Rolling Stoned at Stonehenge

It was VALENTINE'S DAY, 2026 . . . And being the romantic that I am, I booked a special tour with my hubby to see Stonehenge at sunrise because I love standing stones. Oh, and my husband. And also I love the Rolling Stones who just happened to do a sunrise visit there back in the era when you could walk right up to the stones and touch them. (The Stonehenge stones that is––not the actual Rolling Stones because, let's face it, they are the more historical/priceless artifacts of the two).

I had visited Stonehenge decades earlier with my twin sons but my hubby had been working and couldn't go with us. So I vowed to get him there someday. Back in 1999 the standing stones were roped off and could only be viewed at a distance. It is the same today, but you CAN book a special tour to go inside the stone circle. (Link at bottom of this post.) The tours are at sunrise or sunset, before and after the regular opening hours. Naturally I opted for sunrise (because ROLLING STONE history) and because I am glutton for punishment (wake up call at 4am to catch the 5am tour from London.)

Happy Valentine's Day Babe!

Stonehenge Tour in 1999 with my sons.

This was as close to the stones as you can get on the regular tour. And always prepare to be cold!

Now of course I had not mentioned to my hubby that I wanted to semi-recreate the famed Michael Cooper photoshoot of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull. I had wisely decided to wait for the right moment once we arrived and there was no turning back. And I had not yet figured out how to be more than one person at a time in the photos. I assumed that I would have to pose once as Marianne Faithfull and then again as Anita Pallenberg and then photoshop myself into one photo later. Such a pain.

But then . . . Fate stepped in when our tour guide entered the bus. My jaw literally dropped when I saw her . . . Our tour guide was a dead ringer for Anita Pallenberg!

"OHMIGOSH!" I whispered to my husband as I squeezed his arm. "The tour guide looks EXACTLY like Anita Pallenberg!"

My husband looked up and squinted, then looked at me quizzically.

"Look!" I said, as I shoved my iPhone into his hand with images pulled up of Anita. He looked at the screen and then at our guide and was like, "Whoa! She DOES look just like her!"

I tried not to stare but failed. Once she wasn't looking I took a photo of her reflection in the window.

Our guide/Anita Pallenberg Dopplegänger, Ava

Anita Pallenberg

The bus ride to Stonehenge was over an hour and so we stopped at a rest station with loos and (thank God) a Starbucks. I had just purchased my latte when Ava walked over. We chatted for a moment and then I couldn't help myself. I just had to ask.

"Ava, has anyone ever told you that you look just like Anita Pallenberg?"

She blinked a couple of times and sort of laughed, a little bit flustered. Then she said something that made my jaw drop again.

"Uh, well, you know I . . . I met her once!" she said, shrugging.

"I DID TOO!" I screeched.

"Well, I never tell people this because no one would believe it but I was at a bar and Marianne Faithfull came up to me and started to talk. She was with Anita and they invited me to their table to have a drink and talk." (My eyes were bugging out of my head as she shared this.)

"Ohmigosh, I'll bet that's because Marianne thought you looked just like Anita too!"

"Well, you know I just . . . We talked and they were like, 'You need to hang out with us! You're just like us!' So, you know, I'd go hear Marianne sing sometimes when she performed . . . Oh, sorry, I have to go check and make sure everyone is heading back to the bus."

Ava walked away and I turned to Dan and said, "You see? Marianne and Anita wanted to hang out with her because she looked like Anita. Famous people do that! What are the chances of this? Our tour guide MET Anita and Marianne. Unbelievable!"

As we trotted back to the bus I concocted a new photography plan. One that involved Ava, of course. And no photoshopping. Thank you God! I silently whispered.

We arrived at Stonehenge and disembarked into the frigid dawn. I was happy I had brought a wool shawl to wrap over my coat in case it was cold (but really because Mick had worn a cape and I figured my shawl evoke that kind of vibe).

As we were about to enter the stone circle Ava came up to chat. And that's when I invited her to recreate a Marianne/Anita photograph with me. As it turned out, Ava was an actress (just like Anita, of course) who enjoyed guiding tours on the side. Naturally she was happy to oblige when it came to my little Rolling Stone Women photoshoot.

Anita Pallenberg & Marianne Faithfull, 1967

Ava & Me, 2026

After Dan photographed the two of us, Ava offered to take a couple of snaps of me and Hubby because, you know, it was Valentine's Day after all. (Sadly, I have a history of hijacking our anniversaries with my Rolling Stone shennanigans.) So thank you Ava. You saved Valentine's Day.

Standing Stoned on Valentine's Day!

After some obligatory Valentine's Day photos, I put Dan back to work behind the camera. I wasn't quite done being Marianne.

Marianne squeezed between two stones & me near two stones but not touching them because I am a law-abiding citizen . . . Unless you count trespassing at Keith Richards' house during my Rolling Stone-stalking youth.

Now I had envisioned getting some photos of Dan and I posing together as Mick and Marianne and Keith and Anita. So romantic, right? My hubby didn't think so. And I've been married to him long enough to know when his "NO!" is gonna remain a "NO!" So I gave up on that fantasy.

Dan—freezing in his lightweight jacket—and NOT posing like a Rolling Stone.

We eventually found the standing stone that Mick had leaned against and I did a little recreation of it. Then Dan left me. Not as in "He left me because I always involve the Rolling Stones in our romantic outings" kind of "left me" but the "He left me to go back to the bus before hyperthermia set in" kind of "left me". I'm happy to report that our marriage survived my Rolling Stone-laced Valentine's Day hijinks. I married the right man!

So I'll leave it there. And leave you with a few more Stonehenge photos. If you go, definitely do the Inside the Stones Tour (link below) versus the typical outside the rope tour. Totally worth it. Especially if you are going to recreate a rock-n-roll photoshoot. Outside the circle just isn't very rock-n-roll.

And if you're really lucky, you'll get Ava for your tour guide!

Being Marianne & Anita-ish

I thought I would include some photos of Marianne Faithfull & Anita Pallenberg through the years.

I always loved how they had a lifelong friendship and how they both survived being thought of as mere Muses for the Rolling Stones.

Both women were SO much more than that.

Photos below found on Pinterest.

Anita Pallenberg

Marianne Faithfull

Marianne & Anita: early Rolling Stone days

Anita & Marianne: later years

Anita & Marianne: a lifelong friendship

Below: My Stonehenge at Sunrise Pics

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Photos by Michael Cooper of Mick, Keith, Anita & Marianne taken in 1967 at Stonehenge,

also taken at sunrise.

(Click a photo to enlarge.)

You can find Michael Cooper's work for sale if you just google his name along with "Rolling Stone photos for sale". His work is sold through many different art galleries and auction outlets.

To book a private viewing tour of Stonehenge that also includes the lovely village of Lacock & the beautiful city of Bath (and maybe Ava as your tour guide—fingers crossed) click HERE.

While my husband refused to take a Rolling Stone-inspired photo at Stonehenge, he had no problem taking a Maximus/Gladiator-inspired photo at Bath. There's just no figuring him out but I'll continue to try until our next Valentine's Day outing or our next Rolling Stone adventure—whichever comes first (and I think we all know it will likely be the latter).

Strength & Honor! And no Rolling Stone poses!