Stonehenge: A Mystery, History, and Magic Day Trip from London

Stonehenge was the number one destination during our first visit to the United Kingdom. And how could it not? Shrouded in mystery, popularized in literature and movies, it’s like the Holy Grail forged in Stone. However, our friends in the UK proclaimed our visit to Stonehenge to be “the last time they take anybody there again.” Why, might you wonder?

Well, let’s start with this tidbit of information on transportation options and what to expect when you visit this 5,000-year-old mystical site.

DISCLAIMER: We visited Stonehenge before Covid-19. Check their website for opening times and tours.

Transportation

We piled into our friends’ car in Twickenham, a charming suburban town southwest of London that gets overrun by hundreds of thousands of visitors a few times a year. The English National Rugby Team plays its home games at the Twickenham stadium, the largest rugby stadium in the world.

Most of the ride to Stonehenge via highways M3 and A303 was just under two hours. We had a little traffic here and there, but once we turned onto the road leading to the main area and parking lot, traffic was completely backed up. For almost another hour, we slowly inched forward behind other motorists and numerous tour buses. If you are trying to get to Stonehenge by public transportation from London, there is a train running from Waterloo station to Salisbury. The ride takes about 1 hour 40 minutes, but you’d still have to use a tour bus to get from Salisbury to the henge. Not sure if a cab or Uber from Salisbury is an option.

In any case, it doesn’t matter what type of transportation you choose, a tour bus or a car – expect delays, especially if you are traveling to Stonehenge from London proper. So, it’s better to start this day trip early in the morning!

After some time standing in line for tickets (booking in advance might have been a smarter choice 😊), we finally reached the Visitor Center.

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Here we were able to goof-off a little, sneak-a-peek into the exhibitions of the Neolithic huts scattered about, and marvel at a sarcen (aka Saracen Stone).

On The Way To Stonehenge

From the Visitor Center, you can take the shuttle to Stonehenge. But on a whim, we decided to walk to the main attraction. Best decision ever. Casually walking along the main road, enjoying the views of vast fields, trees lining our path, we joked about life, death, and everything else in between.

It felt like a pilgrimage to an ancient site of power, magic, and mystery. Just imagining how many people walked that path before was mind-boggling. And yes, our group was one of the very few who decided to walk there. It’s a mere 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center and flat, so after sitting in a car for hours – the walk felt good.

Stonehenge

We made it! A curve in the road… and there it was! Stonehenge sat in the middle of surrounding fields claimed by sheep, with a highway visible from afar. It looked out of place and time, where nobody and nothing of the modern world fit. To see Stonehenge with our own eyes was a surreal experience.

Stonehenge is definitely a power spot, allegedly a former portal to other universes, and a hot spot for ley lines for traveling across the globe. When we saw the rope around the perimeter of Stonehenge, we were joking about the reasoning behind it. Ultimately deciding, it was put in place to prevent people from running through the portal as a means to escape.

(TIP: You can get inside the roped circle with specialized tours for a price of £47.00, but no portal traveling is allowed 😊). All jokes aside, Stonehenge is a pre-historic marvel, with so many mysteries unexplored.

What do we believe we know about Stonehenge

Astronomical Alignment. During Summer Solstice (around June 21) at sunrise, the Sun shines directly through its center. During Winter Solstice (around December 21) at sunset, the Sun shines through its center again, from the opposite direction. These are the only two days this event occurs each year. 

Burial Site. Archeologists have discovered fragments of human remains dating to different periods in history. Is it a Memorial Grave for nobles, human sacrifices, or possibly unintentional deaths? 

Place of Worship. Throughout the centuries, generations, cultures, and faiths Stonehenge has been considered to be sacred. But why? 

Missing Pieces. Scholars of old and anew agree that Stonehenge is missing a few key standing stones.

Actual Size and Age. With the most recent findings, it was determined that the site is significantly larger than originally discovered and older, dating back to 8000 BC…

What we don’t know about Stonehenge

What we don’t know about Stonehenge is a subject much too vast to cover here. Despite all the old and modern suggestions of its original purpose, how and why it was built, how Stonehenge was used through generations, and how it’s still standing in the middle of Wiltshire County – it is a pure mystery with many secrets waiting to be discovered. 

Were the ancient Giants responsible for bringing the sacred Stones from Wales or Atlantis to build a portal? Were the stones moved to the site by a glacier and then painfully assembled into an early observatory by humans? Were they raised from the earth and aligned by magic, power, and technology of the forgotten art?

Town of Wilton

On our way back to Twickenham, we needed to stop somewhere for a snack. Luckily, just 15 minutes out of Stonehenge, there is the small town of Wilton. While looking for a place to eat, we noticed a beautiful church along the road and had to explore it. The guys stayed in the car while my friend and I went in for a closer look. As it turned out, we accidentally discovered St. Mary & St. Nicholas church. The present church was built in 1845, using bells and other artifacts from the original St. Mary church, which dated back to the 15th century.

My friend wasn’t sure we could go inside or not, but I noticed a sign on the door reading “All are welcome”, so we went in. A friendly Churchwarden offered us an impromptu tour and taught us about its rich history & architecture. The tour took about half an hour and was a fantastic experience. But we were getting pretty hungry at this point, so off we went!

A little farther down the road from the church, there was the perfect spot for a proper afternoon tea and a bite to eat: Pembroke Arms Hotel & Restaurant. We all agreed to share their mouthwatering Caramel-Apple Pie, Raspberry Pavlova desserts, and a cheese platter. Sorry no food pic, we were too busy eating!

We are so delighted to have had the chance to stop in Wilton. We thank them for their hospitality and for making this day-trip to Stonehenge even more enjoyable! More often than not, we find these little detours bringing us so much unexpected joy during our trips.

In conclusion

Hope you enjoyed following our mystery, history, and magic day trip to Stonehenge from London. This is the first article about our adventures in England. Stay tuned for more!

And, in the meantime, if you are curious about other archeological mysteries, check out our post on Newgrange and Hill of Tara in Ireland, discover the ancient treasures of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California, and join us on a tour of the fabled Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland to start with.

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