Avebury Attractions
Surrounded by the rolling landscape of the North Wessex Downs the little village of Avebury stands right in the center of a truly remarkable Neolithic cult site dating from the end of the third millennium B.C. There is much to see in the village.
All the Avebury attractions lie within a radius of 1.25-2mi/2-3km of Avebury and are well signposted; some however can only be reached on foot.
The Avebury Stone Circles which surround the village were constructed 4,500 years ago and originally comprised about 180 stones. Only 27 of the Outer Circle stones are still standing. There is also an avenue of stones.
All the Avebury attractions lie within a radius of 1.25-2mi/2-3km of Avebury and are well signposted; some however can only be reached on foot.
The Avebury Stone Circles which surround the village were constructed 4,500 years ago and originally comprised about 180 stones. Only 27 of the Outer Circle stones are still standing. There is also an avenue of stones.
Read More
Avebury Stone Circles
These Neolithic stone circles, weighing as much as 50 tons each, are spread over 27 acres.
Kennet Avenue
The 1.5mi/2.5km-long, 49ft/5m-wide Kennet Avenue, marked out by some 200 stones arranged in pairs, linked the southern exit of Avebury Circle with the Sanctuary on Overton Hill.
Read More
Uffington White Horse
Carved into the hillside is the huge Uffington White Horse, whose origin is unknown.
West Kennet Long Barrow
The third century B.C. West Kennet Long Barrow is one of the most outstanding megalithic tombs in England. The arrangement of the stones in the construction of the barrow's several burial chambers and passageways, in which 40 skeletons were uncovered, is particularly impressive.
Parking
Free
Alexander Keiller Museum
The Alexander Keiller Museum is a collection of models, displays and archaeological finds shedding light on what is one of the largest megalithic monuments in Europe.
This museum contains one of the most important prehistoric archaeological collections in Britain - the results of research on the Avebury Stone Circles conducted by Alexander Keiller in the 1930s.
This museum contains one of the most important prehistoric archaeological collections in Britain - the results of research on the Avebury Stone Circles conducted by Alexander Keiller in the 1930s.
Avebury Manor and Garden / Alexander Keiller Museum
Marlborough SN8 1RF
England
Marlborough SN8 1RF
England
Hours
April 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
November 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Parking
Free
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Avebury Manor and Garden
The Avebury Manor is an Elizabethan house with notable Queen Anne alterations and Edwardian renovations as well as 17th C furnishings. Topiary, flower gardens and medieval walls surround the house.
All values are in local currency
Avebury Manor and Garden / Alexander Keiller Museum
Marlborough SN8 1RF
England
Marlborough SN8 1RF
England
Hours
April 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 |
| Close | 16:40 | 16:40 | 16:40 |
Always opened on:
Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May )
Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, August )
Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, August )
| Admission Cost | 3.70 |
| Group discounts | 3.15 |
| Grounds / gardens only around attraction | 2.80 |
| Child | 1.90 |
Garden is open April - October, daily except Monday and Thursday, 11 am - 5:30 pm.
No dogs allowed.
Last admissions 5 p.m. or dusk if earlier.
Parking
Free
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Overton Hill
On Overton Hill there were several circles - six concentric stone and timber rings, the latter probably being uprights supporting wooden roofs. Pottery finds suggest the site continued in use as late as the Bronze Age.
Ridgeway Path
Highly recommended is a walk along a stretch of the 85mi/136km Ridgeway (signposted with an acorn symbol). This long distance footpath goes from Overton Hill at Avebury, via Uffington White Horse, to the Ivinghoe Beacon near Tring. It makes its way across delightful chalk downland with distant views and past ancient sites redolent with history from the Stone Age to the days of Roman rule.
The stretch of trail between Avebury and the River Thames at Goring is also open to horse riders and cyclists.
The stretch of trail between Avebury and the River Thames at Goring is also open to horse riders and cyclists.
Savernake Forest
From Norman times to the Tudor period the ancient Savernake Forest (8mi/13km southeast of Avebury) was the hunting preserve of England's kings, teeming with wild boar and red deer. In the 18th century the landscape architect "Capability" Brown planted it with deciduous trees. Today the forest's pleasant paths and picnic places offer visitors the opportunity to relax. The Grand Avenue with its splendid old beeches is particularly lovely.
Windmill Hill
In Neolithic times livestock were herded into this enclosure, which takes the form of three concentric rings of earthworks and ditches, prior to the annual autumn slaughter. So great was the number of finds made here that archaeologists refer to an early phase of the Neolithic period in England as "the Windmill Hill culture".
Attractions in Other Popular Destinations
