Friday 12 May 2017

Stonehenge Summer Solstice 2017 - Conditions Of Entry

Please note that last normal day admissions to Stonehenge is on Tuesday 20 June at 13:00 and the site will close at 15:00 in preparation for Summer Solstice Managed Open Access. Stonehenge is closed on Wednesday 21 June and will re-open at 09:00 on Thursday 22 June.

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 the summer solstice.

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.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric site which has been a place of worship and
celebration at the time of Summer Solstice for thousands of years.
This important site is seen by many as a sacred site – please respect it and
please respect each other.
English Heritage is pleased to provide free Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for
Summer Solstice and ask that, if you are planning to join us for this peaceful and special
Occasion, you follow the Conditions of Entry set out below. We have a duty of care to
ensure your safety and are also responsible for looking after the Stonehenge monument
itself.
During the Summer Solstice access to Stonehenge, we support all individuals and groups
conducting their own forms of ceremony and celebration providing that they are mutually
respectful and tolerant of one another.
These Conditions of Entry are written to ensure enjoyment and safety for everyone.
Please make sure you read them before deciding to come to Stonehenge for Summer
Solstice. Contravention of any of these conditions will result in entry being refused or your
removal from Stonehenge. English Heritage reserves the right to refuse entry.
Conditions of Entry
 Amplified music is not permitted in or around the monument field.
 No alcohol is allowed within the monument or the monument field. Alcohol will be
confiscated, or individuals in possession of alcohol will be asked to leave.
 Drunken, disorderly and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and anybody
considered to be behaving in this way will be asked to leave by security staff and/or
the police and will not be allowed back in.
 Illegal drugs are illegal at Stonehenge as they are anywhere else. The police will be
on site and will take action against anyone breaking the law.
 Please don’t bring any glass into the monument field. Many people walk barefoot, and livestock and wildlife also graze in the area. Any glass items will be confiscated. 
 Please do not climb or stand on any of the stones – this includes the stones that
have fallen. This is for your own safety and also to protect this special site and
respect those around you.
 Please be aware that in order to keep everybody safe, random searching may be
undertaken. Any items found that might be used in an illegal or offensive manner will
be confiscated.
 Camping equipment, fires, Chinese lanterns, fireworks, candles, tea-lights or BBQs
are not permitted at Stonehenge, in the Solstice Car Park, or anywhere in the
surrounding National Trust land.
 In the interests of safety, sleeping bags or duvets are not allowed on site. Sleeping
on the ground creates a trip hazard and can interfere with the work of emergency
services and hinder their ability to help people. Small ground sheets and blankets are
permitted for people to sit on but please do not bring chairs etc. (unless used as a
recognised disability aid). Shooting-sticks are not permitted.
 To help us reduce the amount of litter on site, leafleting or flyering is not allowed.
 Drones or any type of remote-controlled flying devices are not permitted at
Stonehenge or in any of the Solstice Car Parks.
Admission to Stonehenge
• Admission to the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge is free of charge.
• There is a charge for parking – cars, live-in vehicles and minibusses (up to 19 seats):
£15.00, coaches (20 seats and over): £100.00, motorcycles: £5.
• Public transport is available from Salisbury.
• Access to the car park will start at 19:00hrs.
• Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Please remember that you will not be allowed access to the Monument Field with the
following items:
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Large bags or rucksacks (or similar items)
- Sleeping bags or duvets
- Flaming torches, Chinese lanterns, fireworks or candles, etc.
- Animals (except registered assistance dogs).
- Camping equipment, including foldaway chairs, garden furniture, shooting-sticks
- BBQs or gas cylinders
- Glass bottles or other glass objects
- Trolleys, wheel barrows or any other form of porterage
- Pushchairs or buggies that are not exclusively used for a child
- Large “golf-style” umbrellas, gazebos
- Drones or any kind of remote control aircraft

TRAVELLING TO STONEHENGE FOR SUMMER SOLSTICE
The roads around Stonehenge will be busy, and parking facilities for Summer Solstice at Stonehenge are very limited. We recommend using public transport, car sharing or arranging lifts from taxis and local accommodation providers.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
It's easy to travel to Stonehenge by public transport and every year more and more people are choosing to leave their car at home.

Nearest bus and railway stations: Salisbury (12 miles/19 kms) away. 

By train: Regular services to Salisbury from London, Bristol/Bath and Southampton.

By taxi: Available at Salisbury train station.

By bus: Salisbury Reds special Solstice service goes from Salisbury railway station and Stand U in New Canal to a drop-off point at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre.  Buses will also stop at bus stops along the route, which is via Amesbury.

The Salisbury Reds bus service is wheelchair accessible and begins at 18:30 hours on Tuesday 20th June and run regularly until 01:15 hours on Wednesday 21st June.  A service taking people back to Salisbury will start again at 04:00 hours and run frequently until 09:45 hours. The collection point for the return service is in the same location as the drop-off point at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre. They will also be offering a coach service direct to Glastonbury Festival site from Stonehenge. 

Please note: there is a 25-30 minute walk (approximately 1½ miles or 2km) from the bus drop-off/collection point at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre to Stonehenge. This walk is across National Trust down-land which is uneven: sensible footwear and a torch are advisable.

Plan your journey by train or bus
www.salisburyreds.co.uk
www.southwesttrains.co.uk 
www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk

BY FOOT
Stonehenge is a 2½ mile (4 kms) walk from nearby Amesbury.  Sensible footwear and a torch are advisable.

BICYCLE
Please bring a strong lock and only park your bike in the designated areas in the Solstice car park.  Ask a steward at the Solstice car park entrance, or at the entrance to the monument field, for assistance. Please do not chain your bike to any of the gates - these are for use by the emergency services and any bikes causing an obstruction will be removed.

DROP OFF/PICK UP BY CAR
If you are arriving by taxi or have arranged a lift from your accommodation, the drop-off and pick-up point is in the Stonehenge Visitor Centre car park.

TRAVELLING BY CAR. PLEASE CAR SHARE IF POSSIBLE.
Parking near Stonehenge over Summer Solstice is very limited and we strongly recommend car sharing with friends.  You can also offer space in your car or find out who has space in their car for you through Liftshare. 

Traffic will be heavy in the area on the evening of Tuesday 20th June.  Please do not be tempted to abandon your vehicle and park it either on the A303 or other neighbouring roads and public rights of way.  Cars parked illegally or causing an obstruction will be towed away.

PARKING POLICY
There is a parking charge of £15 per car, live-in vehicle and minibus (up to 19 seats) at Stonehenge during Summer Solstice.

Other vehicle charges:
Motorcycles £5.00
Commercial Coaches £100.00 - pre-booking required via bookstonehenge@english-heritage.org.uk or on ++44 (0) 370 333 0604.

As you approach Stonehenge, please follow signs to the Solstice car park. This is located close to Airman's Corner Roundabout just off the A303. We ask that you park sensibly and only where directed by a steward or police officer.  This will help us make full use of limited space in the Solstice car park.

There is a 15-20 minute walk (approximately ½ a mile or 1 km) from the car park to Stonehenge along a designated route. This route is through National Trust down-land, so please wear sensible footwear, wrap up warm and bring a torch.

TUESDAY 20 JUNE 
SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS 19.00 hours

WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE 
LAST ADMISSION TO SOLSTICE CAR PARK 06.00 hours (or when full)
SOLSTICE CAR PARK TO BE VACATED 12.00 hours (Noon)

MOTORBIKES
Motorbikes may be parked in the Motorbike Parking area in the Solstice Car Park at a charge of £5.00 each.

Please do not chain your motorbike to any of the gates - the gates are for use by the emergency services and any motorbikes causing an obstruction will be removed.

ACCESSIBILITY
Limited disabled access parking for Blue Badge holders is available on a 'first come, first served' basis. To access this parking, you will be asked to show your Blue Badge so, to help things move smoothly, please ensure that your badge is clearly displayed in your vehicle on arrival. Finally, please note that normal car parking fees apply. See Disabled access.