Thousands of people are set to gather at Stonehenge ahead of this year's Summer Solstice festival. Tomorrow (June 21) is the longest day of the year and marks the start of summer 2023 with festivities at the 5,000-year-old stone circle taking place this week.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, up to 30,000 people descended on the site to see the sun rise on the longest day of the year. In 2019, around 1.9 million people visited during the week while this figure dropped to 315,000 last year.
As reported by Wiltshire Live, druids and pagans alike flock to the prehistoric site, near the village of Avebury, to enjoy spectacular views of the sunrise. For those planning on visiting this year, Wiltshire Live has put together a guide to everything you need to know about Summer Solstice at Stonehenge 2023.
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What is the Summer Solstice?
The Summer Solstice happens when the sun reaches it highest point. Over the summer, the Earth's axis is tilted around 23.4 degrees relative to it's orbit around the sun, meaning the UK gets more sunlight and days are longer.
As well as this, the Summer Solstice marks a special time of the year for many cultures. The Pagan festival of Litha starts on the eve of the Summer Solstice, which celebrates both the midsummer and the power of the sun god. It is believed evil spirits walk the earth freely around the Summer Solstice, so people wear a mixture of protective garlands and flowers to ward off the evil spirits.
Other activities include gathering around the Stonehenge to watch the sunrise over the stones on the longest day of the year. Crowds of 10,000 usually attend to watch the sun rise behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stonehenge.
Midsummer celebrations also take place in Penzance, Cornwall. The Golowan festival brings back Penzance’s midsummer traditions from the 19th century with fireworks, serpent dancing, market stalls, roaming bands and more.
Tickets, access and opening times
Summer Solstice will celebrated at Stonehenge from 7pm on Tuesday, June 20, to 8am on Wednesday (June 21). Entry is free of charge and you won't need tickets to attend.
Usually, tickets to the site cost £26. English Heritage says on its website: "We are pleased to provide free Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for Summer Solstice. We 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 before deciding whether to come."
There will be free 'managed open access' to all, provided during Summer Solstice 2023. English Heritage said: "Please note that the last normal day of admissions to Stonehenge is on Tuesday (June 20) at 1pm, and the site will close at 3pm in preparation for Summer Solstice Managed Open Access."
Stonehenge will be 'closed' on Wednesday (June 21) for normal admissions and will reopen again at 9am on Thursday (June 22). On Tuesday (June 20) the Solstice Car Park opens at 7pm. Access to the monument field will also be from 7pm, in time for sunset at 9.28pm.
Sunrise on Summer Solstice day (Wednesday, June 21) itself is at 4.52am, with the last admissions to the Solstice Car Park at 6am - or "when full". The monument field will shut at 8am and the car park cleared by noon.
Travel information
BUS - English Heritage also recommends that bus travellers thinking of heading to Stonehenge check the Connecting Wilshire travel information page prior to their trip for the latest service updates. National Express operates services to Salisbury from many of the larger UK cities.
Many visitors choose to travel to the site on an organised coach tour. There are many operators running day trips from London and other big cities. These also have the advantage of visiting other visitor attractions in the area, such as Evan Evans Tours, which offers a Stonehenge Express tour from London from £59, as well as other tours which also take in other popular tourist attractions such as Windsor Castle and the city of Oxford.
For those travelling to the stones from the nearby city of Salisbury, local bus company Salisbury Reds announced that they will be operating their 333 bus service to Stonehenge. Leaving the city between 6.30pm and 1.20am on Tuesday (June 20) and returning between 4am and 10am on Wednesday (June 21). For more information on timetables and fares, click here.
TRAIN - Taking a train to Salisbury is one of the easiest ways to get to Stonehenge. From there, there are numerous local transport options to the site. Salisbury railway station is also the hub for the Stonehenge Tour bus, which runs directly from the station.
Anyone thinking of visiting Stonehenge by train is "strongly" advised by English Heritage to check Wiltshire County Council's Connecting Wiltshire travel information website before planning their trip. The site contains the latest guidelines and travel information.
CAR - The site is clearly signposted for motorists from the A303, off the A360. The postcode for the site is SP4 7DE, with English Heritage also providing sat nav coordinates to the site. The coordinates are: 51.1831565223, -1.85887471623 (latitude and longitude).
Parking is available at the attraction. During peak periods, however, there is a parking charge for non-members and anyone who has not pre-booked tickets. These are fully refundable on purchase of a ticket to Stonehenge.
There are dedicated parking spaces at the site for anyone travelling in a motorhome. A visitor bus service also regularly runs from the visitor centre. It takes about 10 minutes to travel from the visitor centre to the monument.
Travelling from London - Stonehenge is about 88 miles by car from London. The route is also reached on relatively fasts roads, although traffic jams and incidents can affect journey times. When the roads are clear, you can expect the drive from the capital to take about two hours.
The quickest route, according to the AA's route planner, is to use the M25, M3 and A303. Train services from the capital to Salisbury leave from London Waterloo Railway Station. Journeys take about 90 minutes. On arrival at Salisbury, you can jump on the shuttle bus to Stonehenge.
National Express runs daily services to Salisbury from London Victoria Coach Station. Anyone who wants to see the sunset or sunrise at Stonehenge is advised to book an organised coach tour. For more information visit the Stonehenge page on the English Heritage website.
How to watch Summer Solstice from home
If you don't fancy the early start or overnight travel, you can instead watch the sunrise from the comfort of your own home. There will be a live stream of the summer solstice on the English Heritage Facebook and YouTube pages.
Hotels near Stonehenge
If you're looking to visit Stonehenge and planning to stay the night, there are plenty of places to stay, even if you left booking accommodation to the last minute. Here are five hotels that are close to Stonehenge as you plan to celebrate the changing seasons at the Wiltshire-based festival on June 18.
Holiday Inn Salisbury-Stonehenge - This is a contemporary hotel near Stonehenge based in the heart of Wiltshire. The hotel takes the Summer Solstice seriously - it has an eatery called The Solstice Bar & Grill which is dedicated to the annual event.
Travelodge Amesbury Stonehenge Hotel - This hotel is just five miles away from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge. All standard double rooms in this Travelodge hotel feature a king size bed with four pillows and duvet.
Fairlawn House - This family-run guesthouse is set in a Georgian Grade II listed townhouse in Amesbury town centre. It is just two miles from the historic site of Stonehenge making it a good potential choice when planning your Summer Solstice trip.
The Rose & Crown - This hotel is steeped in history, having been built in the late 1800s. They serve classic pub food, a wide selection of beers, wines, spirits and ales, and have four comfortable guest rooms.
The Riverside Manor House Hotel - This Best Western hotel is set in beautiful grounds on the river Avon and Nadder. This manor house hotel is filled with character, is a short walk away from the heart of the city and a quick drive approximately 8 miles away from Stonehenge.
English Heritage said: "Stonehenge is a significant World Heritage Site and to many it is sacred – please respect the stones and all those who are attending. Admission to the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge is free of charge.
"We hope the weather will be kind and wish you a peaceful and celebratory solstice." For anyone who can't make it, there will be a live stream of the sunset and sunrise on English Heritage's Stonehenge Facebook page and YouTube channel.
