Avebury Stones & Stonehenge

Explore Avebury Avebury Stones & Stonehenge

At Avebury, the world’s largest prehistoric stone circle partially encompasses a pretty village. Millionaire archaeologist Alexander Keiller excavated here in the 1930s, and there is a museum bearing his name. Avebury rivals – some would say exceeds – Stonehenge as the largest, most impressive and complex prehistoric site in Britain.

The site’s present appearance owes much to the marmalade heir Alexander Keiller, who re-erected many stones during the 1930s, and whose archaeological collections are displayed in the nearby museum. Many stones had been broken or buried in medieval and later times, one crushing its destroyer as it fell.

Stonehenge and Avebury were inscribed together on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List in 1986. The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site was one of the UK’s very first World Heritage Sites.