Expert Archaeologist - Private Stonehenge, Bath and Avebury Tour





Description
5* Award–Winning Archaeologist Guided Experience from London. "A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Imagine visiting the best art gallery in the world with your own curator, or Shakespeare's Globe with a literary scholar . . . Well, why not visit Stonehenge with your very own expert archaeologist." Experience the ‘Heart of Neolithic Britain’. Explore the Stonehenge 'builder's village' at Durrington Walls and Woodhenge, before a truly unique experience of Stonehenge stone circle with your very own passionate, expert Archaeologist guide. Our luxury Mercedes will then transport you to beautiful Georgian Bath. Visit the largest man-made tumuli in Prehistoric Europe - Silbury Hill, and enter the 5500-year-old Neolithic tomb at West Kennet. Finally we visit the world's largest stone circle at Avebury, and its beautiful medieval village. For further details of our expert guides & custom itineraries please visit our website. We look forward to providing a once in a lifetime experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Woodhenge is a prehistoric monument that was built during the Late Neolithic period. The monument consists of a series of six concentric rings of wooden posts, consisting of 168 posts in total. The posts are arranged in a symmetrical pattern and were possibly connected by lintels. Woodhenge is thought to have been used as a ceremonial site, and it may have been aligned with the movements of the sun and moon. The site was excavated in the 1920s, and the wood posts were found to have been made from oak trees. 1h 30m drive from London to Woodhenge.
Visit the Stonehenge 'builder's village' Durrington Walls, a large henge situated in the beautiful Wiltshire landscape. The site consists of a large circular earthwork with a diameter of over 500m. Within the earthwork are two large timber circles, thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes. Durrington Walls is one of the largest and most famous henge monuments in the world. The site is believed to have been constructed around 2600 BC, making it one of the earliest known examples of this type of monument. It is thought that Durrington Walls was used as a ceremonial centre for the local population. Durrington Walls is an important archaeological site that provides insight into the lives of our prehistoric ancestors. 10m drive from Durrington Walls to Stonehenge
The power of Stonehenge lies in its inspired evocation of our shared past. A fusion of imagination and history. Although many theories and ideas have been put forwards over the centuries to answer the enigma of ‘what is Stonehenge?’, perhaps of more significance is why this monument evokes the need in people to travel vast distances to walk amongst these stones and throughout this landscape. The answer to this may be beyond our current understanding, but what we do know is this ‘force’ on visitors is not new. Archaeological evidence indicates Neolithic and Bronze Age peoples travelling (perhaps over weeks and months) the length and breadth of the British Isles and continental Europe to stand in the midst of this testament to human ingenuity. Like these ancient travellers, you too should pilgrimage to Stonehenge along paths well-worn and truly experience this iconic symbol of Britain and our shared past humanity. 1 hour drive to Bath.
Bath is one of the supreme achievements of British architecture and urban design. The Romans harnessed the hot springs to create a resort of some brilliance. But it was in the 18th century that visiting Bath became highly fashionable, with architects transforming and extending the city into the stunning creation we see today. Bath offers an opportunity for an independent lunch.
Visit the largest man-made tumuli in Prehistoric Europe - Silbury Hill. Silbury Hill is a man-made mound in Wiltshire, England. It is the tallest prehistoric artificial hill in Europe and one of the largest in the world. The hill stands at a height of 37 meters (130 feet) and has a base diameter of 160 meters (520 feet). It is made from chalk and clay and was built using a technique known as terrazzo (or ‘pounded earth’). This technique involved mixing water with dry chalk and clay and then pounding it into place with wooden beams or stone hammers. The resulting mixture was extremely strong and durable and allowed the builders to create a huge mound without the use of modern construction techniques or materials. Silbury Hill is an astonishing feat of engineering, and its size and scale are testimony to the skill and dedication of its Ancient builders. 1 hour drive to West Kennet and Silbury hill
Enter the 5500-year-old Neolithic tomb at West Kennet long barrow, a Neolithic monument located in Avebury, Wiltshire, England. The barrow consists of a burial chamber with an attached passageway and side chambers. It is roofed with large slabs of stone, and the entrance is flanked by two massive upright stones. The West Kennet long barrow was built around 3750 BC, and it is one of the largest and best-preserved examples of its type in the country. In recent years, the barrow has been the subject of archaeological excavations, and it is now open to the public. 5m drive to Avebury
We finish by visiting the world's largest stone circle at Avebury, with its beautiful medieval village situated inside. As John Aubrey in the 1600's notes [Avebury]...'does as much exceed in greatness the so renowned Stonehenge as a Cathedral doeth a parish church.' Avebury is a small village in Wiltshire, England, best known for its extraordinary stone circles. The Avebury Stone Circles are among the largest and most impressive megalithic monuments in the world, and they have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The site consists of three stone circles: the outer circle, which is the largest, two smaller circles (northern and southern), and the avenue. The stones are thought to have been erected between 2600 and 2400 BC, and they may have been used for astronomical purposes or for ritual ceremonies. We will explore the stone circles, walk along the avenue, and finish the day with a drink at the Red Lion pub. 1h 45m drive back to London
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up in the lobby of your hotel. The driver will be waiting for you with a signboard with the lead travel name. Please be ready 10 minutes before the pickup time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note visits to the West Kennet long barrow occur between March 1st–October 31st
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, and across some uneven surfaces
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- No large items of luggage are permitted, luggage compartment is limited
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- The total duration includes the travel time.
Reviews(10)
Our experience with Ed Shepherd couldn't have been more informative and delightful. The tour was very well-organized but flexible in the sense that we were able to spend more time on things that were of particular interest as we went along. Ed is extremely knowledgeable (a PhD archeologist who focuses ancient Great Britain), and also personable and easy to talk to. He was great in talking about what we know, as well as the competing hypotheses surrounding what we don't know.
My family of 4 adults booked two day, back to back private tours with Dr Edward Shepherd, or Ed as we got to call him. Those included the Bath and the Cotswolds as well as Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and Avebury. We had a personal driver named Nas pick us up at our hotel in central London and drive us in extreme comfort in a spacious Mercedes Bens Mini Van. In my 30 years traveling to 30+ countries, this experience was hands down the best tour I have ever been on. My family enjoyed Ed's whimsical tales and advanced text book knowledge of the sites we visited. He catered to every question we had (even before we stepped foot in the county during the planning stages). He became not a tour guide anymore but as a family friend who was taking us around a country he obviously has great passion for. We enjoyed his company so much that on both days, we invited to lunch with us. If you want a tour guide that perhaps works for a large tour operator and reads a script, Ed is not for you. Yes, the cost is not as cheap as other tours available but it is also not as exorbitant either. Remember, you are being shows sites that are thousands of years old and your tour operator has a PhD and in some case has actually worked on these ruins conducting research. That is a priceless thing to have on a tour.
Be prepared for the weather - much of it was outside. Our guide was quite knowledgeable and personable.
It’s always great to hear from experts the history of any location in an easy schedule that suits our needs. Ben and Nas were great!
Thank you so much for your review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that the schedule worked perfectly for your needs. It was our pleasure sharing the history of Stonehenge and the surrounding landscapes with you. Ben and Nas will be thrilled to know they helped make your experience memorable. We hope to welcome you on another adventure in the future, best of wishes from all of us.
This is an excellent tour if you’re interested in an in-depth knowledge of Stonehenge and its surrounding area. Archaeologist guide was extremely informative, and it made the sites much more meaningful.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your day exploring Stonehenge and its surrounding landscape. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that our archaeological insights helped bring the sites to life and made your visit even more meaningful. We truly appreciate you joining us on the tour. Kind regards.
Outstanding experience at Stonehenge! We figured if we were going to spend the day, we should be with a credentialed academic and Archaeologist Guided Tours delivered just that. Tom painted a fascinating picture for me and my 16-year-old daughter - kept it interesting and we walked away invigorated. Can't recommend these guys highly enough. Jim Petrucci
Thank you so much, Jim, for this outstanding review! We’re thrilled to hear that your day at Stonehenge was such a rewarding experience. Tom will be delighted to know that his insights brought the site to life for both you and your daughter—there’s nothing better than seeing guests leave inspired and energized. We truly appreciate your kind words and your trust in choosing a tour with us. Kind regards from all of us at Archaeologist Guided Tours!
We chose to do the private tour with 4 people and only do the Stonehenge and Avebury part. I am a history guide snob and I give Ed 5 stars. He was accurate, informative, interesting, entertaining, and very accommodating! I recommend him highly for your specialized tour!
Thomas and Nas handled everything with great care and precision. We have never been so impressed with any of the many tours we have done worldwide Nas is professional and gracious, Thomas is charming, engaging, entertaining and an enthusiastic educator We learned so much and had a great deal of fun with this tour! Highly recommend - this is worth every single penny and your time! Do It!!!
This tour was fantastic. Edward explained the history and archeology in such a way it came alive. We had a wonderful day and this was the highlight of our trip. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested the archeology.
I rarely write reviews but felt compelled to do one for this trip. This is an excellent tour. Our guide, Edward, was well versed in the history of the sites and is passionate about it as well. Always a bit unsure about what type of guide you get on these but he is top-notch and made the trip fun and interesting throughout the day. (Though he would not confirm what everybody knows, it was all built by aliens😀😀😀). Sorry Edward, I had to get one last alien joke in. The vehicle was roomy and comfortable and made for a pleasant trip as it is a full day of activities. We had plenty of time at each site and never felt rushed. For me, this was the highlight of our two weeks in London and Ireland.



