Rollright Road, Little Rollright, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5QB

The Rollright Stones

Prehistoric

Source image

7.2

Wildland

Under 1 hour

Time

Paid

Cost

Atmospheric

Feel

FarmlandRemote countrysideHistory loversFamiliesPhotographersWalkers

Why it's Wildland

7.2

Three monuments made over nearly 2,000 years: the King’s Men stone circle, the King Stone and the Whispering Knights burial chamber. Local legend says a witch turned a king and his followers to stone.

This is not a single stone circle but a small prehistoric landscape: three distinct monuments, spread across the road and fields, with a long archaeological story and a witch’s legend attached. The short distances between them make it an unusually rewarding stop for anyone who takes time to visit all three.

Atmospheric · Ancient-feeling · Big-sky

Find your way

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Rollright Road, Little Rollright, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5QB

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The experience

Visit the King’s Men stone circle, cross to the King Stone, then continue to the Whispering Knights burial chamber. Allow under an hour for the monuments themselves; uneven ground and the walk between them affect the visit.

Things to do

Walk around the King’s Men

See the stone circle, one of the site’s three distinct monument groups. Keep to the visitor conditions and do not sit or climb on the stones.

Allow part of an under-one-hour visit

See the King Stone

Visit the single standing stone on the opposite side of the road from the circle; take care around traffic.

A short stop

Find the Whispering Knights

Walk from the circle to the burial chamber, approximately 500 metres away, and look closely at its arrangement of stones.

Allow for the walk there and back

Visit after dark for stargazing

English Heritage identifies the stones as a Dark Skies Discovery Site and reports access at night. Check for occasional closures and current visitor conditions before travelling.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · Under 1 hour

All three Rollright monuments

01
Visit the King’s Men stone circle, around 20 metres from the road.
02
Cross to the King Stone, around 30 metres away on the opposite side of the road.
03
Continue to the Whispering Knights burial chamber, around 500 metres from the circle.
04
Pay the requested contribution and respect the site rules: do not sit or climb on the stones.

Half day · Around 1–2 hours

A longer look at the stones and their setting

01
Explore all three monument groups rather than stopping at the circle alone.
02
Allow time to compare the circle, standing stone and burial chamber, and read the Rollright Trust’s site interpretation.
03
If visiting after dark for stargazing, check the Trust’s current visitor information and conditions first.

Verified history

The Rollright Stones comprise three groups: the King’s Men stone circle, the King Stone and the Whispering Knights burial chamber. English Heritage describes them as spanning nearly 2,000 years of Neolithic and Bronze Age development. The Rollright Trust presents the site as having over 5,000 years of history. The supplied sources establish this broad chronology but do not provide enough evidence here to assign precise construction dates to each monument.

Hidden details

The monuments are spread across the landscape — The three groups are not one continuous monument: the circle is close to the road, the burial chamber is around 500 metres away, and the King Stone stands on the opposite side of the road.

When to go

· Daylight for seeing the monuments and uneven surfaces clearly; a clear night for stargazing, subject to current access conditions.

English Heritage reports year-round access, with occasional closures for special events. The supplied sources do not identify a particular best season for the monuments.

Surfaces are uneven. Check conditions and current visitor information before travelling; the supplied sources do not provide site-specific weather advice.

What to look for

Compare the three different forms: the King’s Men circle, the single King Stone across the road, and the Whispering Knights burial chamber. At the chamber, look for the arrangement of its upright stones and capstone. Do not climb or sit on the monuments.

The story

Archaeology; folklore and legend

Best time to go

Open year-round. Choose a clear day for the landscape views; the site is also accessible at night for stargazing.

The site is open year-round. A clear day helps with the open landscape; after dark, it is also a Dark Skies Discovery Site. Check current access before setting out.

How long to spend

Under 1 hour

Perfect for

History lovers · Families · Photographers · Walkers

Before you go

Website Google Maps

Address

Rollright Road, Little Rollright, Chipping Norton OX7 5QB

Phone

+44 370 333 1181

Website

rollrightstones.co.uk

Listed hours

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Check before visiting.

Google rating

4.6 · 2,438 reviews

Practical information

Opening & access

The three monument groups are accessible throughout the year, including at night, except for occasional event closures. A contribution of £2 per adult and £1 per child aged 7–16 is requested by the Rollright Trust; under-7s are free. Pay on site or online. Do not sit or climb on the stones. Check the Trust’s visitor information for current access and travel updates.

Check before visiting

Parking

The supplied research lists free roadside parking and parking lots, but does not establish their exact location or availability. Check the Rollright Trust’s visitor information before travelling; the accepted map pin marks the main place, not an entrance or parking point.

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Toilets

Check before visiting

Food & drink

Check before visiting

Dogs

Check before visiting

Accessibility

English Heritage reports that all three monuments are accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. Surfaces are uneven; check the Rollright Trust’s visitor information for detailed access guidance.

Check before visiting

Cost

Paid