There is one special time of year when you can actually enter the stone circle of Stonehenge, get up close and personal and not be barred by a chain link fence. It’s the summer solstice which this year falls on 21st June 2019 and celebrates the longest day of the year, in gloomy England.
It truly is a magnificent spectacle and historic event! Here’s a guide to the best way to see the everything summer solstice Stonehenge offers and get the details on what happens. Read on for deets on how to travel to Stonehenge and beat the congestion, we’ll summarise how to get to Stonehenge and actually grab some sleep.
Do you have to pay to see Stonehenge?
There is one time of the year when Stonehenge is gloriously free to the public and free from fences– whereas, usually it costs £17.50 (or £19.30 with gift aid) for an adult to shuffle around a chain link fence.
How can you see Stonehenge for free?
By far the best way is to just visit on the 21st of June (summer solstice) or 22nd December (winter solstice). If you can somehow co-ordinate your vacation in the UK to match the summer solstice, which is in June this would be worth it’s weight in gold.
A rather second rate option, but still possible if you’re in a rush or don’t want to meet the crowds is to take in views of the stones from the roads that run nearby. You can’t do this over the solstice, as roads in the area are blocked by police, but on other nights of the year you get a distant but beautiful view of the stones from the A303 road as it passes between Andove and Warminster.
When is the best time to see Stonehenge?
Yep, you guessed it, the winter and summer solstices are the best times for your visit. Those are the only times when you can see Stonehenge for free. Specifically, the best time to arrive on those days is early (when the field opens at 7pm), as a lot of people try to make it down after work.
So what happens during the summer solstice at Stonehenge? What’s the best way to see the summer solstice at Stonehenge?
Essentially it’s a religious festival combined with an awe-inspiring historical event- since the stones (we think) were originally positioned to mark the path of the sun during the longest day of the year and other celestial events, and people have been celebrating there in June every year since about 3100BC- so a fairly long time, then.
Also it tends to coincide with Glastonbury Festival, so there’s a huge music fest vibe to things for those who are not devout believers- i.e. not druids and a general incredible night involved. People tend to stay up all night playing music and celebrating and then watch the sun rise perfectly through the stones as it has been doing for the thousands of years, at dawn.
A trip to stonehenge for the summer solstice is a once in a lifetime experience for anyone, and night owls will love it.
OK I’m excited, so how do I get to Stonehenge?
Luckily, it’s free, so no excuses for missing the summer solstice!
But those ancients didn’t exactly place the stones in an urban space with carparks. The stones are several miles from the nearest village, which is Amesbury in Wiltshire. The nearest train station to Stonehenge is Salisbury Sation which has good train links from London.
Chris Stevenson ‘Stonehenge summer solstice’ @Flickr CC-NC 2.0
How is parking at Stonehenge?
Visiting Stonehenge by car is a major problem, because hoardes will descend for the night on the sleepy village of Amesbury for the summer solstice. Once the Stonehenge car park is full, it’s full and from the car park there is a compulsory walk of around half an hour to the stones, over a patchy and uneven field. On the night I arrived, there was plenty of space, though, and a lot of people were making a night of it by partying on the top of their vans.
The car park at Stonehenge opens at 7pm on the 21st and closes at 6am the next morning (or when it’s full).
Attempting to park anywhere else in the village will be tricky and when I went all the surrounding roads were marked to tell you that you couldn’t pull in at the side of the road or park in a lay by. If you do drive, arrive as early as possible, and definitely liftshare on your trip to Stonehenge. I shared lifts all through Italy and it was perfect!
Can I take public transport?
Yes, there are good links from Salisbury to the rest of the world by bus and train. From Salisbury you can take a bus to Amesbury, but not later than early evening, and from there you have the option of a taxi to Stonehenge car park.
Can I stay overnight at a hotel near Stonehenge?
If you want to get some sleep, you need to be able to get back and forth from the stones to your hotel room- and there are no hotels within walking distance. Also, at this point all the hotels in Amesbury are full for summer solstice 2019, whoops!
You’re officially not allowed to camp at Stonehenge itself or to bring alcohol with you, but when we went the area was awash with sleeping bags and a lot of people were having a drink too. It’s a rough place to camp, though, with pebbles all over the grass and noise all night long, so you’re better off staying elsewhere.
The best way to see the summer solstice Stonehenge craziness:
Never fear, this is the best way of visiting the summer solstice at Stonehenge and seeing what’s happening. After researching for days, I honestly think this is the best way to enjoy the experience of Stonehenge travel.
- Book a hotel in Salisbury close to the train station, ideally with parking if you need to arrive by car
- Head to the hotel and get ready for your night, perhaps even catch some sleep
- Walk to Salisbury Station when you want to hit the action
- Take one of the free buses English Heritage is offering from the station to Stonehenge car park. Salisbury Reds will be running a bus from Stand U in New Canal. The bus runs from 6.30pm on 20th June until 1am the following morning and then restarts at 4am to bring people back. There is also a free coach for Glastonbury festival goers, so expect a lot of muddy wellies around.
Folk celebration at Stonehenge via Let’s Go Out Bournemouth and Poole Flickr CC BY 2.0
How close can you get to the actual stones at Stonehenge?
On any normal day, you’ll be a minimum of 10 yards from the actual stones – or roughly 9 metres – which is longer than a tall human.
During the solstice, as you can see from these pics, you can get up close and personal. I saw people climbing on the stones – but don’t do this, as it damages them! Stay respectful of the incredible environment you’re in.
What to bring to the summer solstice at Stonehenge?
Bottled water- there is water on site, but queues tend to surround that and the portaloos. You cannot bring alcohol, so there’s that.
Don’t bring sleeping bags, duvets, campchairs or anything big- they’re not allowed on the site.
A rain poncho, because Britain.
A torch/flashlight because you will tramp a lot of muddy unlit ground
Warm coats and blankets, the event is in summer but still chilly at night
Maybe bring food? There are catering vans, and the typical festival food. Many people are vegan, so meaty catering vans have shorter queues.
Don’t bring much money, as things can go missing and no glass, as that will be confiscated.
At the summer solstice, what happens?
You might see some people you don’t often encounter in, say, your local library. Although recently attendees fell unexpectedly that only means fewer crowds and this year is set to be stunning! Expect druids in robes, morris dancers and revellers. There will also be families, tourists and anyone who could get there to see something amazing. It takes all types!
Parking at Stonehenge is well manned, with attendants pointing you to the right spot. Pop your car in and follow the stream of people who are hobbling off in one direction – you won’t be able to see the stones from the car park.
Once there, you’ll meet some security who will check your bags and you’ll walk through to find a few food stalls, a few groups milling around – nothing that would look out of place at a festival.
As you walk deeper, you’ll encounter more devout people and the inner circle of the stones will be full throughout the night, with ceremonies going on inside. Don’t worry, just relax and enjoy the vibe as you wait for sunrise. People are really calm and friendly, so you’ll have a great time.
What is Stonehenge like at night?
It’s worth knowing that there aren’t any trees near the stones, so you’re walking on sloping fields as you approach. The ground is uneven, but we didn’t have much trouble finding our way as the summer solstice has the shortest period of darkness in the entire year.
Roads are blocked in the area, so there’s no traffic noise, but instead you’re treated to folk music, conversations, prayer chants and more.
Are there other stone circles in England?
Yes, actually, there are a lot! And they don’t get the fame they deserve. One that I love is in Wiltshire too (the same county as Stonehenge) and really beautiful. It’s well worth checking out!
Drop me a line, do you agree with these stonehenge travel tips?
Cover image via @stonehengetours.com, CC-BY 2.0 with title text added.
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This is what I’ve wanted to experience without knowing it existed. Thank you, because now I know what I’ll be doing in June 2018! I can’t make it this year, but it’s already on my calendar for next year! Yay!!
This solstice shots are soooo magnificent! Love the tips, thank you! 🙂
When I went to Stonehenge, I got the most basic pictures, although, I was there at different times of the day :)…. These Solstice Pictures are indeed amazing! Very nicely written! Actually, I think I know someone in your last picture 😀 :D….
Hahah small world! Maybe it is someone you know! 🙂
What time did you arrive at the carpark? Right at 7pm when it opens?
Yeah we got there a short time after and it was filling up (but not full). It actually looked like people had been parked a bit earlier than the advertised time, but that’s just speculation. Have a great trip!