Stonehenge does have a certain amount of mystical charm, especially if you go during a major pagan holiday, the only times when you're actually allowed to walk amongst the stones. It's not the oldest stone structure in Great Britain, but it's certainly the most impressive. Some of the ancient grandeur is slightly muted, however, by the hoards of tourists arriving by the bus full, the proximity of a major highway that produces constant noise and ruins all the pictures, and the irritating fact that you're not allowed to get close. Stonehenge isn't exactly the easiest tourist destination to get to from the places that most people visit while in England -- you either have to rent a car or take an expensive tour if you've come from far away. Ultimately, you're probably going to come away from the experience feeling a little let down. If you're not limited to southern England, a much better option might be to explore some of the ancient stone structures up in Cumbria. In Keswick, for example, there's the Castlerigg stone circle, which is gorgeous and isolated up on top of a hill, where it's remarkably free from tourists, and you can walk right up to the stones.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
