A must-visit in a lifetime: Unveiling the mysteries of Stonehenge

Text and photos byHappy Yun

My two-month homestay near Birmingham is ending in nine days; Yun has been on a nearly two-month holiday—so... happy!!! I wouldn’t say I’m particularly fond of the UK, but there are indeed many interesting places worth exploring. Living here, some things about British logic are puzzling, but the more I get used to them, the quicker the departure day arrives. Today, let me share with you about Stonehenge in the UK—I believe many friends have listed this as one of the must-visit sites in a lifetime, haha!!!

Yun agrees—it’s definitely a must-visit, but once is enough!!! The journey is quite far, and there aren’t many other attractions nearby—just Stonehenge (Stonehenge). The good news is that recently, fifteen more prehistoric stone sites were discovered nearby. Maybe once they’re excavated, this area will offer a more complete ancient civilization experience in the future.

That day, we set off from Birmingham with a school-organized tour group. It was my first time traveling with a foreign group in the UK, and I noticed some peculiar things right from the start. As the vehicle began moving, it seemed to circle around the Birmingham city area. Just as I was wondering why, I realized that ten minutes later, we were back where we started. Was the driver lost??... When the vehicle finally stopped, some people got on, and now the group was finally complete—we were really setting off. But what was truly strange was that the tour guide didn’t announce anything, nor did she wait at the original spot. Instead, she had the driver take the car out for a loop. How... peculiar, hahaha. I just don’t understand their way of doing things!!!

After setting off, the bus traveled on regular roads, highways, passing through countless small towns and farms. The scenery along the way was very British countryside-style, with vast pastures everywhere, where cows and sheep grazed peacefully. The sky alternated between bright blue, overcast gray, and occasionally warm sunlight streaming into the bus—the weather was ever-changing. I could only hope for good weather when we reached Stonehenge.

After about a four-hour drive, we finally saw several massive stones on a stretch of grassland and wasteland, along with a crowd of people. This… must be our destination—Stonehenge (Stonehenge)!

There wasn’t a direct entrance or a parking lot nearby. We drove past the row of cars packed with visitors, looped around via a roundabout, and got stuck in traffic again. This design let us see Stonehenge but not enter, and we were stuck for nearly half an hour, hahaha. This setup was quite peculiar!!! Maybe visiting the UK requires patience and a good temper!!!

Finally, when the bus arrived at the parking lot, we got off one by one. The guide had already collected everyone’s ticket fees on the bus and bought the tickets for us. After returning, she handed out the tickets and audio guides, and then... let us loose, haha!!! Oh~~~ she hadn’t mentioned anything about the reunion time, when to get back on the bus, or where to meet during the distribution earlier. Apparently, all those questions had to be asked privately—hahaha. This... was truly a magical way of doing things!!!

When we eventually got back on the bus, some people still hadn’t returned. Her approach was to just sit and wait on the bus without going to look for anyone. And so, we waited for another half hour. Hahaha, so this is how British tour guides do things, and foreigners aren’t necessarily more punctual either!!! Upon arriving at Stonehenge, the entrance design matched the theme perfectly. There’s an exhibition hall in this space, as well as places for food and beverages, and souvenir shops—all worth checking out. But due to limited time, our main goal was to quickly see the legendary Stonehenge (Stonehenge)!!!

Nearby, there are also a few white thatched cottages simulating the living conditions of the ancient inhabitants—don’t miss them!!!

Inside, there are some displays that attract many people to take photos. But don’t spend too much time there— the main attraction is still ahead!!!

We queued up for a shuttle bus that took us from the entrance to the Stonehenge site. After getting off, we walked a short distance, and there it was—Stonehenge. Yes, it’s the same place where we’d been seeing the big stones and crowds from afar!!!

There are many legends surrounding this place, especially ones often mentioned during pivotal moments in various shows. Seeing the stones in person didn’t feel unfamiliar, but somehow, I didn’t get that overwhelming sense of awe. Instead, I thought the stones weren’t as big as I’d imagined?? Maybe because the massive circular layout kept everyone confined to the pathways outside. Hahaha.

I don’t know why these stones were stacked here—perhaps as an altar, perhaps...??? But as I walked the perimeter path, the weather kept changing rapidly—one moment sunny, the next overcast, even with light drizzle... hahaha, the weather shifted as quickly as flipping pages, making it hard to grasp. Still, I’m grateful the sun came out for a while. Stonehenge looks more layered and beautiful in the sunlight. Without sunlight, it always feels like some secrets are hidden in the gray gloom...

While walking the loop, I originally wanted to jump in front of the stones for a fun photo. But Pipi’s photography skills are just... too poor. I tried jumping several times, and he couldn’t capture a single good shot... sobbing. So I had to take a turn taking a photo of Pipi. Wow~~~ I only needed one shot to catch Pipi in a frog jump pose—hahaha, funny, right!!!

For me, Stonehenge is truly a place one must visit in a lifetime. But after coming here, I think once is enough.

These stones, unlike those of the Maya, lack many captivating stories or a sense of daily life. A brief encounter seems sufficient. When I left, I didn’t feel reluctant, nor did I have any thoughts of returning. Honestly, it’s rare for a site to evoke such clean and decisive emotions.

A friend commented on my Facebook saying this is one of the few ancient civilizations with a sort of “negative energy.” Hahaha... Though unprovable, that idea is quite intriguing.

What’s the meaning of travel? Is it to confirm preconceived notions or to discover new emotions?? This trip to Stonehenge felt more like “confirmation”—and after that, I didn’t reach the stage of emotional awe. But I’m happy I finally made it to the legendary Stonehenge (Stonehenge).

Before leaving, don’t forget to check out the souvenir shop for something special. Since we were limited by luggage weight, we only bought postcards, coffee, and used photos to record the memories of our visit.

Stonehenge (Stonehenge)

Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/

Address: Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7DE, UK

Phone: +44 870 333 1181

Tickets: Adults £13.9, Children £8.3, Family £36.1 (2 adults, 3 children)
For details, please contact:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/prices-and-opening-times?lang=en

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