"Avebury - A landscape of ancient magic" Avebury by KennetRose

Avebury Travel Guide: 100 reviews and 238 photos

The Avebury experience

The signs at the entrance to the village proclaim with pride its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, the Avebury Great Circle is just the most important of a whole cluster of monuments (extended to include Stonehenge, 30km to the south) which dot this part of the Marlborough Downs.

I've long said - and recommended to visitors - that Avebury is a far more rewarding experience than Stonehenge.

For one thing, the stones are not hidden behind a fence. You can walk round them and touch them. And it's a long walk too. You can't encompass it all with a glance or a photograph, except from the air if you're lucky enough to get the chance, and that's a wonderful experience too. The great bank and ditch give some idea of just how important this site was when it was built nearly 5,000 years ago!

The Great Circle encloses most of a rather attractive village too. And the Avebury Great Circle is not the only feature of this district - there's a whole landscape to explore and it will take you much more than a day to get the best out of it.

I love Avebury, and I will defend it to the death against the upstart Stonehenge!

Pros and Cons

Pros:An awesome experience for those with eyes to see
Cons:Attracts some very odd people!
In a nutshell:Enough magic to keep a broomstick going for a lifetime!

Last visit to Avebury: Nov 2002
Intro Updated Nov 20, 2002
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Reviews (18)

Silbury Hill Things to Do (9)

Yes folks, this enormous mound is Britain's answer to the pyramids! Though it compares in size only to one of the more... more travel advice

Inside the barrow Things to Do (9)

When I visited just two days after Samhain, it was clear that Pagans had been in attendance recently. Candles were... more travel advice

The Romans and the Avebury landscape Things to Do (9)

The A4 road from London to Bath follows the course of an old Roman road across the downs. Mostly it runs dead straight,... more travel advice

Silbury Hill again Things to Do (9)

This is Silbury Hill as it first appears from the track south of Avebury village more travel advice

Shopping (1)
The least tacky gift shop I know
Hotels (1)
Sleep within a stone circle!
Restaurants (2)
See All Rambling old roadhouse
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Comments (15)

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amandajayne81 Jul 5, 2008 at 1:06 AM

What great pages. Can't wait to read more about your travels. We are visiting the UK for the first time in Sept from Australia. Im looking forward to seeing Avebury. We are planning seeing it and Stonehenge (I am sorry!) in a day trip from the Cotswolds.
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uglyscot Aug 2, 2007 at 12:12 AM

What a fabulous page. I remember passing through AVebury on our way to Stonehenge as a child of 9. Well worth visiting again after seeing your pages.
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hindu1936 Mar 31, 2006 at 6:01 AM

now THIS is a great photo. everyone else shot the stones, the hill, the village, but here is the beautiful little stone bridge and yours is the only photo. gracias
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deecat Feb 6, 2004 at 10:53 AM

Appreciative of your "take" on Avebury. You have many good details with lots of information done in an effective manner. Your style invites the reader in and you pictures entices us to visit Averbury.
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BerniShand Jul 24, 2003 at 3:07 AM

one of my favourite places in the UK.....much more magical than Stonehenge
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sim1 Mar 8, 2003 at 2:12 PM

What a wonderful page! I've seen Stonehenge, and I wish I had seen Avebury as well! I can see why you prefer this much more than Stonehenge.
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atheistuk Dec 10, 2002 at 7:09 AM

Stayed 2 nights in the Red Lion 3 years ago, & again this spring. Tragic how this wonderful little inn has been allowed to deteriorate. The bar & accommodation were drab & grubby, the meals were all poor.

Risk a pint in the bar, but nothing else!
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shdw100 Dec 3, 2002 at 5:43 AM

I always learn something on your pages, Rosie, like whether=sheep. Facinating and informative! Great page, a must see place for me!
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matcrazy1 Nov 30, 2002 at 11:32 AM

Great page: I do hope to visit the Pub in the Circle and taste good beers there, then to sleep in a circle haha! Any parking lot for my car in a circle there?
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ATLC Nov 27, 2002 at 12:56 AM

Chalky page! Lady Rosie, you outdid yourself. Mighty interesting stuff and definitely a must-see.