West Kennet Long Barrow – Visit an Ancient House of the Dead in Wiltshire

West Kennet Long Barrow is by far one of my favourite places to visit in the whole of the Avebury World Heritage Site. 

I totally understand that it sounds kind of strange to be in awe of an ancient house of the dead. But here we are.

Early humans, Roman soldiers, Anglo-Saxons, and famous antiquarians have also been fascinated with this area.

Today, it’s one of England’s largest and most impressive Neolithic burial chambers, built over 5000 years ago.

Here’s a complete guide with the history, legends, and ghosts. Plus, all the details on how you can visit West Kennet Long Barrow yourself.

What is West Kennet Long Barrow? 

This earth barrow is one of the largest and most impressive Neolithic gravesites discovered in Britain. 

It was built around 3650BC as a tomb for members of an ancient farming settlement, and it is estimated to have been used for over 1,000 years.

It’s a huge mound that is around 10 feet high, 82 feet wide, and over 328 feet long.

It’s only second to East Kennet Long Barrow in length, which is on private land just a few miles away.

Inside, five chambers branch off a 42-foot-long passageway.

West Kennet Long Barrow history

This burial site dates back way before the likes of Avebury Stone Circle and even Stonehenge.

Neolithic settlers built it over 5,600 years ago as a tomb for their ancestors. 

The huge standing stones at the front of the chamber were thought to serve as a warning, so people understood the site’s sacred importance. 

Although the site was used for burials for over 1,000 years, excavations have revealed only 45 skeletal remains inside.

So, one theory is that these settlers were important. Some were cremated, and others were found disarticulated.

This suggests the tribe may have opened the tomb periodically to remove bones for rituals. 

For this reason, archaeologists also believe the site was used for ancient ceremonies as well as burying the dead. 

Archaeologists also found many pieces of pottery, beads, daggers, and tools here.

This may have been because they believed that burying items with the dead meant they could use them in the afterlife. 

Although today the mound is covered in grass, in early times it would have been a chalk barrow lined with Sarsen stones.

The impressive stone facade at the front of the tomb would have been capped with chalk rubble.

Studies have predicted that this mound would have taken around 15,000 man-hours to complete.

Dragging huge, heavy standing stones across the countryside suggests this site was of significant importance. 

It was sealed off with rubble and earth around 2000BC and never used again until it was excavated in the 19th century.

Encounters, antiquarians & excavations

Although the chamber was sealed around 4,000 years ago, people still found the site over time.

There have been many Roman coins found outside at the base of the barrow. 

During the 17th century, Dr R. Toope of Marlborough decided to dig out some of the bones in order to prepare medicines for his community.

He said it was a ‘noble medicine that relieved my distressed neighbours’ (I mean, really?).

Famous antiquarians fascinated by Avebury, such as John Aubrey, sketched the site in his Monumenta Britannica but gave it no name.

Later, William Stukeley did the same and called it ‘South Long Barrow’. Later, Richard Hoare reported on it in detail.

However, the tomb has only had two major excavations in its time. One took place in 1859 and another in 1955. 

The first was carried out by John Thurnam, who only managed to find the western chambers and the central passage.

Stuart Piggot and Richard Atkinson discovered the other chambers in 1955. 

During the excavations, as they recovered the burial goods, they studied many of the remains.

They found that humans of all ages were buried here, males and females from the very young to the very old.

They were even able to determine that a lot of them suffered from arthritis, spina bifida, mangled bones, and toothache! 

During the later investigation, they reconstructed the barrow as it was originally built.

They also cleared the chambers of remains and debris so members of the public could walk through them.

West Kennet Long Barrow plan

This is how the tomb looks if you were to ‘X-ray’ the barrow. You can see the huge corridor with five smaller chambers falling off it.

This is where the human remains were found… (photo taken from the sign at the site).

Is it haunted?

Many people say that West Kennet Long Barrow is haunted and that they feel a strange presence when they enter the tomb. 

There have even been reports that someone has been ‘grabbed’ with both hands and a force has attempted to drag them into the chamber. 

Whether you believe it or not, it’s easy to get spooked. It’s extremely dark, creepy, and the flaps of bird wings are enough to make you jump.

But the most popular legend is about the West Kennet Long Barrow ghost. He is a man dressed in white robes with his hound. 

Apparently, if you visit the tomb on a Midsummer’s Day sunrise, you can find the white-robed man standing on top of the barrow.

A huge hound sits at his feet with red ears. They stand silently, waiting and watching until the sun rises. Once risen, they go back inside the tomb.

Can you go inside West Kennet Long Barrow?

Yes, you can. This place is so special and draws so many visitors because you have free access to the chamber. 

So, you can walk all over it, around it, and even walk inside the tombs. Which is extremely atmospheric, by the way. 

It’s really dark, so I would definitely bring a torch or use your phone light so you can see the rooms inside.

Look out for the holes which have been placed on the roof – you can see right through to the top of the mound.

What to expect

From the A4 roadside, the walk will take you around 10-15 minutes to reach it.

You’ll pass through two kissing gates that need to remain closed due to cows grazing in the fields.  

The walk up to West Kennet Long Barrow is deceivingly steep; it will definitely be a workout.

Also, I would wear sensible walking shoes. The path is fine in spring or summer, but in winter or after rain, the hill can be boggy. 

Once you reach the top of the hill, you’ll get amazing views all over Avebury, and you can see Silbury Hill in the distance – Wiltshire’s pyramid. 

Opening times

Entry is free, and you can visit anytime. The barrow is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via a permissive pathway. 

It’s best during the day, or you can head up here for sunset. It’s a tourist site but also a spiritual place where Pagan beliefs are practised.

Rituals often happen inside the tomb, and people leave offerings like flowers and candles.

If you see any there, be sure to leave them be. English Heritage doesn’t approve of offerings, but it’s a matter of respecting different beliefs. 

What not to do

• No open fires – You may not light fires on top of the mound or inside the chamber. It’s a protected site.

• Don’t litter – Ever since I was a kid, I’ve visited this place, and there is always so much rubbish left inside. No one likes a litterbug.

• Don’t light candles near the stones – Many people light candles here as an offering, but remember not to light them too close to the stones.

• Do not graffiti – No one needs to read about your relationship or that you ‘were here’. Don’t damage stones that are over 5,000 years old. 

• Be respectful – Many people visit the barrow for tourism and healing. Be respectful and don’t ‘hog’ the chambers.

• Drones are not permitted unless you have permission from English Heritage

Where is West Kennet Long Barrow? 

The long barrow is located in the Avebury World Heritage Site in the county of Wiltshire.

This area is a hotbed of ancient landmarks and stone circles built thousands of years ago.

You can access the site in West Kennet just off the A4. Use the postcode SN8 1QH on your SatNav if you’re driving. 

If you’re heading here by public transport, you can take a bus to Avebury. From Avebury Henge, it’s around a mile to walk and is located just near the huge mound of Silbury Hill.   

From the A4, the walk is around half a mile through farmland on a permissive pathway. It will take around 10-15 minutes on foot.

There is free West Kennet Long Barrow Parking in a lay-by just off the A4.

Avebury World Heritage Site

After your visit, you will be totally surrounded by historic sites in this area.

Avebury World Heritage Site is a truly special place with dolmen chambers, stone circles, burial barrows, and even ancient pyramids.

Just nearby, you can find Swallowhead Well at the base of the hill down the road from West Kennet Long Barrow.

Or you could visit Silbury Hill, a man-made mound built 4,000 years ago.

The Sanctuary is just a little drive on from the barrow, and you’ll find markers where the old stone circle used to be.

This is also the spot where you’ll find Overton Hill, and it’s the start of the Ridgeway Trail – Europe’s Oldest Road.

From here, you can access sites like Barbury Castle and Uffington White Horse.

West Kennet Avenue is just a half-mile away, and it’s an old entranceway to Avebury Henge.

Unlike Stonehenge, this is completely free to visit, and you can get up close and touch them. Some say they emit vibrational energies due to Ley Lines.

Read my Wiltshire travel guides

How to find the Devil’s Den on Fyfield Down

How to see the wild Snakes-head Fritillary in Cricklade

Why you must visit King Alfred’s Tower in Stourhead

How to visit Stonehenge for FREE

How to visit Imber, the abandoned ghost village in Wiltshire

Discover the secret bluebell wood in Swindon

Aqua Sana Longleat Review

These places in Wiltshire will blow your mind!

Harry Potter locations in Lacock

Save West Kennet Long Barrow for later