Stonehenge Tour to expand

VISITORS to Stonehenge will now be able to take advantage of an expansion to the always popular Stonehenge Tour.

The new package for 2010/11, beginning on March 16, will feature Salisbury Cathedral and the Magna Carta and enable visitors to explore Stonehenge, the hillfort of Old Sarum, and the cathedral using a single ticket.

The tour allows visitors to step off trains at Salisbury station and straight onto the dedicated bus service.

Stuart Maughan, English Heritage head of visitor operations for Stonehenge and Old Sarum, said “Neatly wrapping up three of the area’s top heritage attractions into one easy package like this will have real appeal for tourists and most especially for overseas visitors.

“I feel sure it will encourage them to visit all three attractions – and inspire them to explore the city of Salisbury and surrounding countryside - so that everyone benefits from this new partnership.”

Customers join The Stonehenge Tour buses at Salisbury rail station, the bus station or any of the stops in Salisbury city centre or at the historic sites themselves.

Buses run every 30 minutes during the summer and once an hour for the remainder of the year. Tickets are bought from the driver. Adult ticket prices range from £11 (tour only) to £22 (including admission to Stonehenge, Old Sarum and a donation to Salisbury Cathedral).

Stonehenge Tours

Concrete Post Henge is Oldest Structure In England

English Heritage, working in conjunction with The National Trust, are fighting 'tooth and nail' to preserve the newly discovered ancient Henge found in Wiltshire, England.

Also located in Wiltshire is Stonehenge thought to have been erected in around 3000BC. Coincidently, Concrete Post Henge is only, a remarkable, fifty feet away from the former, just over a small hill. Chartered Surveyors were called to the scene immediately and were able to verify that the structure had been around since at least two days after The Big Bang. Primitive drill bit markings and circular saw striations were, apparently, the most obvious clues in the age determining process.

"I can't believe we didn't spot it before; it was right under our noses. The significance of this find cannot be underestimated. I've seen a few henges in my time, nobody knows what the heck a henge is yet, but I know this is a good one."

National Trust stalwart Walter Ernest made only one comment to The Spoof:

"It's a sad day here for us in Wiltshire. I've put my life, heart and soul into promoting 'old stoney' as the nation's oldest treasure, since my divorce it's been like a friend to me. No doubt some young bucks will get the job of looking after the new find and I'll probably have to go back to a career
in druid stone circles now..."

Now that was funny! The story above is a satire or parody. It is entirely fictitious.

This was from the Spoof website.

Stonehenge Summer Solstice Tour 2010

Our friends at the Stonehenge Tour Company have just announced their 2010 Summer Solstice Tour. See itinerary below. Works out cheaper and far less hassle if you are travelling from London. See link at bottom of page.

STONEHENGE SUMMER SOLTICE 'EXCLUSIVE' TOUR - JUNE 21st 2010 After the huge success of our tours in previous years we are delighted to announce our 2010 departure.

Each year on the 21 June visitors from around the world gather at Stonehenge overnight to mark the summer solstice and to see the sunrise above the stones. At dawn the central Altar stone aligns with the Slaughter stone, Heel stone and the rising sun to the northeast.

"A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity!"

STONEHENGE SPECIAL ACCESS TOUR

Each year on the 21 June visitors from around the world gather at Stonehenge overnight to mark the summer solstice and to see the sunrise above the stones. At dawn the central Altar stone aligns with the Slaughter stone, Heel stone and the rising sun to the northeast.

The Summer Solstice is the most important day of the year at Stonehenge and a truly magical time to be there. It's an ad hoc celebration that brings together England's New Age Tribes (neo-druids, neo-pagans, Wiccans) with ordinary families, tourists, travelers and party people - 1000's of them!
For many the impulse to arrive at Stonehenge in time for the Solstice is a little like all those people drawn to the strange rock in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It's akin to a spiritual experience. Anyone who has witnessed the crowd become silent as the sky begins to brighten can attest to that. You will enjoy 3 - 4 hours within the circle at sunset on June 20th or sunrise on June 21st. The small group (16 people) nature of this tour means you can have a real personal experience.

We are offering two departure options for this special tour:

TOUR OPTION 1:
Depart central London at 5pm June 20th. Mini Coach Travel to Stonehenge with guide and spend 3 - 4 hours inside the circle and witness the sun setting, Druid Ceremony and festivities. Back to London at 1am

TOUR OPTION 2:
Depart central London at 1am June 21st. Mini Coach Travel to Stonehenge with guide and spend 3 - 4 hours in side the circle and witness the sun rising, Druid Ceremony and festivities. Back to London at 8am

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This is not like our traditional guided 'Private Access' tour. Although this tour is guided it does not visit other attractions and is not everyone's cup of tea, however those who do participate will never forget it and will surely 'tell the tale' for many years to come...... Please take the time to view our images / video of previous 'Solstice Tours'.
For those of you who have not visited this sacred site, we should mention that the complex is roped off. Visitors observe the stones from a distance and are not permitted within the temple complex..........our 'Summer Solstice' tours allow you to be amongst the stones and to actually touch them.

N.B. With this exception English Heritage do not allow any other 'private access' tours between 16th June and 1st July

English Heritage provides Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice and works closely with agencies, and people from all sectors of the community, in order to create a peaceful occasion - ensuring an event that can be safely enjoyed by all and protects Stonehenge and its surrounding Monuments.


Due to the nature of this 'special access' tour and the strict entry conditions that English Hritage impose please register your interest for this tour on the form below and we will contact you with booking details and terms and conditions. This is on a first come first serve' basis.

Click here to view full details