Are there tours that let you touch Stonehenge?
I am planning to go to the Stonehenge over the next year, and I have done research and plenty of tours let you go inside the inner ring if you book ahead, for example.
Is it still possible to put a hand on the stones?
This has always been a life long dream of mine, and price really is not a problem as long as it is an option.
It never specifies if you are allowed to do this or not, does anyone know if this is still a possibility today?
Best Answer
There's Avebury plus lots of other semi-abandoned "stone circles" that you can headbut to your hearth's content.
Well if it is a dream, and money is no object, offer $1 million "donation" to the English heritage trust; then I am sure they will allow you to stroke the dolmens.
Else you can always hire mercenary commandos, neutralise the guards, and get intimate with the megaliths...
A simpler "solution" though would be to do a dodge and run during your inner tour and quickly caress a stone before spending the next few hours being questioned by the police and paying a fine....
A word of caution, as Stonehenge is highly mediatised, surrounded by wild theories, and shrouded by fantasy, and since it has been a lifelong dream for you... you might be quite underwhelmed by the reality of it.
For me, while being quite unimpressed by the henge itself, I found that the crows perched on the stones brought a sacred timeless dimension to the place.
Pictures about "Are there tours that let you touch Stonehenge?"
Can Tourists touch Stonehenge?
While you're in the stone circle you can take as many photos as you like, or just marvel at their majesty, we only ask that you don't stand on or touch the stones.How can I touch Stonehenge?
During normal opening hours you cannot walk up to the stones themselves. The nearest you will get to the stones is about 10 yards, the monument being roped off by a low barrier, (see picture below). However it is possible to walk up to and among the stones at Stonehenge outside public opening hours.What happens if I touch Stonehenge?
If large numbers of visitors were allowed among the stones on a daily basis, the preserved stone surfaces and rock art would be damaged and eroded by touching, scraping with bags, walking on fallen stones etc. Quite a lot of damage occurred in this way before 1978, including graffiti on the stones.How do you get the special access to Stonehenge?
Your options for experiencing Special Access at Stonehenge include a choice of public tours departing from London, Salisbury and Bath. Public tours to Stonehenge Special Access are a very popular choice as it is much easier to get tickets via a tour and the thorny issue of getting to Stonehenge is all taken care off.5 Tips for Visiting Stonehenge (That Will Make Your Visit Easier)
More answers regarding are there tours that let you touch Stonehenge?
Answer 2
More of an FYI than an answer; there are photos on the BBC website of 'druids' celebrating the 2016 winter solstice. As you can see, some are touching the stones. This is probably a Special Access tour and technically the participants are not supposed to do this, but English Heritage don't seem to police the event too strictly. So if you can persuade a 'druid' group to let you join them...
I would agree with Kate though, impressive as Stonehenge is, there are many other stone circles that haven't been restored as much and you can climb all over their stones for as long as you like
Answer 3
The most access you can get to stonehenge is during the summer and winter solstice's. There are some details on the english heritage web site.
There is no need to pay anyone for this, just turn up over the night before the solstice and follow the crowds. You do not need to get permission, neither from the secular authorities or the Druidic ones. However the last few have been cancelled because of covid, so it will be worth checking before you travel. This picture from english heritage gives an idea of the event:
Answer 4
If you go as a pilgrim for a solstice or equinox dawn or dusk, you can rest your head on the ancient stones and meditate. It's not for tourists but if you need to connect in this druidic way no one will stop you at the open access times.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Erik Mclean, Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas