Stonehenge

The stones stand in managed open grassland beside the A303, their sarsens brought from the Marlborough Downs and their smaller bluestones hauled from the Preseli Hills of Wales, a feat that remains one of prehistory's great questions. The circle's alignment on the midwinter sunset and midsummer sunrise is measurable and deliberate; what the alignment meant to its builders is not recorded, and the honest histories leave it open. Druids, Wiccans, druid revivalists, tourists, and the simply curious all gather at the solstices, when English Heritage opens the stones for managed free access at dawn.

Modern visitor access runs through the English Heritage visitor centre, a shuttle, and a rope path that keeps people at a respectful circle's distance from the stones themselves. The solstice open access is the exception: the rope goes down and the crowd stands among the stones as the sun rises behind the Heel Stone.

Visiting

English Heritage runs the visitor centre; tickets are online or on the day, and the managed solstice access has its own arrangements each year.