Historic Site · Amesbury, United Kingdom
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, two miles (3 km) west of Amesbury. Built c. 3001 BC. It drew 1,327,423 visitors in 2023.
Photo: garethwiscombe via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Amesbury, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | c. 3001 BC |
| Annual visitors (2023) | 1,327,423 |
| Coordinates | 51.1789° N, 1.8261° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Stonehenge is known for
Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, two miles (3 km) west of Amesbury.
About Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, two miles (3 km) west of Amesbury. It consists of an outer ring of vertical sarsen standing stones, each around 13 feet (4.0 m) high, seven feet (2.1 m) wide, and weighing around 25 tons, topped by connecting horizontal lintel stones which are held in place with mortise and tenon joints—a feature unique among contemporary monuments. Inside is a ring of smaller bluestones.
History
Mike Parker Pearson, leader of the Stonehenge Riverside Project based around Durrington Walls, noted that Stonehenge appears to have been associated with burial from the earliest period of its existence: Stonehenge was a place of burial from its beginning to its zenith in the mid third [sic] millennium B.C. The cremation burial dating to Stonehenge's sarsen stones phase is probably just one of many from this later period of the monument's use and demonstrates that it was still very much a domain of the dead. Stonehenge evolved in several construction phases spanning at least 1500 years.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Stonehenge website — the official site has the current visiting information.
Best time to visit
Year-round; spring and autumn are quieter than summer.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Amesbury |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | RAF Lyneham (LYE) |
| Distance from the airport | 24.1 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Bristol Airport (BRS) · Bristol, United Kingdom · 41.0 miles away
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR) · London, United Kingdom · 62.3 miles away
- Cardiff International Airport (CWL) · Cardiff, United Kingdom · 67.3 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
Where to stay nearby
Places to stay near Stonehenge, with a link to each place's own site.
- The Stones Hotel · Winterbourne Stoke
Country hotel a mile from Stonehenge
- Legacy Rose and Crown Hotel · Harnham, Salisbury
Historic hotel in Salisbury
Where to eat nearby
Places to eat near Stonehenge, with a link to each place's own site.
- The Pheasant Inn · Salisbury Road, Winterbourne Stoke
Country pub near Stonehenge
- The Bell Inn · Wiltshire
Village pub a short drive from the stones
More landmarks in United Kingdom
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Stonehenge?
Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, two miles (3 km) west of Amesbury.
Where is Stonehenge located?
Stonehenge is in Amesbury, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 51.1789° N, 1.8261° W.
How do I get to Stonehenge?
The nearest town is Amesbury, and the nearest airport is RAF Lyneham (LYE), about 24.1 miles away (straight line).
When is the best time to visit Stonehenge?
Year-round; spring and autumn are quieter than summer.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39671 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
- https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/ — Official tourism / managing-body page — best time to visit.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.