Ancient Destinations England

From medieval hamlets to modern cities like London, England has a great balance of both worlds. It offers travellers the opportunity to explore ancient stone circles, mysterious crop circles and incredible castles.

The White Horse of Uffington is located in the county of Oxfordshire. This incredible horse figure was carved in chalk on the upper slopes of Uffington Castle. The horse measures 374 feet long and offers a spectacular view from the air. Scholars estimate the carving dates to 1000 BC. The purpose of this mysterious carving is unknown. Theories range from it representing a Celtic god to a depiction of a dragon that was slain by St. George on a nearby site called Dragon Hill. (More Photos)

Photo: Peter Burgress

One of Great Britain's most recognizable ancient ruins is Stonehenge. The site is located on the Salisbury Plain of southern England. It is strongly believed amongst most scholars that Stonehenge was built in three stages and that the final stage is what we see today. Archaeologists maintain the site dates back to about 4000 BC. Alternative historians disagree. They argue that there is evidence to suggest that Stonehenge may be as old as 10,000 years old!

Stonehenge is composed of two types of stones. The first being the Sarsens (larger stones) and the second being the bluestones (smaller stones). The structure has a continuous circle of lintels positioned horizontally across the Sarsens. The circle itself is estimated to be about 100 feet in diameter and is composed of thirty Sarsens. Each Sarsen weighs approximately 26 tons and has a height of about 10 feet. Within the Sarsen circle lies a second group of stone circles made up of the Bluestones. (More Photos)

Many travellers from around the globe visit Stonehenge every year on the Summer and Winter Solstices. The reason they visit is to see the sunrise at Stonehenge. Many believe this structure is connected to an astronomical calendar. There are hundreds of theories as to how and why Stonehenge was built but no one really knows. The site continues to be a subject of great debate and mystery.

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