My wife and I have just decided to spend a week in London in late summer 2016. We've been to the British Isles before and did Stonehenge and Avebury, but I have an inordinate fondness for stones (we also did Callanish and several standing stones on the Isle of Lewis). Any recommendations for other stones near London? I've considered renting a car for the day trip to Down House in Kent and would detour to see stones, or castle ruins, etc. We're also planning a day trip to Cambridge.
btw...does the Heritage Foundation still offer tours at Stonehenge that allow you to walk among the stones before and after normal operating hours? I see offers from tour companies but nothing independently through the HT.
Try calling the number provide on their website.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/group-visits
They have provided the inner circle application form for last year (2015) but not for the current season, so it is possible they no longer offer it independently. A phone call will resolve that.
The closest standing stones to London are Stonehenge and the others are 3-4 hours or more drive away and there are none in Kent near Down House.
Bodiam Castle (National Trust) in East Sussex is a great place to visit, which could be combined with Down House in a day trip. There is a restored steam railway at Bodiam, so you could spend a few hours here too having a ride.
Non ruins nearby include Hever, Leeds and Chiddingstone Castles.
Rollrights in the Cotswolds near Stow on the Wold and Chipping Norton... rural. super cool for rock devotees. costs all of a quid..
http://www.rollrightstones.co.uk/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rollright-stones/