English Heritage will once again welcome people to Stonehenge to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Sunrise is just after 8 am on Friday 22 December and visitors will be able to access the monument as soon as it is light enough to do so safely. Please read the information below before planning your visit.
DATE AND TIMINGS
FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2017
MONUMENT FIELD OPENS: 07.45am (approximately, depending on light levels)
MONUMENT FIELD CLOSES: 10 am
Please note, access to Stonehenge for Winter Solstice is free. However, for those people who choose to travel by vehicle, there is a parking charge of £5 per car and £2 per motorbike.
GETTING HERE
Parking for Winter Solstice is very limited and we cannot guarantee that you will be able to park near to Stonehenge. If you are planning to travel by car, wherever you park there may be a 30-minute walk to the Monument. We strongly recommend car sharing or using public transport.
Car Sharing - Request or offer a lift to Solstice at Stonehenge
Travel by bus - Salisbury Reds buses will be running from 0600 from Salisbury. Check timetable.
Blue Badge Parking - A limited number of pre-bookable only permits will be available for Blue Badge disabled parking at the Stonehenge visitor centre and there will be accessible transport to the monument field from the visitor centre beginning at approximately 6.30am. Permits must be applied for in advance by 5pm, Friday 15 December through Solstice.Stonehenge@english-heritage.org.uk
Parking and parking charges - Limited parking is available in the winter solstice car parks, which will open at 6am on the 22 December.
There will be signs to direct you to the car park - please ensure that you follow these. Please do not arrive early as there is no waiting on the roads in the area and you will be moved on.
- General parking for cars, private hire minibuses (up to 17 seats) and live-in vehicles £5
- Motorbikes £2
- Commercial coaches and minibuses (over 17 seats) £100. Pre-book through Bookstonehenge@english-heritage.org.uk
The car parking charge will help the charity cover the costs of providing additional staffing and lighting in the car parks and is designed to encourage people to car share.
Please note, car parking charges apply to all users of the Winter Solstice car parks, including Blue Badge holders, and members of English Heritage and National Trust.
Motorists have access to a free park and ride shuttle service from solstice car parking to the visitor centre, and may also use the shuttle from the visitor centre to the car park. However, visitors are asked to note that disabled people have priority on this bus and should, therefore, be prepared for a 30-minute walk, in low light, from parking areas to the monument.
We cannot guarantee entry to the car parks and recommend coming by public transport as cars will be turned away when the car parks are full.
COME PREPARED
Stonehenge is in a field on Salisbury Plain and the weather in December will be cold and wet. Even if it isn't raining, the ground will be wet from the dew. There may also be frost. Sensible footwear and warm, waterproof clothing is essential.
There is at least a 30-minute walk (in low light or darkness), from the bus drop off and from parking areas to the monument. You are strongly advised to wear strong, waterproof footwear and bring a torch with you.
Toilets at the Monument Field will only be available once the access period begins. There are no catering facilities in the monument field, however, the café at the visitor centre is open for hot drinks and breakfast rolls from 6am.
Please note that there are no other amenities or facilities available to visitors until the Monument Field opens.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY AND INFORMATION FOR WINTER SOLSTICE 2017
Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric site which is likely to have been a place of worship and celebration at the time of Winter Solstice for thousands of years and is seen by many as a sacred site.
English Heritage is pleased to provide free Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for Winter Solstice and ask that if you are planning to join us for this peaceful and special occasion that you read these Conditions of Entry and the information provided on the following pages before deciding whether to come.
Admission to the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge is free of charge. Parking charges apply.
Please help us to create a peaceful occasion by taking personal responsibility and following the Conditions of Entry and guidelines. We have a duty of care to ensure public safety and are responsible for the protection of Stonehenge and its surrounding Monuments. If we are to ensure that future access is sustainable, it is essential that everyone observes and abides by these Conditions of Entry.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
These Conditions of Entry are written to ensure enjoyment and public safety for everyone. Contravention of any of these conditions may result in entry being refused or your removal from Stonehenge. English Heritage reserves the right to refuse entry.
Stonehenge is a world-renowned historic Monument and part of a World Heritage Site. It is seen by many who attend as a sacred place. Please respect it and please respect each other.
Amplified Music is inappropriate and will not be permitted.
Drunken, disorderly, and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated; ejection, by security staff and/or Police, without return, will be the outcome.
Illegal drugs are still illegal at Stonehenge as they are anywhere else. The police will be on site during the access period and will take immediate action against anyone breaking the law.
Glass is not allowed at the Monument as many people walk barefoot and, in addition, livestock and wildlife also graze in the area. If you bring any glass items with you, they will be confiscated.
Do not climb or stand on any of the stones - this includes the stones that have fallen. This is in the interest of personal safety, the protection of this special site and respect for those attending. As well as putting the stones themselves at risk, climbing on them can damage the delicate lichens.
To help us reduce the amount of litter on site, leafleting or flyering is not allowed.
Camping, fires, Chinese lanterns, fireworks, candles, tea-lights or BBQs are NOT permitted at Stonehenge, in the parking areas, or anywhere in the surrounding National Trust land.
Do not bring drones or any type of remote-controlled aircraft to Stonehenge. There is a No Fly Zone in place over Stonehenge during Winter Solstice which makes it a criminal offense to attempt to fly anything over the stones below a certain height. The No Fly Zone includes drones. If you attempt to fly a drone from anywhere on site, including the Solstice Car Park, you will be stopped and asked to leave.
