Stonehenge Guided Tours

Enjoy the opportunity of seeing the amazing structure of Stonehenge and its intriguing formation from a unique perspective. This incredible monument is a popular visitor attraction from the ground, but is even more special to see from the air with no tourists obscuring your views of this special site. One of the most historic and interesting sites in the world, is best viewed from the air so that it can be fully appreciated.
You’ll be treated to unbelievable views down onto the mighty Neolithic Stonehenge and the numerous burial mounds dotted around the ancient Salisbury Plain. Who knows, from this unique vantage point you might even shed light on why Stonehenge was built. Why not fly over Stonehenge and then be taken into the inner circle for an exclusive private guided special access tour, beyond the fences after the crowds have gone

There’s no shortage of other interesting sites nearby. Select to fly over stunning sights such as the stones at Avebury, the Cerne Abbas Giant and the Uffington White Horse, Salisbury Cathedral’s mighty spire or the mysterious Wiltshire crop circles, but if you’d prefer, you can simply fly over the familiar streets of your hometown and even your own house.

London, Southampton and Wiltshire departure points. Door to door transport by car, MPV or mini coach available with expert local guides . See private guided tours.

Bespoke Helicopter Tour Service

Our bespoke tours provide great photo opportunities and give you the chance to make some unique and lasting memories, which you can share with family and friends when you are back on the ground.

What could be better than treating someone special to a unique day out, tailor made for their enjoyment?  We can even supply a special hamper for them to enjoy as you fly together over the countryside and famous landmarks.

If you’re stuck for ideas the friendly team at Stonehenge Helicopters will help you with suggestions. We will recommend tours based on your particular interests, availability and budget using our extensive knowledge of the UK. .

Contact us for a quote – it may be cheaper than you think: flights@stonehengetours.com

“Combining an aerial view of Stonehenge with a ride in a helicopter is an experience not to be missed”

Link: http://stonehengetours.com/helicopter-stonehenge-flight-tours-charter.htm

Stonehenge Guided Tours – www.StonehengeTours.com

Join us for an exclusive ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ at the height of the crop circle season and explore this amazing mystery for yourself.

Stonehenge, Crop Circles, Avebury Stone Circle, Silbury Hill, Chalk Hill Figures, West Kennet Long Barrow, Burial Mounds, Haunted Pubs and much more.

Why do weird and wonderful patterns suddenly appear in the corn fields of our countryside? 2021 showed some impressive formations and the summer of 2022 is expected to be even better. Are they simply an elaborate hoax or are they caused by U.F.O s, earth energies or plasma vortexes?

Whoever or whatever causes them they are striking features and are well worth checking out. Wiltshire is well known for its mysterious crop circles and much mystery still remains as to why they occur and the meanings behind their complex formations. Crop circles in Wiltshire often occur around the heart of the county in and around Stonehenge and Avebury, usually first appearing in April and continuing into the summer month – dozens of geometric symbols, mandalas and beautiful patterns appear in the farmers growing crop fields each and every year.

“Our exclusive crop circle tours have been featured on Sky TV, The Times and Telegraph newspapers”

This magical landscape includes not only the majority of crop circles, but also some of England’s most remarkable ancient sacred sites. You will visit them with a an expert / entertaining guide who will share their detailed knowledge of this area.

Join us for a ‘Magical Mystery Tour‘ at the height of the crop circle season, and explore this amazing mystery for yourself. This exclusive tour will be led by a local Wiltshire tour expert who has access to the information network that provides breaking news on the latest formation so we set off in search of new crop circles within hours of them forming, when their energy is strongest.
This unique opportunity to explore these famous sites in a well-paced and relaxed manor, enjoying the expertise of our archaeologist guides.

“Try dowsing for this and earth energy currents that often link the circles to local sacred sites.”

Stonehenge. We start the day with a guided walk around the stone circle, our expert guides bringing to life this enigmatic, ancient and mysterious monument.

Avebury World Heritage Landscape. We visit Silbury Hill, the largest man-made hill in prehistoric Europe and enter the 5500 year old burial chamber of West Kennet Long Barrow, entering a sacred space originally reserved only for ritual specialists and the dead. As John Aubrey in the 1600’s notes [Avebury]…”does as much exceed in greatness the so renowned Stonehenge as a Cathedral doeth a parish church.”

Avebury is on the edge of an area called the Warminster Triangle. Strange sounds, celestial lights, crop circles, electromagnetic effects, ghosts, black dogs, folklore, energy lines, ancient sites, UFO landings, humanoids, invisible walkers, geophysical strata are all part of this

While at Avebury we visit the largest stone circle in Britain and the product of over 500 years of effort by Neolithic man. Enjoy a walking tour of this ancient site and try your hand at the ancient art of dowsing. Prepare to be amazed!

There’s also time to explore the charming village with its thatched cottages, antiques and village church. Maybe enjoy a traditional cream tea or if you are feeling brave enough why not try some local ale in Avebury’s haunted pub before we return back to the present.

We expect to visit at least 5 recent crop circles on this day tour and see many more

“There are too many of these which are of such great quality for them to be dismissed as made by humans.”

Full Tour details: http://stonehengetours.com/weird-wiltshire-stonehenge-crop-circle-tour.htm

Links:
Links: Crop circles: a tour of Wiltshire’s more modern mysteries
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/aug/12/crop-circles-wiltshire-tour-dixe-wills

Cream of the crop circles: New markings snake 350ft across farmer’s field as ‘mysterious’ summer tradition continues
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2165517/Crop-circles-capture-transit-Venus-phenomenon-planet-passes-Earth-Sun.html

In pictures: Wiltshire’s summer crop circles
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-14105283

Experts prove newest crop circle is not work of aliens
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9758782.Experts_prove_newest_crop_circle_is_not_work_of_aliens/

Crop Circle Connector
http://www.cropcircleconnector.com

The Wiltshire Crop Circle Study Group established in 1995 to help the crop circle phenomena in all aspects. Within their website, the latest Wiltshire crop circles are published.

Stonehenge Guided Tours – The Crop Circle Experts
http://stonehengetours.com/weird-wiltshire-stonehenge-crop-circle-tour.htm

Explore thousands of years of mystic, historic happenings and ye olde English eccentricity

Simon Heptinstall from London’s TNT Travel Magazine visits Wiltshire.

Wiltshire is surely an epicentre of oddities. From inexplicable crop circles to mysterious prehistoric sites, this quintessential slice of unspoiled England is one of the most baffling and interesting places on the planet.

Photos: David Williams, Keith Chaloner/Visit Wiltshire, Britainonview, Getty

I’m intrigued by the countless tall tales I’ve heard, and decide the best place to start a tour of weird Wiltshire has got to be Stonehenge.

Theories abound as to how the massive stones – some weighing as much as 50 tonnes – came to be arranged in ancient times. Were they gifts from extraterrestrial beings?

Magically transported through a wave of Merlin’s wizardly wand in the times of King Arthur?

Or simply heaved into place by tough primeval men, for use as an astrological calendar?

However the circle was formed, these mammoth rocks standing on an empty hilltop like the discarded stone lego of giants, are still one of the most imposing sights I’ve ever clapped eyes on

A £7.80 ticket buys you access to the perimeter of the stones, but rather than stump up that cash, I find a signposted National Trust walk, which loops around the surrounding fields.

From here I can still see the famous stone circle and also get a satisfying sense of its place in the ancient landscape of avenues and fields.

A short drive from Stonehenge, through rolling chalky hills, takes me to its lesser-known Stone Age neighbour, Avebury, one of the biggest prehistoric sites in Europe.

Photos: David Williams, Keith Chaloner/Visit Wiltshire, Britainonview, Getty

Its sprawling inner and outer stone circles were formed for some long-forgotten purpose, and are connected to the nearby town via a grassy ‘avenue’. This is marked by pairs of large grey stones and leads past ramparts, ditches and tombs.

Naturally, such a mystical scene attracts all the nutters, and I pass groups of beardy druid-types hanging around the various rocks, muttering what sound like charms or spells to themselves.

One old hippy tells me a local legend: if you press your ear to a stone you can hear voices from the past.

I test his theory and strain to catch a whisper from anyone, a Pagan god perhaps, or just a long-deceased worshipper, but eventually give up – his hearing must be better than mine.

Avebury is a real hotbed of quirky old sites.

A short walk away is Silbury Hill – a chalk lump of 40m high, it’s the tallest man-made mound in Europe, comparable in size and age to some Egyptian pyramids.

Its purpose is again unknown – there’s a definite trend here – but legend has it there’s a man on horseback and covered in gold buried in its heart.

Archaeologists have been tunnelling into the mound for years, though, and haven’t found anything yet.

From one burial site to another, the next place on my list to explore is West Kennet Long Barrow – an underground chambered Neolithic tomb

Photos: David Williams, Keith Chaloner/Visit Wiltshire, Britainonview, Getty

Constructed around 3650BC, this atmospheric chamber was in use for at least 1000 years, until it was sealed with chalk rubble and boulders.

Some archaeologists believe this happened at the same time the stone circles at Avebury were built, indicating a dramatic change in beliefs or religion.

Deep inside the chamber, I can’t resist letting out a ghostly “woooh”, which echoes around the old stones.

I’m quickly shushed by a serious-looking spiritualist kneeling on the ground nearby. Time to call it a day.

The next morning I check out Wiltshire’s eight white horses, landmark figures carved into the side of chalk hills. No mystery here though, they were formed by eccentric landowners just a few hundred years ago.

One of the most spectacular, at Cherhill, was designed in 1780 by Dr Christopher Alsop, known as ‘the mad doctor’, who shouted directions to its makers through a megaphone from the bottom of the hill.

Finally, I clamber to the top of Westbury Hill to get a view of the intricate crop circles in the fields below.

From geometric patterns to swirling circles, some of these appeared as recently as last month, yet as little is known about their origin as about Stonehenge’s.

One thing is clear though – Wiltshire shows no signs of getting any less weird over time.

Eat, sleep, drink

For top-notch veggie fare, head to the Circle Restaurant (High St, Marlborough, tel.             01672 539514      ). Sandwiches, soups and cream teas are the order of the day. Mains from about £5.

The Red Lion is a classic old thatched country pub within Avebury’s stone circle.

The pub grub is affordable with main courses from £8.89.

For one of the best selections of real ale in the county, visit The Inn With The Well, a pub with plenty of character. Pints from £3.15.

Quaint Tudor wood panelling and roaring fires set the scene at The Sun Inn, where pints start from about £3.

Avebury Life is a budget B&B embracing Wiltshire eccentricity. It advertises to those coming to “experience the strength and energy of the stones” or “connect with the crop circles”. Double room with en suite from £70pn.

Stay in a grand farmhouse a short drive from Avebury at Blounts Court Farm near Devizes. From £35pppn, it’s a bargain.

Getting there

Take the train from London Paddington to Swindon from £46.30 return. Then take the number 49 bus from Swindon to Avebury (doesn’t run on Sundays).

Links:
http://stonehengetours.com/weird-wiltshire-stonehenge-crop-circle-tour.htm (Weird Wiltshire Tour 2012)
http://www.weirdwiltshire.co.uk/
http://www.tntmagazine.com
http://blog.stonehenge-stone-circle.co.uk
thetrainline.com
english-heritage.org.uk

Needless to say we operate dily tours from London visiting all the locations mentioned. – www.StonehengeTours.com

Stonehenge Guided Tours

This computer-generated image just released by English Heritage gives an impression of the superb facilities which will welcome groups arriving at Stonehenge when its new visitor centre opens late next year.

The dedicated coach park to the right of the picture will have spaces for 30 vehicles and there is an optional drop off bay in front of the coach reception building – where pre-printed tickets will be available for collection.

Groups will walk the short distance from the coach park to the new visitor centre shown on the left of the image, which will contain:

imaginative museum-quality exhibition galleries

a 114-cover café, with outdoor seating for 60 under a canopy and room to expand by a further 70 seats during the summer peak

expanded retail space that is over four times larger than the existing shop

ample toilets, including disabled toilets

Just outside, groups will hop on to the transit service for the 2km journey from the visitor centre, to the Stone Circle. Able to accommodate 900 passengers every hour, the transit stops once during the 10 minute drive to the Stones, so that passengers can walk a part of the way if they wish.

On arrival at the Stone Circle, they will enjoy a much quieter and greener experience – central to the exciting project being led by English Heritage is the removal of modern clutter next to the monument. This includes the closure of the A344 – which currently runs right past the monument, almost touching the Heel Stone – the removal of ugly high fencing and the existing outdated visitor buildings and car park nearby and the reinstatement of a grassy landscape. Restoration of the landscape is due for completion in summer 2014.

English Heritage is recommending that tour operators and GTOs plan in a dwell time of at least two hours for groups to fully appreciate and enjoy the enhanced experience Stonehenge will offer from late 2013. A pre-booked timed ticketing system will ensure that queues are kept to a minimum.

Construction work began on the new visitor centre in July and while the new facilities are being built, it is business as usual at Stonehenge with group visits unaffected. Popular Stone Circle Access visits – outside normal opening hours – are also unaffected and may be pre-booked.

From late Spring 2013, coaches approaching Stonehenge will be re-routed to the existing parking and visitor facilities, when the A303/A344 junction closes at Stonehenge Bottom so that work can start on de-commissioning the road. Coach drivers should look out for the diversion signs and a little extra time should be planned in to itineraries to take account of the slightly longer arrival and departure routes.

Travel trade clients booking visits to Stonehenge in the future will enjoy the same generous group discounts as now (10% discount for 11 or more people, with a free place for a driver and group leader), as well as a dedicated phone line for bookings/information and dedicated website pages.

Full Article and other Wiltshire news:  http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk

When completed, the new visitor centre will make it possible for the first time to present the fascinating story of Stonehenge on site. The archaeological gallery will feature important objects on loan from local museums and outside will be three Neolithic houses, recreated using extremely rare evidence of domestic buildings from prehistoric England recently unearthed near Stonehenge.

Watch the Video here: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/our-plans/our-proposals/

Stonehenge Guided Tours – www.StonehengeTours.com

Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock and Castle Combe Full Day Tour;  As recommended by Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Rurubu and lots of people who have travelled with us!

This is the perfect way to experience the history and beauty of the countryside around Bath . You can explore two of the most impressive megalithic monuments in Europe as well as visiting a Cotswold village that was voted the prettiest village in England and a traditional Wiltshire woollen village used in the filming of Pride and Prejudice and the Harry Potter movies.

We’ve specifically kept our tours small and personal which gives you the opportunity to relax and enjoy this stunning part of England . Our local guides have a wealth of knowledge about the area and will provide you with plenty of information about the history, culture, theories and legends.
Summary notes are available at the end of the day if you should require them. You may even be lucky enough to see one of our amazing crop circles that are a feature of the Wiltshire landscape.

Stonehenge
We drive through the beautiful Wiltshire countryside to Stonehenge . This amazing monument was first mentioned as one of the wonders of Britain only seventy years after the Norman Conquest. It has aroused awe and curiosity ever since. This is your chance to experience it for yourself. During the drive to Stonehenge there is plenty of information for you to browse through as well as an audio presentation. This allows you to make the most of your time here. If English is not your first language there are audio presentations at the monument in all major languages

Avebury Stone Circle
This is a lesser known megalithic monument which is 16 times larger in area than Stonehenge and nearly 1000 years older! The lack of media attention at this site has helped to maintain its magical charm. There are no restrictions to prevent you from wondering freely amongst the stones here. This is the ultimate location to try your hand at dowsing and try and discover for yourself the energy of the stones!

After leaving Avebury we have 3 photo stops at the following places:-

Silbury Hill
This is the largest man made object in prehistoric Europe . It was built 4800 years ago and it took longer to build than Stonehenge and yet its purpose is still one of the great unsolved mysteries.

Cherhill White Horse
White horses are a feature of the Wiltshire landscape. Carved out of the chalk hills they appear dramatic against the rich green landscape. Cherhill White Horse is nearly 300 years old.

Waggon and Horses
This traditional thatched inn is just outside Avebury and was frequently visited by Charles Dickens.

Lacock Village
This wonderful village consists of properties which date from the 13th and 18th centuries. It was once a prosperous woollen town, but now it seems like a village trapped in time. There has been no major building here in the last 200 years so you really feel as if you’re stepping back into English history.
We usually make this our lunch stop as there is a wonderful country pub that has had a licence since 1362. The George Inn offers good home cooked food and real ale.
If you’re interested in film locations Lacock has been used many times. It became the town of Meriton in the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. The Abbey and some of the houses were also used in the filming of the first two Harry Potter movies.
The Abbey is not open during winter months.

Castle Combe Village
In the southern part of the Cotswolds is Castle Combe. This idyllic village nestles in a small wooded valley with its meandering stream and weavers cottages in abundance. The castle has long gone but its stone was used to build the Manor House, now a sumptious hotel.
As well as being the set for the original Dr Dolittle film and Stardust, Stephen Spielberg was there in 2010 filming his next epic.

Schedule

Visit here for full detaials:
http://www.stonehengetours.com/stonehenge-lacock-castle-combe-avebury-tour-from-bath.htm

This tour is also available as a private tour for families and small groups

Stonehenge Guided Tours
The Stonehenge Experts

Visit the most popular prehistoric monument in the world for just £35. Enjoy an extended visit to Stonehenge with plenty of time to enjoy the audio tour, take photos and buy souvenirs.

Highlights:

Tour Highlights:

Stonehenge

Departs from:

• Afternoon Stonehenge Direct departs from Grosvenor Victoria at 12.15pm & Victoria Coach Station at 12.30pm.
  

This and other quality Stonehenge trips can be booked here: http://www.stonehengetours.com/day-tours.html

Stonehenge Guided Tours
The Stonehenge Experts