Avebury is a small rural village lying in the heart of the Wiltshire Downs just west of Marlborough, the most ancient borough in England, approximately 145 kilometres west of London, and only 30 kilometres from Stonehenge. Well known due to the Avebury Rings, a major site of Pre-Historic stone circles and a popular tourist attraction, Avebury lies at the centre of several other well known Pre-Historic locations. One of Aveburys’ major advantages is that unlike Stonehenge, the rings and ditches are totally open to the public and can be walked around and enjoyed at leisure!!
Surprisingly local roads leading to Avebury village cross the actual stone circle and earth ditches and divide the site into four sectors, with part of the village lying within the circles!! Avebury itself is a quaint, little village with many attractive garden-fronted cottages, the St. James Church which dates back to Saxon times, and the Red Lion Inn for a little refreshment!!
N.B. If visiting it is advisable to park in the large area reserved for visitors just outside of the village.
Other sites, nearby, worthy of mention are:
Avebury Manor, a National Trust property, with some access, by guided tour only.
Avebury site museum, housed in a 17th century thatched threshing barn, gives the archaeological story of the area.
Silbury Hill, an enormous man-made mound which stills baffles archaeologists. Built around 2500 B.C., thought by some to be the focus for the whole Avebury Neolithic complex.
West Kennet Long Barrow, one of the most impressive and well preserved pre-historic burial chambers in Britain. Constructed approximately 3500 B.C.
Windmill Hill, with its three concentric ditches marking the site of a Neolithic camp, built about 3700 B.C., and several well-preserved burial mounds.
Other places of interest within 30 kilometres:
Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum of Photography and Lacock village, the whole, a National Trust property.
Marlborough, which has one of the widest main streets in the country, many Georgian buildings, quaint half-timbered cottages and two perpendicular churches. Nearby is a mound called Maerl’s Barrow, said to be the burial place of Merlin the Magician!
Savernake Forest, near Marlborough, 2000 acres of oak and beech. Avenues of towering trees open on to glades of fern and bracken.
Marlborough Downs, which offers wonderful walking opportunities along the ancient Ridge Way.
Did you know that – Lacock Abbey featured in the recent Harry Potter films?
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