Fascinating early photographs of visitors to Britain’s famous tourist attractions

A new English Heritage exhibition, Your Stonehenge, showcases almost 150 years of photography by visitors to the famous monument. 

The earliest snaps are from 1875 and show members of the Routh family arriving in a horse-drawn carriage and then enjoying a picnic – dressed smartly and with a bottle of champagne – atop one of the fallen stones.  

“They’re wearing fashionable outfits and hats,” said English Heritage historian Susan Greaney. “Right up until the 1920s and 1930s people did dress up for days out like this, in their Sunday best.”

The photographs show how the behaviour of visitors – and how they pose for the camera – has changed over the decades. “Their faces have got closer to the camera until they are taking a picture of themselves more than they are of Stonehenge,” said Ms Greaney.

The most recent photo in the exhibition, taken this year, shows a couple kissing at Autumn Equinox – and capturing the moment using a selfie stick. It was taken by Martin Parr, the British photographer, who is hoping to track down the subjects and give them a signed copy. 

Below is a selection of pictures from Your Stonehenge, along with other early photographs of Britain’s most famous attractions. 

Until 1900 visitors to Stonehenge were handed chisels so they could chip off a little piece to take home. Climbing on the stones was permitted until 1977. These days the monument is roped off but getting close to it is still possible during the summer solstice. 

Here are more early photographs of the UK’s most visited attractions. 

Fancy more of the same? See our galleries of the first colour photographs of England, and fascinating photographs of a London lost to time.