Avebury Stone Circle is Europe’s largest stone circle, yet it doesn’t appear on any tourist itineraries or websites that I could find.
Stonehenge remains England’s most famous (and most expensive) prehistoric stone circle, and one of the best day trips to do from Bath.
The trend of making ‘henges’ was occurring across Europe at the same time that the Great Pyramid in Egypt was being constructed. It is still a mystery why people were building these massive monuments, but clearly something was happening spiritually, socially and politically to inspire them.
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How to Get to Avebury
Bus
2 hours, 2 changes, £6 each way.
Faresaver – Route 272
Take the 272 from Bath to Devizes.
Stagecoach – Route 49 (Devizes to Swindon)
Take bus 49 to Avebury Red Lion.
Car
If you have access to a car, this will be the easiest mode of transport. Just punch in Avebury to your Google Maps and get going!
Tour
This tour by Rabbie’s Small Group Tours takes you to Stonehenge, Avebury, and the Cotswolds all in one day!
Visiting Bath? Check out my 3 Day in Bath and the Cotswolds: Detailed Itinerary
Stonehenge
I’m going to be honest here. Stonehenge is slightly overrated. While it is an architectural and technological feat far ahead of its time, I was taken aback by how commercial it was.
As much as I love being able visit sites like this, the infrastructure that comes with tourism kind of takes the magic out of it.
Entry to Stonehenge (£17.60) was not included in my tour. There was a fence all the way around to keep the tourists at least 5 metres from the rocks at all times, not to mention the hordes of people streaming through every photo you try to take.
Despite that, it was still amazing to see how BIG these stones are in real life. I can’t imagine the engineering required to get the lintels on (the stones across the top).
Inside the Stonehenge visitor centre there is an exhibition illustrating the lives of the people who built it. There are Neolithic huts, information about the history of the surrounding area, as well a sarsen (one of the boulders) where you can test your strength.
Explore this exhibition first so you have some background knowledge about the stones before you take the visitor bus to actually see Stonehenge. The stones are a little ways away from the visitor centre so they do offer a shuttle bus, or you can walk.
Before you leave, check out the cute little gift shop in the Stonehenge visitor centre where I bought a nice little postcard and enamel pin.
2 hours is sufficient to explore Stonehenge and the visitor complex.
Avebury Stones
My tour guide told me about another rock formation similar to Stonehenge that is completely accessible to the public, not to mention FREE. They are the Avebury Stone Circles.
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The outer stone circle is the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world! Each stone weighs at least 100 tonnes, and the Henge dates back 4,600 years (older than Stonehenge!)
There are three different circles of stones, one of which encircles the entire village. The best part is that you can walk among them and even touch them if you like.
The tour guide told me that touching the rocks are supposed to give you good luck and that if you sit in the Devil’s Chair then it gives you fertility (I sat in it, no baby yet).
Bath Travel Essentials
SIM cards: Airalo offers eSIMS for over 200 countries which you can install BEFORE travelling, saving you the stress of running around to find a store or from being ripped off by local vendors. This is perfect for backpackers who are travelling to multiple destinations in a short period of time.
Insurance: You should NOT go overseas without getting travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you in case you get injured or your plans change or are cancelled. I always use Covermore, because the cover is comprehensive and they were easy to work with when I needed to make a claim.
Banking: When travelling and saving for travel I use Up Bank, an online Australian bank, that allows fee-free overseas transactions, unlimited savings ‘pools’ and easy transfers. If you join Up with my invite code we both get $13!
Not only that, the village of Avebury itself is so cute! There are so many cute little cottages, an eclectic gift shop, and a church that is free to enter. The village pub is famous because there is a water well inside where supposedly the original owners pushed their wife down!
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These cottages are like something from a fairytale. The the red brick house is literally my dream home?!
St James’ Church is a beautiful church and free to explore. The stonework and turret are so intricate and detailed.
The church has existed on this settlement since the 3rd century AD. The church was made of wood and mud until the 9th century, when Anglo-Saxons replaced this with stone, some of which still remains today.
Many pilgrims began their pilgrimage at St James’ Church before heading to Bristol for departure to Compostela, Rome and Jerusalem.
In my opinion, Stonehenge is totally overrated. Why pay £20 to stare at the stones from a distance when at Avebury you can get up close and personal with them!
Be quick to visit Avebury Stone Circle because they it probably become a tourist hotspot before we know it!
Where is Bath?
Bath is located in the county of Somerset, England. It is 97 miles northwest of London, close to the famous Cotswolds.
Bath is named after its famous Roman Baths that were built way back in 60 AD! The baths are over 1,900 years old and were in public use until the late 70’s. When a bather sadly died of an amoeba-borne illness, the baths were closed to the public.
Bath is UNSECO World Heritage Site and is one of the UK’s most visited destinations, with over 6 million yearly visits!
How to get to Bath
The easiest and most common way to visit Bath is by train. From London, the journey is only about an hour, and if you pre-book your train tickets during early bird sales (usually 3 months in advance) they can be quite affordable (I got mine with Great Western Railway for £14 in June 2023).
I recommend pre-booking your journey, especially during summer, as seats can fill up and prices can sky-rocket.
Alternatively, National Express buses also serve Bath from London. Tickets are cheaper than the train but the journey takes 3 hours and 15 minutes.
How to get cheap train tickets in the UK
- Make use of railcards (30% discount)
- Pre-book during early-bird sales (usually 3 month in advance)
- Check prices on different platforms.
Resources
Books to read before going to Bath
- Jane Austen – Persuasion and Northanger Abbey.
Both novels are partially set in Bath which reflects Austen’s fondness for the city.
- Mary Shelley – Frankenstein
Shelley wrote Frankenstein while living in Bath in 1816-17.
Where to Stay in Bath
$ Hostel $
Bath Backpackers
13 Pierrepont Street, Bath, England.
This hostel is perfectly located close to both the central sights and the train station. Set inside a Georgian building, it has classic interior features; high ceilings, big staircases, and big sash windows. It offers both gendered and mixed dorms, as well as regular social activities. Check availability or see other options.
$$ Hotel $$
The Windsor Townhouse
69 Great Pulteney Street, Bath, BA2 4DL, United Kingdom.
This gorgeous guesthouse is located on the famous Great Pulteney Street. The rooms are spacious and the furnishings ooze classic English cottage vibes. They offer a free continental breakfast and easy access to all Bath’s best sights. Check availability or see other options.
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