Detailed review by greejn
greejn
Frome, United Kingdom88%
Avebury is a small village just off the A4 and is the focus for a number of neolithic sites, and some of the best archaeological remains in the UK. it is a designated World Heritage site. The village is built in and around a neolithic stone circle, which is probably close to Stonehenge in importance and antiquity, but much less well-known. It is free entry, and there is no supervision of the site - you can just wander around it as you wish. This makes it great for children, and even dogs are allowed on leads. Near the village are various configurations of standing stones, once used for processional and ritual purposes, probably at least 3,000 years ago. In addition to the village pub, there is an excellent restaurant and cafe called The Circle, and Avebury Manor, an interesting National Trust property. The Barn Gallery and The Stables Gallery house an exhibition of some archaeological finds from the area. A little further afield, just off the A4 main road is Silbury Hill, the largest manmade earthwork in western Europe, and a mysterious monument also from neolithic times, and West Kennet Long Barrow, which is a burial chamber on the edge of a field, and a strangely atmospheric place that is well worth seeing- again it's free entry. A nice thing about Avebury (as opposed to Stonehenge) is the lack of hassle and crowds, and the generally good access to everything. Plus the availability of excellent cream teas. If you see all three sites described here, you get a really good idea of the scale of the neolithic building programme around here, in lovely countryside. Avebury Manor is a 16th-century house, with various additions and renovations, and includes an Edwardian garden.
Avebury Stone Circle8
