky. If you want to be assured a space or can only visit on one specific day, you’re better off booking as far in advance as possible.
- Keep in mind that events on the solar calendar (solstices, etc.) are very popular and tend to sell out almost immediately after they’re made available. If you want to attend on or around those times, start looking into it many months ahead of time and be prepared to check daily. For example, in late November tickets for the next year’s summer solstice are already sold out!
- The up-close visits are only conducted in the times around sunrise/sunset, before the site opens and after it closes for ‘regular’ visitors. There’s no possibility to do these special visits when the site is officially open.
What does it cost?
New prices (as of 1 Apr. 2024) are as follows:
Adults £70, Children 5-17 £40, Children under 5 free.
Discounts are available for English Heritage members (this is the organization which administers the site), and carers of disabled visitors can visit free of charge.
For comparison, the standard adult peak/off-peak tickets cost £25.40/22.70 (note that these are online advance purchase prices, day-of-visit tickets cost more).
So, the Stone Circle Experience is more expensive than a regular ticket for sure but if you can accommodate the cost, I think it’s totally worth it.
But here’s the secret tip for budget travelers: if the ticket cost is too much to manage (I totally get it – the UK ain’t cheap, and especially for families the costs can add up fast!), there is a totally free alternative that still allows you a relatively good view of the site, and you can go anytime you like!
I found a great description of a few different ways to access this ‘secret’ viewpoint here. It’s close enough to still get a good view (albeit from just one side) and if money is tight it’s a great alternative to buying tickets.
The photo to the right was taken just a few meters in front of the fence separating ‘free’ from ‘paid’ space – you’ll see that the view isn’t bad at all! It’s also possible to move right or left and not have the Heel Stone (foreground) in the picture.
Where can I stay nearby?
Stonehenge is an easy day trip from just about anywhere in south-central England, but if you’ve booked the early morning tour in summertime like I did, you’ll be grateful to not have to drive too far to get there.
There’s also a good bit more to see in the area than just this stone circle, so let’s have a look at some of the options.
Nearby towns
Salisbury: this small, very pleasant city is a great choice. It’s only about a 20-minute drive from Stonehenge and is well-known in its own right for its gorgeous cathedral, complete with the best-preserved original version of the Magna Carta. It’s also a great base for visiting other sites in the region like quaint coastal towns/cities, other ancient sites and natural areas like New Forest National Park.
I stayed in a lovely hotel along the riverside and located just outside Salisbury’s city center, aptly named ‘The Riverside’.
Amesbury: another possibility, located a bit closer to the site (about a 10-12 minute drive). It’s a smaller town and a bit less atmospheric than Salisbury, but still looks like a nice play to stay. It’s also located directly off the A303 motorway – a bonus if you’re traveling by car.
Inns & Campgrounds
Rollestone Manor B&B: located on the edge of the small town of Shrewton and complete with its own restaurant and 7 antique-furnished rooms, this historic manor house is the closest lodging to Stonehenge, only 3 minutes by car or 10 minutes with a bicycle. I haven’t been there myself, but it gets great reviews and looks lovely.
Stonehenge Campsite & Glamping: the closest campsite to Stonehenge, with pitches for tents and RV’s and several glamping tent and tiny house options, plus a pub within walking distance. It gets solid reviews and even hosts a few events during the year.
Wrapping Up
I think it’s great that such up-close experiences are available at culturally valuable places like Stonehenge. It’s unfortunately necessary to limit the numbers who visit in this manner to protect the site, but on the other hand it’s terrific that everyone who’s able to get there can, regardless of their financial circumstances, get a clear view of this amazing cultural heritage site.
Kudos to the folks at English Heritage, who as far as I can discern do an excellent job of balancing the need to protect this precious site with the desires of everyone to be able to see it, whether they can afford to pay for the experience or not!
