The UK’s most popular historic site attracts nearly a million visitors each year. But some of those visitors argue that Stonehenge is overrated. Here’s one such account, and the reasons why it falls a little short of expectations.
I spent my final year at university living with my Turkish friend – a bubbly and life-loving girl who’s positive energy drew me in the instant I saw her across the room at freshers.
Before our final year concluded and she was to head back home to Turkey, she was determined to visit some of Britain’s most iconic landmarks in between our deadlines. The 4,000-5,000 year old Stonehenge was first up on her list.
With eyes brimming with wonder, she told me that Stonehenge was somewhere she’d dreamed about visiting for years. To any foreigner, unlocking the secrets held within its ancient stones, is a huge allure. The mysterious Stonehenge is simply emblematic of the UK and our rich Neolithic history.
So, full of excited anticipation, we jumped on a train from Bournemouth to Salisbury on a sunny Saturday morning.
But after a couple of hours or so of wandering around, we left feeling rather deflated by the Stonehenge experience.
Hell, I even felt embarrassed for my friend that we’d trekked all that way to see them. At that time I thought, why exactly is this tourist attraction apparently one of Britain’s best?
Beneath the draw lies a reality that renders Stonehenge as potentially up there as one of the UK’s most overrated and poorly managed historic sites. So if you’re wondering whether Stonehenge is overrated, this is why I’d say yes, in my opinion, it is.
Table of Contents:
Accessibility and Viewing Restrictions
For me, the first and most stark issue is that the physical experience of visiting Stonehenge is simply rather underwhelming.
Recent years have seen an increase in restrictions around the stones. Gone are the days when you could freely wander among them at your own pace and to touch them, to feel a connection with the past through your fingertips.
I understand why though. Human’s have this annoying habit of destroying precious things, leaving graffiti painted or carved into the rock. And there has indeed been graffiti at this site in the past, forcing management to fence the stones off.
Instead, visitors are kept at a considerable distance, herded along a prescribed path that offers little intimacy or connection with the monument.
This physical detachment severely diminishes the awe that should accompany a visit to such a historically significant site.
I wonder whether there could be alternatives. Chaperones? Stone bodyguards? A bag ban and/or search?
I don’t know the solution here. All I know is that being so far away from the stones you’ve come to marvel at is a real downer.
High Costs and Commercialisation
The commercialisation of Stonehenge is starkly apparent from the moment you walk through the vast modern warehouse-like visitor centre and past the large souvenir shop.
To visit the stones, visitors must pay an entrance fee of around £26 per adult. Of course these fees in part go towards maintenance of the whole entire site, but the high cost is particularly prohibitive for families and in my opinion, doesn’t really correlate with the quality of the experience. Booking in advance does mean tickets are a little cheaper than on-the-day though.
The ticket fee pricing model is based around peak and off-peak days. So if you work full time and can only visit on a weekend, then you’ll be penalised for that, which I think is a little unfair.
An audio tour is available free of charge and in thirteen languages from the visitor centre. I recommend visitors should take it up, so to learn as much as possible to make the experience feel more worthwhile. That also goes with the free exhibits in the visitor centre.
Overcrowding and Experience Quality
Stonehenge’s fame inevitably leads to overcrowding. On average, around 1 million people visit each year.
From the moment you arrive into the vast car park full of coaches and tour buses, you know it’s not going to quite be the peaceful experience you might imagine.
My impression was that it felt more like a tourist conveyor belt than a place of historic contemplation.
The busiest times are between 11am – 2pm according to the English Heritage website, so if you do go, it’s best to go either side of this window.
There are few benches around the site (which were all taken by those in more need), but it would be nice if there were more near to the stones so you can sit in quiet contemplation for a while.
Environmental and Aesthetic Concerns
The environment around Stonehenge has not been immune to modern encroachments.
Roads and traffic congestion create a visual and auditory backdrop that is far from the ancient, peaceful plains one might imagine. It’s right next to the busy A303 dual carriageway.
Although there have been efforts to improve this, including the controversial tunnel proposal, the fact remains that the setting of Stonehenge is compromised, disconnecting it from the broader landscape that is integral to its significance.
Ease of Access
The nearest train station to Stonehenge is Salisbury, about 9.5 miles (15 km) away. From Salisbury train station, you have to take a bus or a local tour company shuttle to reach the site. For that reason, most people drive.
For us, our train ticket combined with the bus and then the entrance fee, resulted in a pretty expensive day out for two cash-strapped students, and overall took us about three hours each way. That’s one epic day of travel, on multiple modes of transport.
Is Stonehenge Overrated?
The mystery and wonder around Stonehenge for many, including me, mainly lies in the fact it was built by an ancient civilisation. How they managed to even move and erect the stones is a fascinating mystery.
However the experience, and setting itself, is somewhat a let-down, but not necessarily the stones themselves.
If you find yourself in Wiltshire, then by all means visit or look out for Stonehenge as you pass it by on the motorway. Even better, you can actually even take a walk nearby and see it from behind the fence (for free!).
We’re all different and take enjoyment from different things, however, I do think the experience is a little overrated for the price, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going out of your way to visit. If you’ve got a particular interest in stone circles in general, of course you may not wish to listen to me!
But you may want to consider these three lesser known, and free(!) alternatives to Stonehenge.
Alternatives to Stonehenge: The UK’s Lesser-Known Circles
While Stonehenge might be the most famous, it is by no means the only or even the most impressive stone circle in the UK, or Wiltshire.
The country is dotted with numerous ancient circles, many of which offer a more authentic, intimate, and affordable experience.
Avebury:
Just a stone’s throw from Stonehenge, Avebury is the largest stone circle in the world.
Visitors can walk among the stones, touch them, and enjoy the quaint village that has grown up in the midst of the circle.
Unlike Stonehenge, Avebury is free to enter and offers a far less commercialised experience.
Castlerigg:
Nestled in the Lake District, Castlerigg is one of the most atmospheric stone circles, with panoramic mountain views surrounding the ancient stones.
The site is free to enter, and the lack of commercialisation allows for a peaceful and contemplative visit.
The Ring of Brodgar:
For those willing to venture further, the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney, Scotland, is part of a neolithic landscape that offers a deeply immersive historical experience.
The remote location means fewer visitors and a more serene encounter with history.
These alternatives not only provide a more authentic connection to Britain’s ancient past but also often involve supporting smaller, local communities and conservation efforts.
In Conclusion
The overrated nature of Stonehenge and its management issues are symptomatic of a broader trend of commercialising and sanitising historical experiences.
While it’s important to preserve these sites and manage visitor impact, this should not come at the expense of accessibility, affordability, and authenticity.
The magic of Stonehenge is undeniably diluted by these issues, leaving many visitors like me, disappointed and a little disenchanted.
For those seeking a genuine connection with Britain’s ancient history, consider skipping the crowded paths of Stonehenge and instead explore the myriad of other stone circles that dot the UK. These lesser-known sites offer a deeper, more personal encounter with history.
Do you agree with me that the experience at Stonehenge is overrated?
I am with you on this one. I hope you managed to take your friend to some of the other options as well. I LOVED visiting stonehenge as a kid, back when you could walk up much closer to it, and it wasn’t so flipping pricy. I love other places like Avebury that retain that magic (and are within walking distance of a good pub!)
It’s hard as there are sooo many visitors that they did need to do something to protect the stones.
p.s. Don’t you also hate that stonehenge is so close to a road that you always hear the roar of traffic…
This was an eye opening read. The Stonehenge has been on my travel list for a while and I’m glad to read your post as it’s setting my expectations. Too bad they’re charging so much and commercializing the whole thing. One day I’ll go and experience it for myself.
So many popular tourist attractions have heavy price tags and restrictions these days, as they should because we simply can’t seem to take care of things as humans. Glad you included the lesser known sites. Those would be my first choice, to be honest.
I fully agree on the commercialization of Stonehenge. The peaceful settings of the lesser known circles seems much more appropriate for an immersive and historical experience.
With you here, drive past it on the A303 and be done!
Thanks for sharing this honest review. It will help many travelers like me to make an informed decision while planning the UK itinerary.I am putting Avebury on my list.
There is a public footpath right next to the paid one owned by EH. You don’t get to walk around Stonehenge or go inside but you get pretty close and have a good view and opportunity to take photos. We parked in Larkhill near Fargo Rd, walked about 20 min and didn’t regret it.
We went to Stonehenge today buy your tickets online great then they charge you £3 for parking. Not even an explanatory leaflet although in fairness you can download a commentary on your phone. No phone no idea what’s what unless you spend another £6 for a guide. You are bused to the Henge where visitors are encouraged to take daft photos. Half hour sees it done. Back to gift shop and cafe or just escape this over priced attraction. I left feeling ripped off