London tour operator launches new Stonehenge Inner Circle Tour

London coach tour operator Evan Evans launches new Stonehenge tour that includes a sunrise viewing beyond the fences and before the site is open to the public.  Many would say that their itinerary is a little ambitious (see below) and that they are just copying other companies offering such tours.  Anway I have included their itinerary below and there are links on my blog to book them if you desire.  I will aslo add some alternative links below:

A PRIVATE VIEWING OF THE INNER CIRCLE AT STONEHENGE - a later start gives the opportunity to visit the state apartments of Windsor Castle, a walking tour of Oxford and a private visit to the inner circle of Stonehenge.


Included Highlights

Entrance to Windsor Castle and a tour of the State Apartments and St George's Chapel


Walking tour of Oxford


Visit Christ Church college (where Harry Potter was filmed)


Private Visit ot the Inner Circle of Stonehenge at Sunset


First-class luxury Motor-coach and the services of a Professional Guide
Windsor Castle

Our day starts with a visit to Windsor Castle, the largest and oldest occupied Castle in the world and the home of the Royal Family for 900 years. Its proud, strong walls dominate the delightful town that has grown around the castle over the years. You'll see the lavishly decorated State Apartments containing priceless furniture in glorious colours and St George's Chapel, home to the 14th Century Order of the Royal Garter, our senior chivalric order
Oxford

The colleges in Oxford date back to the 13th century and among its famous students were Bill Clinton, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and Lewis Carroll. We take you on a fascinating walking tour, which includes visiting the Great Hall in Christ Church, where many scenes from Harry Potter were filmed. We'll also see the Bodleian Library and the picture perfect college courtyards for which Oxford is famous.
Private Viewing of Stonehenge

Most visitors to Stonehenge are not allowed direct access to the stones. On this special day trip from London, you'll be invited to enter the stone circle itself, and stand beside the mysterious rocks towering above you. Your guide will unlock the secrets of this ancient World Heritage site. Enjoy the peace, away from the crowds, as you experience Stonehenge at its atmospheric best at sunset.

Departures April to September 2010
Days of operation: Monday, Friday

Tour Starts: 10.30am, Royal National Hotel

Tour Finishes: 9.00pm, Victoria Train Station

Departs from:

10.30am Royal National Hotel, Russell Square


10.45am, Guoman Thistle Marble Arch


11.00am, Grosvenor Victoria


11.15am, Millennium Gloucester


11.30am, Kensington Hilton
Adults: £84.00 Children (3-16): £74.00


Seniors (60+)/Students (with ID): £79.00

Other recommended Stonehenge Tour Companies:
The Stonehenge Tour Company - click here
Premium Tours - Click here
International Friends - Small group tours - Click here
Histouries UK Tours based in Salisbury - click here

David
Stonehenge Tour Guide
The Stonehenge Stone Circle Website

Stonehenge, Australia

In the latest rather, er, unique bid to boost tourism, an Australian town is planning to build a life-size replica of the famous 4,000 year-old rock formation Stonehenge - so let's check out if this is a rock-solid plan or a rather rocky road to disaster...

Twilight Beach in Esperance, Western Australia, is the planned venue for the ‘new' Stonehenge.

The controversial plan aims to recreate the ancient Wiltshire monument on a hillside overlooking the beach, 740km southeast of Perth. More than 100 stones are to be erected, with the largest stone standing more than seven metres high and weighing in at more than 50 tonnes.

The plan was originally announced back in 2008, when local businessman Ross Smith ordered the granite blocks. But, his £850,000 project collapsed after the proposed development went into the hands of liquidators.

Now, the plan has been raised from the dead and the quarry has offered the stone blocks to the town of Esperance for £180,000. A further £545,000 is needed for site works, a car park and tourism facilities.

The project, to be called The Henge, will include 101 granite stones arranged in an inner and outer circle and a central altar.

Unlike the original Stonehenge, guests will be encouraged to play around the new monument, which will also have an interpretive centre and a children's playground.

Mr Smith said The Henge would be a business venture, to be hired out for weddings and other events.
A small team of quarry workers has spent the past five months drilling and blasting the stones into shape.

The 'REAL' Stonehenge Stone Circle website

The word ‘HENGE’ – What does it mean ?

What is a ‘Henge’ monument


Stone Henge – What is one?

Definition:

A henge is the term given to a large prehistoric earthwork, usually but not always circular, whether of stones, wood, or earth.

This word, interestingly, is a back-formation from Stonehenge. Additionally some spell it stone henge or stonehedge even though that is incorrect. Stonehenge was the Saxon name for the famous monument on the Salisbury plain, and the “henge” part is Old English for “hang,” not earthwork. Nonetheless, the term henge is in wide use in both popular and scientific literature to refer to megalithic monuments of the Neolithic and Bronze ages.


Whether you are thinking stone henge or Stonehenge, both are basically Megaliths. Megaliths are single large stones, or a group of “standing stones” usually arranged in a circular or semi-circular formation, and that archaeologists believe were religious temples or monuments. The earliest sites are thought to date back to the millenia. The word, “megalith” itself has Greek origins: “mega” meaning “great” and “lithos” meaning “stone”. Certain megalith sites, and there are thousands of them all around the world, were also known burial sites. England seems to have the greatest concentration of megaliths that carry names like Avebury, the Hurlers, the Merry Maidens, and the Rollright Stones. The most famous of these is, of course, Stonehenge.

People do commonly mistake the words stone henge for Stonehenge and should learn the difference so they may find the correct information.

The Stonehenge Web Site