Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

20/21 June 2008 

English Heritage will once again be welcoming people to Stonehenge this year to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Sunrise will occur at 0458 hours (4.58am) on Saturday 21 June, on what is the longest day of the year.

Stonehenge will open from 2000 hours (8.00pm) on Friday 20 June to 0800 hours (8am) on Saturday 21 June. The Solstice car park just off the A303 near Airman’s Cross will open from 1900 hours (7pm) on Friday 20 June, with last admission at 0600 hours (6am) on Saturday 21 June. 

Access to the Stones and the car park will be free of charge and subject to conditions of entry.

Peter Carson, Stonehenge Director, said: “We are very pleased to be welcoming people to Stonehenge once again to enjoy the Summer Solstice.  We work closely with many agencies and people from all sectors of the community to ensure that everyone who comes to Solstice is able to enjoy the occasion safely and peacefully.

“Over the last few years, English Heritage has successfully balanced the needs of those attending Solstice with the need to protect the Stone Circle and its surrounding monuments.  Providing this balance is maintained, we look forward to continuing to provide managed open access for those wanting to celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge.

“This year Solstice falls on a Saturday morning, which means that we are expecting more people than usual to be making their way to Stonehenge on Friday evening.  This will also be a very busy time on local roads, particularly the A303, as commuters and tourists head down to the West Country for the weekend.  We are therefore urging as many people as possible to come to Stonehenge by public transport. 

“The Wilts and Dorset bus company will be running a regular service from Salisbury Railway Station, via the bus station, from 1930 hours (7.30pm) on the Friday evening through to 0115 hours (1.15am) on Saturday morning to meet the last trains from London, Southampton and Bath/Bristol. A return service will operate from West Amesbury, which is within walking distance from Stonehenge, from 0515 hours (5.15am) on the morning of the 21 June after the sunrise up until 0945 hours (9.45am).”

Roy Gillett, President of the Astrological Association of Great Britain and a member of the Round Table Group chaired by English Heritage says: “For over ten years English Heritage has developed a very positive working relationship with many groups with an interest in celebrating the Solstice at Stonehenge and particularly members of the Druid and Pagan community.  The good will and support this has generated has contributed significantly to the success of the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge.

“With Solstice taking place over a Friday evening and Saturday morning, I strongly recommend that where possible people use the return bus service from Salisbury to get to Stonehenge to help ease traffic congestion.”

Research carried out amongst those attending Solstice over the last few years shows a very high level of satisfaction with the way the event is run.  The atmosphere, a chance to be close to the Stones and the spiritual experience were cited as the key reasons for people attending the event.