This post is a Mad Max Tours review all about their Tour 1 option to Stonehenge.
When I asked my partner what he wanted to do on our upcoming trip to the United Kingdom, he only had one request: see Stonehenge. So, of course, I scoured the internet for Stonehenge tours from London and other options for visiting the site. The results were overwhelming, and I couldn’t decide on a tour company.
I came across Mad Max Tours’ Stonehenge tours and knew as soon as I saw the rest of the itinerary that this was the one I wanted to book. It included a stop in Lacock, which has long been on my list of places to visit.
The only issue? They were based in Bath rather than London.
So we changed our plans to spend two nights in Bath just to book a tour with Mad Max Tours.
Mad Max Tours Information
Mad Max Tours is a family-run company based in Bath, UK. They’ve been around for about 30 years and specialize in small group day tours for up to fourteen people.
All of their guides are locals with extensive knowledge of the areas they visit, as well as their history and culture.
There are three different tours to choose from, and an option to book a private tour.
Mad Max Tours Itinerary for Tour 1
We chose Tour 1, which includes stops at Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock, Castle Combe, and photo stops at Silbury Hill and the Cherhill White Horse.
The day began at the central meeting place outside the Abbey Hotel. Andy, our guide and driver, arrived promptly at 8:20 a.m. to check in the guests. We took our seats and left for the first leg of our tour at 8:30 a.m.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge was our first stop of the day.
Andy kept us entertained with his local knowledge, stories, and anecdotes during our scenic drive through the countryside.
We arrived at the Visitor Center as one of the first tour groups. Because tickets to Stonehenge were not included in the tour price, we paid Andy and he collected the tickets for our group. We had the opportunity to use the washroom while we waited for him.
When he returned, he led us past the lines and onto the transfer bus that took us to the actual stones.
The stones are roped off so that visitors cannot get up close and personal with them. A path loops the site, with some sections closer to the stones than others. Plaques with information and history can be found all along the path. Visitors can spread out and take photos from various angles. A little further away, there is an outlier stone.
Even though it was a rainy day, we were able to get some decent shots. After about 30 minutes, we decided to return to the visitor centre for some food.
There was no line at the cafe because it was still early in the morning. Along with our coffee and tea, we ordered a sausage roll and a bacon roll.
Afterwards, we visited the Neolithic Houses, which are located just outside the visitor and exhibition centre. Visitors can go inside the houses and get a sense of what life was like for the people who lived at the time Stonehenge was built.
TIPS:
● To avoid using up data, download the Stonehenge Audio Tour app ahead of time if you want to listen to the audioguide.
● Pack some food if you want to spend more time exploring the site, fully experiencing the exhibition with artifacts, or immersing yourself in the 360 degree visual experience.
Cherhill White Horse photo stop
Next on the itinerary, was to see the Cherhill White Horse.
Scattered throughout the British countryside are large white horses carved into hills and made out of chalk. In Wiltshire, only eight remain and the Cherhill White Horse is the second oldest from 1780.
For this viewpoint, our guide and driver, Andy, pulled up to a home on the side of the road. To our delight, there are two resident horses on the property. Andy distributed carrots to the tour guests so we could feed and pet the horses.
The two horses were lovely and gentle. This stop definitely added to the richness of seeing the Cherhill White Horse while learning about its history.
In the second photo below, you can see the tiny Cherhill White Horse on the hill behind the black and white horse.
Avebury Stone Circles and Village
While most people are familiar with Stonehenge, very few are aware of the Avebury henge and stone circles.
A bank or ditch known as a henge encircles the village of Avebury and was constructed during the Neolithic era. Within the henge is the largest stone circle in Britain, which originally had about 100 stones. Within it, there are two more more compact stone circles.
Unlike Stonehenge, Avebury is free to visit, and you can walk up to and touch the stones. They are scattered throughout the village. We only saw a small portion of the site because it is massive! The henge covers approximately 12 hectares.
Our tour guide dropped us off across the street from the Red Lion pub. We had about two hours to explore the area and the village or get some food.
Numerous walking paths lead through the various stone circle sections and alongside the henge ditch. Be warned though! You’d better watch your step because sheep graze freely and leave behind tons of droppings!
We took a quick stroll down Avebury’s High Street. There is a lovely church and charming houses with thatched roofs. A cute little souvenir shop is located across the street from these.
This street has a public restroom, but it isn’t the cleanest.
You can also visit the National Trust Museum but we chose to continue exploring the village.
I’m not sure if we simply ran out of time, or if it wasn’t in the plan for the day, but we didn’t stop at nearby Silbury Hill for a photo op. Andy pointed out the monument as we drove by, providing a brief description and history. I couldn’t take a photo because we were on the other side of the bus, but even from that vantage point, it was an impressive monument.
Lacock National Trust Village
The charming little village of Lacock was up next. Visiting Lacock Abbey was at the top of my to-do list. We made a beeline for it as soon as we arrived because it was a bit of a walk from where we were dropped off in town.
The entrance fee is £15.00 per person, which I thought was reasonable.
Lacock Abbey was built in the early 13th century as a nunnery, but has since been transformed into a lovely country house. The original cloisters, which have been preserved, are without a doubt one of the highlights.
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you might recognize these as Hogwarts corridor scenes on multiple occasions. Other rooms in the Abbey, including the one where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised in the first film, were also used as filming locations.
The Talbot family eventually inherited Lacock Abbey. William Henry Fox Talbot, a scientist and inventor, is the most well-known. He created the first known photographic negative by filtering light through one of the windows in the south gallery.
A mock display is on-site and can be seen while walking through the second floor gallery and room displays. The Fox Talbot Museum is located on the ground floor and explores the history of photography as well as the life of William Henry Fox Talbot.
We then walked back to the village centre. It’s a cute, charming little town. The majority of the houses date from the 18th century, but there are some older structures, including St Cyriac’s Church, which was built in the 14th century.
Lacock is a popular filming location, particularly for historical pieces, due to its preservation. Additional Harry Potter scenes were shot here, the most notable of which was the Potters’ home. Other films and television shows that have been shot here include Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and The Other Boleyn Girl.
The village has a few cute shops, but what I found most endearing was how some homeowners would leave products like produce, plants, or food jars by their front door. If you want to buy something, you would leave money through the mailbox or front door, according to the honesty system.
On the main street, there are also some pubs and restaurants. Instead of a sit-down dinner, we went to the adorable Lacock Bakery for a quick bite to maximize our time exploring the village. We picked the cheese and bacon roll and the sausage roll.
Andy then led us on a walking tour of the village, distributing photos along the way, highlighting specific filming locations from popular movies and shows. He discussed the town’s history, buildings, and architecture.
Castle Combe
The stunning little village of Castle Combe was the final stop on our Tour 1 itinerary.
Castle Combe has been dubbed the most beautiful village in the United Kingdom, and I can see why!
It’s the quintessential Cotswold village, with picturesque rows of homes and a charming little bridge that’s a popular photo location.
However, as you can see in the photo, photographing the iconic bridge and street without other people was extremely difficult. You’d have to come here super early or late in the evening to get that perfect Insta-worthy shot. When we arrived around 4 p.m., there was a steady flow of tourists coming and going.
Mad Max Tours Experience and Review
From beginning to end, we had an amazing time with Mad Max Tours.
Booking on their website and paying with PayPal was simple.
The small coach was clean and cozy. I preferred the smaller group size because it felt more personal.
Our guide Andy was fantastic. He was charming and knowledgeable, with just the right mix of stories and personal anecdotes.
The Tour 1 itinerary is expertly curated, featuring incredible historic sites and picturesque villages. The schedule is also well-planned. We were never rushed and were given plenty of time to explore on our own.
Going with Mad Max Tours was definitely the right decision, even if it meant changing our plans to spend the weekend in Bath. It was the best way to experience Stonehenge and get a taste of the Cotswolds. We would not hesitate to book any of their other tours the next time we visit Bath.
Mad Max Tours is a wonderful family-owned business that you will not regret booking with!
***We paid for this tour ourselves and were not sponsored in any way.***
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