Avebury is a Neolithic henge in Wiltshire that contains the largest stone circle in the world, built and altered between about 2850 BC and 2200 BC according to English Heritage. The National Trust now cares for it, and the stone circle is open from dawn to dusk. The Trust notes that the stones become a focus for celebrations on solstice weekends, but neither English Heritage nor the National Trust describes a solstice alignment at Avebury, so the midwinter gathering is best understood as a modern tradition rather than a documented ancient one.
This guide is part of our England series, filed under Landmarks & Monuments.
Table of contents
History of Avebury
Avebury’s Great Henge and the Neolithic builders
Avebury’s Great Henge is a large bank and ditch enclosing an outer stone circle and two smaller circles, and the National Trust describes the outer ring as the largest stone circle in the world (National Trust). English Heritage says the complex was built and altered over many centuries, from about 2850 BC until about 2200 BC, and calls it one of the largest and most complex surviving Neolithic henge monuments in Britain (English Heritage).
English Heritage also states that the exact sequence of construction is still not fully understood. Geophysical surveys indicate that other features once stood inside the enclosure, and timber circles may have filled the space before the stones were raised. Two avenues of stones linked the henge to other ceremonial sites at Beckhampton and Overton Hill, and the nearby mound of Silbury Hill is broadly contemporary. The National Trust says you can still walk the first 800 metres of the West Kennet Avenue today.
The ritual landscape around Avebury
English Heritage suggests that the monuments may have been built as public “theatres” for ceremonies that expressed the community’s ideas of world order, and that changing rituals may explain both the new building and the eventual abandonment of the monuments around 1800 BC. The National Trust, describing the wider World Heritage Site, says the monuments demonstrate Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and mortuary practices between 3700 and 1600 BC.
Avebury and the winter solstice
English Heritage states that Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices, with the winter solstice sun setting to the south-west of the circle (English Heritage). Neither English Heritage nor the National Trust makes a comparable claim for Avebury in the pages cited here, and English Heritage notes that how Avebury’s banks, ditches and circles were built is still not fully understood.
The modern midwinter gathering is a separate matter. The National Trust’s holiday listing for Fishlock’s Cottage, a rental within the henge, says that on the summer and winter solstice weekends the stones are “a tremendous focus for celebrations” (National Trust).
Medieval destruction at Avebury
English Heritage says that in the Middle Ages the stones may have been associated with pagan and devil worship, and that many were buried or destroyed. Later building and agricultural improvements led to more being removed.
William Stukeley and the antiquarians
William Stukeley (1687–1765) recorded Stonehenge and Avebury in the 1720s, according to the Avebury Society’s timeline. The National Archives’ record of the Keiller papers describes his drawings as a valuable record of the stones and earthworks during a period of rapid destruction (National Archives). English Heritage adds that the records and maps of antiquarians such as John Aubrey and Stukeley give clues to the monument’s former layout.
Alexander Keiller and the 1930s restoration
Alexander Keiller (1889–1955), an heir to the Keiller marmalade fortune, bought the site, cleared away buildings and re-erected many of the stones in the late 1930s, according to English Heritage. The National Trust notes that he excavated at Avebury in the 1930s and that the museum on the site bears his name. The Avebury Society’s timeline records that he sold most of his local land to the National Trust in 1943, and that his widow, Gabrielle, later donated the museum and its contents to the nation. English Heritage notes that Avebury and Stonehenge are designated a World Heritage Site together.
Visiting Avebury: Practical Information
Managed by: the National Trust, a UK conservation charity.
Address: Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1RD.
Stone circle hours: dawn to dusk.
Other opening hours (listing for 21 October 2026): Alexander Keiller Museum 10:00–17:00; Avebury Manor 11:00–17:00; Manor garden 10:00–17:00; National Trust shop 10:00–17:00; Circles Café 10:00–16:30.
Winter variation: the National Trust’s February 2026 listing showed shorter hours, including the museum at 10:00–16:00 and the Manor closed. From 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 the Manor opens 11:00–16:00 for its Christmas event, with last entry at 3pm.
Prices (without Gift Aid, an optional UK charity donation added to some National Trust tickets):
- Avebury Manor and Garden: adult £7.00, child (5–17) £3.50, family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £17.50
- Alexander Keiller Museum: adult £6.00, child £3.00
- Stone Circles guided tour: adult £6, child £3 (usually at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, subject to volunteer availability)
- Under-5s are free.
Parking: pay and display, £8.00 all day or £5.00 after 3pm for cars. Blue Badge holders (the UK disabled parking permit) and motorcycles park free. The car park is open 9am to 6pm, and overnight parking is prohibited. Please do not park on village streets.
Getting there: Avebury is 6 miles west of Marlborough on the A4361. The nearest stations listed by the National Trust are Pewsey and Swindon. Stagecoach bus 49 runs between Swindon, Devizes and Trowbridge via Avebury, twice an hour Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays, and the Swindon Bus Company 42 serves Calne and Marlborough. Travelling by bus gets you £1 off entry to the Manor and museum.
Included in passes: National Trust and English Heritage members park free, and National Trust members enter Avebury Manor and Garden free.
Camping and solstice rules: the National Trust says camping is not allowed on its Avebury land at any time of year. Its summer solstice guidance also bans tents, windbreaks and shelters on National Trust land, including the stone circle and henge, and bans flying drones from it.
Accessibility: two sectors of the stone circle have level access, but other areas have steps and uneven ground, so wear suitable footwear. A free Tramper mobility scooter and borrowable wheelchairs are available at Visitor Reception, and accessible toilets are in the Old Farmyard. Dogs are welcome on a lead, except in the Manor and café.
Nearby: the West Kennet Avenue, the 3-mile circular walk around Silbury Hill, and the 5-mile Avebury Ridgeway walk.
Prices last checked: October 2026
Opening hours last checked: October 2026
Where to book: tickets for the Manor and museum are bought at Visitor Reception in the barn, and the National Trust lists current prices and events on its official Avebury page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes: the stone circle is open from dawn to dusk, and the National Trust is running Christmas events at Avebury Manor from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Some facilities keep shorter winter hours, so check the National Trust’s Avebury page before you travel.
The National Trust’s Avebury events listing does not include a winter solstice event as of October 2026. The Trust does note that the stones become a focus for celebrations on solstice weekends, so expect other visitors and check its Avebury page for guidance closer to the date.
Not according to the main heritage bodies: English Heritage states that Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices, but neither English Heritage nor the National Trust describes a solstice alignment at Avebury. English Heritage adds that the exact order in which Avebury’s banks, ditches and stone circles were built is still not fully understood.
No. The National Trust says camping is not allowed on its Avebury land at any time of year, and its Avebury page states that overnight parking is prohibited. The main car park is open 9am to 6pm, so plan a dawn or dusk visit around that.
Choose Avebury if you want to walk among the stones, since the National Trust says you can enter and explore the circle, and choose Stonehenge if the solstice alignment is the draw. English Heritage says the two are designated a World Heritage Site together.
The National Trust’s Avebury page lists no advance booking requirement, and tickets for Avebury Manor are bought at Visitor Reception in the barn. Individual events may have their own booking rules, so check the event page first.
Yes, by bus. Stagecoach 49 runs between Swindon, Devizes and Trowbridge via Avebury, twice an hour Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays, and the nearest stations the National Trust lists are Pewsey and Swindon.
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