Stonehenge

English Heritage Guidebooks

by Julian C. Richards

Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the world. Its great stones were raised more than 4,000 years ago as a temple to the sun; its banks and ditches are older still. This new guide includes a tour and history of the site and its remarkable landscape, together with full-colour maps, plans, reconstruction drawings and historic photographs.

Genres: History, Travel, British Literature, Nonfiction, Archaeology, Reference, Guidebook

48 pages, Softcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This definitely is one of the most impressive sights earth has to offer. Why was it constructed and who did it? How old is the construction? Was it used as a kind of cathedral? After many years I revised Stonehenge again and devoured the guide book about it. Many pictures, good explanations a must read for anyone interested in the facts on one of the greatest mysteries ever. Highly recommended!

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history of Stonehenge with many theories presented and explained. The numerous drawings and local maps are quite helpful. This is a good historical read that is written in a non-academic way. A gift from a nephew who visited the site.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really helpful guide. If you visit Stonehenge, it's such an impressive sight that is actually hard to pay attention to the audio guide they provide you, because you keep getting distracted by the circle of stones. This is a perfect companion for after you've explored the sight at lenght, because then you can calmly read about it from the comforts of home. And there's so much that I didn't know about the site. So much history attached, and so many periods of construction. And despite all of the information in the guide, the site will remain a mystery for centuries to come. I'm just glad English Heritage rescued it before it fell into oblivion.

[Jorge Rosas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful and informative guide with lots of updates and versions available, it tells the history and perks of the entire site with lots of beautiful pictures and photos of the site.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I visited Stonehenge and I loved all of the history and mystery surrounding the place!!

[Sarah Coller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this guidebook at the site in 2019 and have since been back one more time --- it's about time I read through the book!

Stonehenge is such a fun and interesting site to visit. While there are so many different theories about what it is, why it is, how long it's been there, who done it... The truth is we have absolutely no idea and very likely never will. That's what makes it so much fun --- no one can own Stonehenge because, theoretically, it belongs to a past all of us own a bit of.

A few thoughts as I went through this guidebook:

The info and photos on The Avenue are very interesting. I'd forgotten about that part of the site and now wish I would have paid more attention when I was last there. I've watched a Time Team episode sometime in the past that talked all about Stonehenge, Woodhenge, and The Avenue. Need to rewatch that.

It’s important to note that much of this history is interpreted. We can build up entire fictional histories for a place, person, or event based on one interpreted thing. The beginning of the book says Stonehenge began as a ceremonial site, but then goes on to say they don’t know why it was built. They often call it a temple but then concede it really could have been anything. It's true. It could have been anything and probably has been everything.

It's fascinating to think how this site has appeared differently to many over the ages and how we’ve all, for so many centuries, thought of it as ancient. (It's kind of like when I read that the March sisters were reading the “classic” Pilgrim’s Progress — mention of a classic within a classic.) The trilithon that fell in 1797 was not re-erected until 1958. We visitors now see what 18th century people did, but generations in between saw something different.

We ran out of time in 2019 to tour the reconstructed houses on site, but I did see them with my daughter in 2024. These houses, which I believe were based on those at nearby Durrington Walls, were about the size of my bedroom — and I have a relatively small bedroom!

Great read to kick off my Historathon Quarter 1. For more info on that and other stuff I'm reading, visit my BookTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MyGrannyEra

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guide has great information and great photos/images to help you understand and appreciate the history of Stonehenge. There are photos of how it looks now, including at different times of year (like midsummer sunset etc.) , diagrams to understand how things are laid out or have been previously, and even very well done images of what it could have looked like in the past when fully standing. The guide provides information about the stones, the people who might have made it and why, the landscape and so much more but makes it clear what it known for sure and what is inferred or even guessed.

[Carlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent brief guide to the current understanding of Stonehenge, copiously illustrated with maps, photographs and a few artistic reconstructions. As well as describing the process of construction of the monument over a period of about a thousand years, it also explains other monuments in the surrounding landscape and details the history of the archaeological exploration of the site, with changing understanding of when it was built.
I read this following my visit and it wonderfully supplemented the numerous information boards around the site and in the visitor centre. A highly recommended souvenir.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent synopsis of the present knowledge and theories surrounding Stonehenge.

I purchased this English Heritage guide book a few years ago when visiting the site. I‘ve read it before, sort of piecemeal fashion by dipping into it here and there. Now I have read it properly from beginning to end after reading Mike Parker Pearson’s book on The Stonehenge Riverside Project; I found it a really useful summary with really useful maps and diagrams and excellent photographs. It helped bring Pearson’s book to life.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even today, with thousands of tourists milling about, Stonehenge is impressive. It's part of a prehistoric landscape that makes you wonder why it was built, and who managed it. This guidebook attempts to provide a few possible answers. Fact and photo laden, it's an absolute delight. And it reveals that there's a lot more to discover all over the area.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book when visiting Stonehenge. It is a great guide about the history, the science and the engineering behind the stones. Some of the claims are speculative (which the book admits), as there is still much we don't know about how Stonehenge came about or why. The book has plenty of diagrams and photographs and was a great companion to my experience of visiting the site.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loads of detail although not a child friendly read.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good guide to the history of Stonehenge.

[Kari Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful and interesting historical science

[Stephane Watteeux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Nice to read the history, the theories and the evolving interest

[Kyle Pennekamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

52 pages that felt like 500. In a good way. Incredibly informative and in depth and passionate.

[Nadvornix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. Many illustrations. Explaining both history of site and history of explorations.

[Kayoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good write up of the myths and history of the area.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the guidebook to our visit to Stonehedge in 2011.

[Tara van Beurden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another brief little tourist book I bought while living in London – obviously about Stonehenge. It’s actually pretty comprehensive for a guidebook, going into detail about the various theories about why Stonehenge was built, whom by and what it was used for. It also goes into detail about the positioning of the stones and various other stone formations and indentations etc in the area. Very interesting.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent account of the important details on the purpose for and construction of Stonehenge. The English Herritage seris always impress with the content and the pictures that help reinforce the ideas. Yes, it is 20 years old and outdated in a couple ways, but you cant beat it for the ammount of good information in the size of the book.

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding look at the great monument. It may have the best illustrations I have even seen in a book about archeology. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Stonehenge or neolithic monuments. This book impressed me so much, it led to my seeking other books in the English Heritage series. (2013 edition)

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic guide to the single most interesting prehistoric monument in the world. Though nothing compares to seeing Stonehenge in person, this guide provides great insight and photographs of the location. Even when my mom and I visited in 2009, I had no idea there was so much more to the site. Great details and drawings, too.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having gotten to visit Stonehenge in June, reading this guidebook brings me back to when I stood before those stones and reveals more than my guide could have attempted to in the time we had allotted for the visit.

[Jovy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Stonehenge!!! I was there 3 years ago with my mom...reading this makes me want to go back there and spend more time. This provides a lot of information about the landscape, other places connected to it and its history.

[Kai Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear explanations, easily accessible writing, gorgeous pictures. A great little book about Stonehenge.

[Keith Barraclough · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight into an iconic historical sight. A thoroughly absorbing take on the history of Stonehenge.

[Marita Gayoso]

To buy this guide book at Stonehenge was a good idea. It will give you an aproximate idea of why they built it, who did it (no, not the Druids or Merlin) and when.