Avebury

Avebury contains the world's largest prehistoric stone circle and is a World Heritage Site. People have occupied Avebury and the surrounding landscape for many thousands of years and began farming crops and keeping domesticated animals from around 6,000 years ago. The bank and ditch you can see on your visit were built at around 4,600 years ago and is almost a mile in circumference. Soon after, local stones were set up inside the bank and ditch forming at least three circles. Together they form the Avebury Henge.

There are many more monuments within walking distance of Avebury, including an avenue of paired standing stones that originally connected Avebury at one end with a site known as The Sanctuary at the other. Today, known as West Kennet Avenue, the stones remain standing for the first 800m leading from the stone circle.

The site is managed by the National Trust and is accessible to the public. There is also a lot more to see. Archaeologist Alexander Keiller lived and excavated here in the 1930s and gives his name to a museum displaying archaeological treasures from across the World Heritage Site. The stone circles also encompass the delightful village of Avebury, including shops, café and a pub. It is a gateway to several fine walks on the surrounding chalk downland. You can also visit Avebury Manor that celebrates and reflects the lives of the people who once lived here, from the Tudor times through to the 1930's and Alexander Keiller. Please check on opening times for the manor and for other visitor information on the National Trust website.