Stonehenge and Bath Tours make for a wonderful day trip to recapture England’s dramatic history. On a clear December day, my friend and I traveled with Premium Tours Company to visit these sacred sites. We met an early morning in London, with our tour guide and group of about 20, taking a small bus. Exploring England’s countryside is a nice complement to navigating the crowds in London’s urban setting.
Stonehenge Stone Circle
First, we drove to Stonehenge, arriving in about 90 minutes. This prehistoric monument became constructed about 4,500 years ago and arranged according to the movement of the sun. Its standing stones are about 13 feet high and 7 feet wide, weighing 25 tons. Over the years, this ruin was reconstructed many times to its original form.
This sacred site is both a burial ground and a sun calendar. Because it was built so long ago, it remains unknown how these stones were moved and raised without a wheel or pulley system.
There are many popular theories rising from the mystery of the Stonehenge Circle. Many speculate that sacred monuments like Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids were built upon an energetic grid of high frequencies called ley lines. These ley lines are analogous to the Acupuncture Meridians from our body, however, they arise from our Mother Earth.
Other theories believed include being built by the Druids and even Aliens, while some were simply by farmers for a practical sun calendar. Whatever your belief about Stonehenge, most would agree that it remains a sacred monument with a deep and mysterious vibe.
Stonehenge has a circular walking path
around its perimeter…
The nice thing about Stonehenge is that even though it’s been a tourist destination for years, it still remains an authentic and mysterious site, transcending exploitation. Thankfully, visitors cannot touch it or get too close. This is nice so that we all can appreciate its presence in connection with the English green countryside, without exploitation by tourists climbing all over it.
A circular path goes around it, so visitors can walk completely around it and observe from all angles. In addition, the pastoral, quiet green countryside makes a nice setting for the stone circle to coexist with nature.
Overall, we had 90 minutes at Stonehenge. There is also a Visitor’s Centre nearby, that we didn’t take the time to visit. Then we drove 60 minutes north to Bath. Here, we spent 3 hours enjoying the Roman Baths and walking the streets, enjoying this quaint, ancient town.
Bath, England
Stonehenge and Bath Tours
The Roman Baths are the main attraction in Bath, comprising of a Sacred Spring, Roman Temple & Bathhouse. Built at the end of the Roman Rule 60-70 AD, it was a popular site for 300 years. People visited the Roman Bath’s sacred spring and temple of Sulis Minerva to bathe in the sacred waters, seek healing and pray.
The hot springs, at 114 Degrees F or 46 Degrees C, rises at a rate of 1, 170, 000 litres each day to supply the baths. The sacred spring rises in the heart of the site, where the spirit of the Goddess dwelt.
“In Britain are hot springs adorned with sumptuous splendor for the use of mortals. Minerva is patron goddess of these…” -Solinus 3rd Century AD
Patrons no longer use the Baths, as the water is not safe from the ancient, outdated engineering. However, it’s preserved in the original form to vividly imagine how this was experienced. The main Bathhouse is a Roman architecture with the classic columns and statues. I walked around the water on the main level and along a balcony above to observe the dark, lime green water, reflecting the columns and building.
The museum is nearby and part of the complex. It is very informative explaining in depth the history, as well as how it was built. Next door to the Roman Baths is the intriguing Gothic Bath Abbey, exuding stately and beautiful architecture to enhance the cityscape. The whole atmosphere really takes you back in time, so that it’s easy to imagine why Bath was such a sacred and popular destination for pilgrimages and healing.
Bath City Walking Tour
After spending time at the Roman Baths, we enjoyed walking through the car-free zones. Bath is a charming town for a walking tour to explore its ancient cityscape. There are many shops, food stands and restaurants. I enjoyed hot spice wine from a vendor and roasted chestnuts, while walking the quaint streets to explore.
The historic Pulteney Bridge overlooks the Avon River, with boat tours starting at the bridge. Along the river is the picturesque Parade Park for a picnic and relaxation.
Journey Back to London
Our ride back to London was about 2.5 hours to complete this journey. Overall, there was enough time to connect with Stonehenge and Bath and absorb the ancient history. This is the ideal day trip, especially when you are limited in time, yet really one to see both these famous landmarks.
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