Our First Encounter of Stonehenge

Our first visit to Stonehenge was truly magical. The prehistoric monument stood there, shrouded in history and mystery, its gigantic stones an enigma that defied explanation. The sense of wonder and awe we felt as we gazed upon this ancient wonder is a memory etched in our minds. 

Was it created by a more advanced civilisation than we realise? Were aliens involved? Did humans of the past know frequency, sound and vibration methods to move and place large chunks of rock? 

Or was it simply hundreds or thousands of men working for a cause greater than themselves using sheer strength and determination?

Underwhelming Return to Stonehenge a few years later

However, our return in 2023 was met with a surprising sense of underwhelm. The stones were the same, the history unchanged, but something was different. It seemed that once you’ve seen Stonehenge, you’ve seen it all. The magic we had felt during our first visit had dimmed, replaced by a sense of familiarity. 

Is Stonehenge worth it for a second visit? I didn’t think so. Not for me anyway. That magical mysterious awe-inspiring feeling I felt on our first visit simply didn’t return and if anything, I was not bothered about gazing at the stones for extended periods this time, and perhaps more interested in our vegan dinner at The Greyhound Inn we had booked that evening!

That being said, our eight-year-old son genuinely enjoyed the visit to Stonehenge, finding its historical significance intriguing. For him, it was like the first visit all over again as he was too young to remember ever seeing it before.

However, it appeared that our daughter, in contrast, had a different highlight of the trip. For her, the café and gift shop proved to be the most enticing part of the outing!

One noticeable difference during our return visit was the slightly quieter atmosphere. Surprisingly, the crowds seemed quieter this time, creating a more relaxed environment compared to our previous experience. It was still busy, as it always is with up to 9000 visitors per day, but not in comparison to having to queue from the road to enter the car park on our first visit! Maybe because we returned for an October visit on our second experience, whereas our first visit was in the busy summer months.

Is it Worth Revisiting Stonehenge?

That depends on your perspective. While our first visit left us spellbound, the return trip left us feeling that once you’ve experienced its magic, another visit may not offer the same enchantment. Stonehenge remains a historical marvel, but its mystique can fade upon revisiting. Maybe we revisited too soon, or maybe once you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it.

It was worth us revisiting as our son was keen to go and for a memory of seeing the stones; however, if it wasn’t for this, it wouldn’t be somewhere we’d visit twice.

Maybe a visit without any other people would be more magical. But it’s a tourist trap with crowds galore and people behind you, in front of you, trying to get past you the whole time. I can only imagine a private visit with no one else there might provide that same sense of magic as our first visit, and perhaps a sunset or sunrise visit.

Closing thoughts: Is Stonehenge worth it?

Stonehenge will always have a special place in our family memories. Our return visit, while not as exciting as the first, reminded us that some marvels are meant to be experienced only once. It reminds us that the enchantment we feel for something can be fleeting and may evolve as time goes on.

Despite my personal sense of underwhelm during our return visit, I wholeheartedly recommend experiencing the incredible Stonehenge at least once. Its awe-inspiring magnificence is truly worth witnessing. However, perhaps it’s best to savour the magic of a single visit and avoid returning with the expectation of experiencing the same sense of wonder.

Maybe I’m just being negative? Maybe you’ve been multiple times to Stonehenge and loved each moment and would return unlimited times.

In comparison, I recently revisited Monsanto and the rock village in Portugal and was just as amazed by the location as before, albeit having new Game of Thrones boards all around as they’ve since used it as a filming location!

Have you revisited a historical site and experienced similar feelings? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below.