Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and Avebury | London to Stonehenge Private Tour

STONEHENGE, SALISBURY CATHEDRAL AND AVEBURY

Includes many of Europe’s finest Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age monuments.

Uniquely spectacular and fascinating it may be, Stonehenge is not alone. It stands amid one of the world’s greatest concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age constructions, burial mounds and earthwork enclosures of various shapes and sizes, a vast sacred area of exceptional potency. The study of this broader context is a distinguishing feature of this tour.

Features countryside walks to explore the sites in detail.

An independent lunch in Salisbury, home to one of the most uplifting experiences in English Gothic architecture.

AFTERNOON

Avebury landscape

Silbury Hill

Visit the largest man-made tumuli in Prehistoric Europe - Silbury Hill. Silbury Hill is a man-made mound in Wiltshire, England. It is the tallest prehistoric artificial hill in Europe and one of the largest in the world. The hill is part of the Avebury World Heritage Site and is near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge. The hill was constructed around 2500 BC. It is thought to have been built as a burial mound, although its exact purpose is not known for sure. It is thought to have been built as a burial mound, although its exact purpose is not known for sure. The hill stands at a height of 37 meters (130 feet) and has a base diameter of 160 meters (520 feet). It is made from chalk and clay and was built using a technique known as terrazzo (or ‘pounded earth’). Silbury Hill is an astonishing feat of engineering, and its size and scale are testimony to the skill and dedication of its Ancient builders.

West Kennet long barrow

Enter the 5500-year-old Neolithic tomb at West Kennet long barrow, a Neolithic monument located in Avebury, Wiltshire, England. The barrow consists of a burial chamber with an attached passageway and side chambers. It is roofed with large slabs of stone, and the entrance is flanked by two massive upright stones. The West Kennet long barrow was built around 3750 BC, and it is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of its type in the country. In recent years, the barrow has been the subject of archaeological excavations, and it is now open to the public.

Avebury Stone Circle and Village

We finish by visiting the world's largest stone circle at Avebury, with its beautiful medieval village situated inside. 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 a small village in Wiltshire, England, best known for its extraordinary stone circles. The Avebury Stone Circles are among the largest and most impressive megalithic monuments in the world, and they have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.The stones are thought to have been erected between 2600 and 2400 BC, and they may have been used for astronomical purposes or for ritual ceremonies. We will explore the stone circles, walk along the avenue, and finish the day with a drink at the Red Lion pub.

FURTHER DETAILS

Book with confidence

Duration

This is a full day experience of 11-12 hours.

Included in Price

Expert in–house staff to help you design the very best itinerary.
Private travel in our executive air conditioned Mercedes V-Class.
Door to door service
The services of an expert archaeologist lecturer and a chauffeur.

Not included is the admission to sites. This will be added to your personal quotation.

How Strenuous

This experience is classed as easy. However the day can be adapted to suit needs.

Private Transfers

Our in–house team can work closely with you to arrange an expert–led sightseeing private transfer between London and other cities or travel terminals.

Private Tour Prices

From £1195.00 per group

MORNING

Stonehenge landscape and Salisbury

Durrington Walls

Visit the Stonehenge 'builder's village' Durrington Walls, a large henge situated in the beautiful Wiltshire landscape. The site consists of a large circular earthwork with a diameter of over 500m. Within the earthwork are two large timber circles, thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes. The site is believed to have been constructed around 2600 BC, making it one of the earliest known examples of this type of monument. It is thought that Durrington Walls was used as a ceremonial centre for the local population, and is an important archaeological site that provides insight into the lives of our prehistoric ancestors.

Woodhenge

Woodhenge is a prehistoric monument that was built during the Late Neolithic period. The monument consists of a series of six concentric rings of wooden posts, consisting of 168 posts in total. The posts are arranged in a symmetrical pattern and were possibly connected by lintels. Woodhenge is thought to have been used as a ceremonial site, and it may have been aligned with the movements of the sun and moon.

Stonehenge

The power of Stonehenge lies in its inspired evocation of our shared past. A fusion of imagination and history.

Although many theories and ideas have been put forwards over the centuries to answer the enigma of ‘what is Stonehenge?’, perhaps of more significance is why this monument evokes the need in people to travel vast distances to walk amongst these stones and throughout this landscape. The answer to this may be beyond our current understanding, but what we do know is this ‘force’ on visitors is not new. Archaeological evidence indicates Neolithic and Bronze Age peoples travelling (perhaps over weeks and months) the length and breadth of the British Isles and continental Europe to stand in the midst of this testament to human ingenuity. Like these ancient travellers, you too should pilgrimage to Stonehenge along paths well-worn and truly experience this iconic symbol of Britain and our shared past humanity.

Salisbury

Enjoy plenty of time to explore picturesque Salisbury and it's unique Gothic cathedral. Discover the history and legacy of one of the world's most celebrated documents - the Magna Carta. What did the document say, and how was it interpreted over the next 800 years? Why is it still important today, and how does it affect our culture, laws and rights?

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

WE FEEL SO LUCKY

"We feel so lucky to have found Edward of Archaeologist Guided Tours. I am interested in archaeology while my husband has zero interest, and miraculously Edward managed to keep us both captivated for the entire day. Seeing Stonehenge and the related sites was cool, but having Edward’s perspective and explanations made it simply amazing. It felt like going to Stonehenge with your best (and funniest) friend! I can’t recommend this tour more highly."

BEYOND THE SURFACE

"Archaeologist Guided Tours offers a much more in-depth look at pre-historical England. The guides are all working Archaeologists, with doctoral-level knowledge of the field, and a passion for teaching. They will go far beyond the surface-level stories you will hear on other tours, but will talk about the techniques that archaeologists use to study sites like Stonehenge, the controversies and debates about the people who lived in England thousands of years ago, and the latest papers on the subject.
If you want a deep dive into deep human history lead by an expert guide, this is by far the best choice."

IT WAS INCREDIBLE

“Wow! When we planned this wonderful day we did not expect to appreciate the tour and our guide as much as we did. It was incredible to get first hand information from the archaeologist and have an exclusive tour with him. Our 2 children were really amazed at the site and everything they learned. We can't thank Archaeologist Guided Tours enough for our incredible experience. We will be back again for another tour one day and recommending you over and over again!"

COMBINE WITH

Ancient Oxfordshire

and Windsor Castle

Departing London

Roman Bath and

the Cotswolds

Coming soon - Please email to enquire

Collection from:

London

Salisbury

Oxford

Windsor

Bath

Southampton Port

Portland Port

Door-to-door Service in our luxury air conditioned Mercedes V-Class.

'Journey Beyond the Ordinary'

Destinations:

Stonehenge

Avebury

Windsor Castle

Oxford

Bath

Salisbury Cathedral

Old Sarum hillfort

Glastonbury Abbey

Uffington White Horse

West Kennet burial tomb

Lacock

Cotswolds