📍 Chipping Norton
Rollright Stones
A Bronze Age stone circle and two further ancient monuments on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border, managed by the independent Rollright Trust.
✦ We visited
The stones are modest in scale but the atmosphere on a quiet morning is something that stays with you. Children respond to the mystery of a place this old in a way that surprises most parents.
The Rollright Stones stand on a ridge about five miles north-west of Chipping Norton and include three separate prehistoric monuments spread across a short stretch of lane. The King's Men is the main stone circle, a ring of weathered limestone monoliths that dates from roughly 3000 BC. A short walk along the road leads to the King Stone, a single upright standing stone, and then to the Whispering Knights, a collapsed dolmen from around 3800 BC. Information panels at each site explain the archaeology clearly without overloading the visit.
The site is managed by the Rollright Trust, a charity that relies on the modest entry fee to maintain the monuments. Payment is made via an honesty box or QR code. Children under seven are free, and the charge is well below that of most family attractions in the region. The ground around the main King's Men circle is level and accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The lane between the three monuments is a public road with light traffic, so some care is needed with young children moving between sites.
There are no facilities at the stones, so the visit works best as part of a wider plan. Wyatts Garden Centre a mile east has a cafe and toilets, and the area is good walking country. The exposed ridgetop location gives wide views across the Cotswolds in both directions, and on a clear day the horizon runs a long way.
Good for: history, outdoors. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
What are the three monuments at the Rollright Stones?
The King's Men stone circle, the King Stone standing stone, and the Whispering Knights dolmen; all three are linked by a short walk along the lane and covered by the single entry charge.
How much does it cost to visit the Rollright Stones?
Around £2 for adults and £1 for children aged 7 to 16; under 7s are free. Payment is by honesty box or QR code on site.
Are the Rollright Stones accessible for pushchairs?
The ground around the King's Men stone circle is level and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The connecting lane between the three monuments is a public road, so take care with young children when moving between sites.
