Britain's earliest stone circles

Britain has the densest concentration of Neolithic stone circles in Europe — over 1,000 are recorded, of which roughly 350 are intact enough to visit. Most date from 3000–1500 BC, predating the Egyptian pyramids. The nine in this guide are picked for scale, accessibility and the strength of the archaeology — from Stonehenge and Avebury in Wessex, to the Outer Hebridean circle at Callanish.

Places in this guide

📷 10♡

UNESCO World Heritage · South East England

Stonehenge

Stonehenge — Neolithic henge monument in Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, UK.

↗ english-heritage.org.uk

📷 5♡

Towns & cities · South East England

Avebury

Avebury — village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, UK.

↗ aveburyparishcouncil.org

Flagship📷 3♡

Stone circles · South West England

The Rollright Stones

Three Neolithic monuments turned to stone by a witch, according to local legend.

Flagship📷 3♡

Stone circles · South West England

The Rollright Stones

Three Neolithic monuments turned to stone by a witch, according to local legend.

📷 3♡

Stone circles · Mid Wales

Bicton

Bicton in Wales Mid, United Kingdom.

📷 3♡

Stone circles · Scottish Islands

Kilbride

Kilbride in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.

📷 3♡

Stone circles · Scottish Highlands

Wolfhill

Wolfhill in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.

Stone circles · Scottish Islands

Stone Lud

Stone Lud in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.

📷 3♡

Stone circles · Scottish Islands

Clach an Trushal

Clach an Trushal in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.

📷 3♡

Stone circles · Scottish Islands

Haltadans

Haltadans in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.

📷 3♡

Stone circles · North East England

Hunsonby

Hunsonby in England North East, United Kingdom.