About
Stanton Drew is one of the most significant and least visited prehistoric megalithic complexes in Britain, a remarkable landscape of ancient standing stones set in the gentle farmland of the Chew Valley in Somerset, roughly eight miles south of Bristol. The complex consists of three stone circles, a setting of three stones known as The Cove located in the garden of the Druid's Arms pub, and the remains of an avenue of stones leading from the Great Circle towards the River Chew. The site dates to the Neolithic period, around 3000 BC, making it broadly contemporary with Avebury and Stonehenge.
The Great Circle at Stanton Drew is the most impressive component of the complex. With a diameter of approximately 113 metres, it is the second largest stone circle in England, surpassed only by the outer circle at Avebury. Originally it may have contained as many as 30 upright stones, of which 26 survive today, many now fallen or leaning but still in their original positions. To the north-east and south-west of the Great Circle lie two smaller but still substantial stone circles — the North-East Circle and the South-West Circle — along with their associated settings.
Geophysical survey work carried out by English Heritage in the late 1990s revealed that the visible stonework represents only a fraction of what once existed here. The surveys identified the remains of a substantial timber henge monument beneath the ground surrounding the Great Circle, consisting of nine concentric rings of timber posts — a find that suggests Stanton Drew was once a site of enormous complexity and importance comparable to the earlier timber phases at Stonehenge. The buried evidence indicates that the monument may originally have had a wooden counterpart to the stone circles now visible above ground.
The Cove, three large standing stones in the garden of the adjacent pub, is believed to be the remains of a burial chamber or ritual focus that predates the stone circles themselves. Access to The Cove requires purchasing a token from the pub during opening hours. The stone circles themselves are freely accessible through a gate and across the surrounding farmland.
Managed by English Heritage, Stanton Drew is a scheduled ancient monument of the highest significance. Despite its size and importance, it receives far fewer visitors than Stonehenge or Avebury, making it a rewarding destination for those seeking a more contemplative encounter with Britain's prehistoric past. The rural Chew Valley setting, with its rolling farmland, the sound of the river, and the quiet atmosphere of the stones, adds greatly to the experience.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- Visit on a weekday or early morning to have the stones to yourself — Stanton Drew is far less crowded than Stonehenge or Avebury.
- Buy a token at the Druid's Arms pub to visit The Cove — the three stones in the pub garden are well worth seeing and the pub itself is a pleasant place to stop.
- Bring a map or download the English Heritage site plan as the three circles are spread across more than one field.
- Wear wellington boots or waterproof footwear after rain as the fields can be very wet in wet weather.
- Visit at dawn or dusk for the most atmospheric lighting on the stones.
- Download the English Heritage app before visiting for background information and audio content.
- Combine with a walk to the River Chew to trace the line of the ancient avenue.
- The site is dog-friendly but please keep dogs on leads as the circles are in working farmland.
Highlights
The Great Circle — England's Second Largest
The Great Circle at Stanton Drew is the crown jewel of the complex and one of the most remarkable prehistoric monuments in Britain. With a diameter of approximately 113 metres, it is surpassed in size only by the outer circle at Avebury, making it the second largest stone circle in England. Originally the circle may have consisted of around 30 upright stones, of which 26 survive in their original positions today, though many are now fallen or significantly tilted by the passage of five thousand years.
Walking around and through the Great Circle gives a powerful impression of the scale and ambition of the people who constructed it — an achievement all the more astonishing when one considers that these enormous stones were moved and erected using only human and animal power.
Three Circles — A Unique Megalithic Complex
What makes Stanton Drew particularly exceptional is that it consists not of one stone circle but three, arranged in a complex prehistoric landscape. Alongside the Great Circle, the North-East Circle (approximately 29 metres in diameter, with 8 surviving stones) and the South-West Circle (approximately 43 metres in diameter, with 12 surviving stones) form a grouping without close parallel in Britain.
Each circle appears to have been constructed independently but as part of a coherent ceremonial landscape.
The relationship between the three circles — their spacing, their alignment, and their relationship to local topography — has been the subject of considerable study and debate. Walking between them on a quiet day, with the Chew Valley farmland all around, is a deeply atmospheric experience.
The Hidden Timber Monument Beneath
One of the most significant discoveries in British prehistoric archaeology of recent decades was made at Stanton Drew without lifting a single stone. In the late 1990s, English Heritage conducted a detailed geophysical survey of the field surrounding the Great Circle and discovered beneath the soil the remains of an enormous timber monument — nine concentric rings of timber posts arranged around a central point, all now long since rotted away but leaving clear signals in the soil.
This buried complex suggests that the visible stone circle was preceded or accompanied by a vast circular wooden structure, potentially similar in concept to the early timber phases at Stonehenge.
The implication is that Stanton Drew was once a site of extraordinary complexity and national importance.
The Cove — Three Ancient Stones
Tucked into the garden of the Druid's Arms pub in the centre of Stanton Drew village, The Cove consists of three large standing stones arranged in a roughly rectangular setting. The Cove is believed to be the oldest element of the Stanton Drew complex, perhaps predating the stone circles by several centuries, and may represent the remains of a megalithic burial chamber or ritual focal point of the earliest Neolithic activity on the site.
Access to The Cove requires purchasing a token from the pub bar during opening hours — a quirky but perfectly agreeable arrangement that ensures the stones are cared for while allowing visitors to approach closely and examine them in detail.
The stones are substantial and impressive at close quarters.
Collections
Stanton Drew is an open-air prehistoric monument rather than a museum. The stone circles, the three circles of standing and fallen megaliths, and The Cove together constitute an outstanding scheduled ancient monument of Neolithic date, c. 3000 BC.
English Heritage provides interpretation panels explaining the history and significance of the site, including the results of the geophysical surveys that revealed the buried timber monument beneath the Great Circle. Information is also available through the English Heritage website and app.
Site Interpretation Panels
English Heritage panels at the site entrance and around the circles explain the Neolithic context, the structure of the complex, the results of the geophysical surveys, and the history of the site's discovery and study.
📍 Site entrance and around the circles
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.