STONEHENGE SUMMER SOLSTICE 2017

Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric site which may have been a place of worship and celebration at the time of Summer Solstice for thousands of years and is seen by many as a sacred site. 

Please note that the site will close at 15:00 on Tuesday 20 June with last normal day admissions at 13:00, so that we can prepare for Summer Solstice Managed Open Access. Stonehenge is closed on Wednesday 21 June and will re-open at 09:00 on Thursday 22 June. Visit the English Heritage Website for full details

English Heritage is pleased to provide free Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for Summer solstice 2017 and ask that if you are planning to join us for this peaceful and special occasion that you read the Conditions of Entry and the information provided on the following pages before deciding whether to come. These are written to ensure enjoyment and safety for everyone attending summer solstice at Stonehenge.  

Please note to reduce risk to those attending and to the monument itself, alcohol is not allowed in the monument field during summer solstice.

Following recent terrorist related incidents across the UK, additional security measures will be in place at Summer Solstice this year. We are working closely with Wiltshire Police to ensure the safety of all visitors and, as a result, only small bags (approx 30cm x 25cm x 15cm) will be allowed into the Monument Field and searches will be conducted. We strongly advise you to only bring essential items and thank you in advance for your patience.

DATES AND TIMES

TUESDAY 20 JUNE 2017 

SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS 19:00

ACCESS TO MONUMENT FIELD   19:00

SUNSET 21:26

WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE 2017 

SUNRISE   04.52

LAST ADMISSION TO SOLSTICE CAR PARK 06:00 (or when full)

STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD CLOSES 08:00

SOLSTICE CAR PARK TO BE VACATED 12:00 (Noon)

Admission to the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge is free of charge.

Parking is limited and charges apply (see Travelling to Solstice for details). We strongly recommend travelling by public transport or arranging to car share with friends or through Liftshare .  

For further details and information to help you plan your journey, including details of local accommodation and other helpful advice for Summer Solstice at Stonehenge, follow links below.

Follow @eh_stonehenge on Twitter for live information during the summer solstice.

• Travelling to SolsticeFacilities, safety and welfare What (and what not) to bring
  Disabled access
  Other useful information Please Respect the Stones
  Solstice Conditions of Entry
  History of the Stonehenge Summer Solstice
  Stonehenge Summer Solstice Tours

The Stonehenge Tourist Guide

Major improvements for group visitors at Stonehenge

English Heritage has opened a newly-designed permanent coach park at Stonehenge.

It marks the completion of the first phase of a major improvement project aimed at giving tour groups arriving by coach a better and more streamlined welcome to the World Heritage Site and at easing pressure points for all visitors at the popular site at peak times.

The re-designed coach park provides spaces for 52 60-seater coaches in an upgraded layout which makes coach arrivals and departures more efficient and enhances pedestrian safety.

A new Visitor Transit Shuttle pick up point now allows groups to go directly from the coach park to the Stone Circle, where an enlarged drop off/pick up layout has also been created.

The new system makes the shuttle service more fluid and flexible so that it can provide more visitor journeys at times of peak pressure if required.

Phase two of the improvement project is scheduled for completion by late summer.

It will see the opening of a new group reception building, complete with extensive WC facilities, located conveniently close to the coach parking bays and next to the shuttle pick up point.

The improvements are already making arrivals, parking and departures easier and the movement of pedestrians safer within the coach park.

The addition of the Group Reception Building in the summer will simplify and speed up ticketing and audio guide collection and provide double the number of WCs currently on site.

Jennifer Davies, Stonehenge general manager said: “We are delighted to have opened the first phase with minimal impact to group arrivals while the work was underway.

“The improvement project was implemented following an extensive review of our operation at Stonehenge and feedback from tourism professionals to find the best way to meet demand and ease congestion at this significant and busy attraction.

“Once complete, the improvements will help us deliver a world class experience for the 1.3 million visitors we welcome each year from across the globe, so that they can more fully appreciate this ancient wonder of human endeavour.”    
Article source: Travel News

The Stonehenge Tourist Blog

Stonehenge Summer Solstice Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire is the most popular place for Pagans and Druids to celebrate the longest day because it famously aligns to the solstices. The rising sun only reaches the middle of the stones one day of the year when it shines on the central altar. Journeying to Stonehenge at the Summer Solstice is a pilgrimage spiritual significance as a tourist or reveler.

It's an ad hoc celebration that brings together England's New Age Tribes (neo-druids, neo-pagans, Wiccans) with ordinary families, tourists, travelers and party people - 1000's of them!
For many the impulse to arrive at Stonehenge in time for the Solstice is a little like all those people drawn to the strange rock in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It's akin to a spiritual experience.

Cross it off your bucket list this year.  Join an organised Solstice tour and take the hassle out of trying doing it yourself

The Stonehenge Tourist Blog