Please note that last normal admissions to Stonehenge is on Thursday 20 June at 13:00 and the site will close at 15:00 in preparation for Summer Solstice Managed Open Access. Stonehenge will re-open for normal admissions on the afternoon of Friday 21 June. Please check our social media channels for the exact time.
English Heritage is 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 on the following pages before deciding whether to come.
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.
THURSDAY 20 JUNE
SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS
19.00 hours
ACCESS TO STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD
19.00 hours
SUNSET
21.26 hours
FRIDAY 21 JUNE
SUNRISE
04.52 hours
LAST ADMISSION TO SOLSTICE CAR PARK
06.00 hours (or when full)
STONEHENGE MONUMENT FIELD CLOSES
SOLSTICE CAR PARK TO BE VACATED
08.00 hours
12.00 hours (Noon)
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY 2019
Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric world heritage 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 place – 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.
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. To make arrangements to bring ceremonial mead to Solstice, please contact customer services.
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 do not 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. To make arrangements to bring ceremonial mead to Solstice, please contact customer services.
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 everyone safe, searches will be undertaken. Any items that are illegal will be confiscated, and your entry refused.
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.
Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury will not be permitted.
Counter-terrorism security measures will be in place at Summer Solstice. Only small bags (approx. 30cm x 25cm x 15cm) will be allowed into the Monument Field and searches will be conducted. We strongly advise you to only bring essential items with you and thank you in advance for your patience.
RESPECT THE STONES
Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site, a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is seen by many as a sacred place. We ask that all those attending respect it and those celebrating around it.
CARE OF THE MONUMENT
English Heritage works very hard during the year to protect Stonehenge for everyone’s long term enjoyment.
During the summer solstice, we allow everyone access to the whole site including the inner circle. This is because we are aware that this is a unique opportunity for people to celebrate the summer solstice inside the stone circle.
However, Stonehenge is vulnerable despite being made up of huge stones and earthworks.
Each stone has been worked and tooled and placed in position some have very rare prehistoric carvings on them -many of which cannot be seen by the naked eye. The stones also support rare lichens which can easily be damaged.
The earthwork remains, particularly the bank and ditch, still contain buried archaeology which has never been studied and so is a fragile resource which needs protecting.
So do enjoy the solstice but please remember to Respect The Stones and take care not to damage the monument.
Please help us to look after Stonehenge while enjoying the Solstice!
NO CLIMBING ON THE STONES
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 for those around you.
BAG AND BIN YOUR RUBBISH
We are making every effort to create a more sustainable, environmentally friendly Solstice. Please bag and bin your rubbish so our recycling team can collect it. Stonehenge sits within a very sensitive landscape which is still in agricultural use – please respect the local farmers’ crops and livestock.
TOILETS
Please use the toilets provided in the Monument Field and Solstice Car Park and do not desecrate the Monument or surrounding land.
If you would like to find out more about how we protect and care for Stonehenge during the year and over the Solstice you can read more about this on the English Heritage website.
TRAVELLING TO STONEHENGE
The roads around Stonehenge will be very 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 Thursday 20 June and run regularly until 01:15 hours on Friday 21 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. https://www.salisburyreds.co.uk/news/summer-solstice-2019/
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
Parking is very limited and we highly recommend car sharing – follow this link to share your car or find out who has space in their car:
https://liftshare.com/uk/community/eh
Please car share where possible.
Please note traffic will be heavy in the area on the evening of Thursday 20 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 vehicle at Stonehenge during Summer Solstice (including cars, motorhomes and non-commercial minibuses (up to 16 seats).
Motorcycles are £5.00.
Commercial minibuses and coaches must contact bookstonehenge@english-heritage.org.uk or on +44 (0) 370 333 0604 for information on charges and to apply for access and parking. The deadline for commercial vehicle applications is Saturday 1 June 2019.
As you approach Stonehenge, please follow the directional signage. We ask that you park sensibly and only where directed by a steward or police officer. This will help us make full use of the Solstice car park.
There is 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.
THURSDAY 20 JUNE
SOLSTICE CAR PARK OPENS 19.00 hours
FRIDAY 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 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 will apply.
WHAT (AND WHAT NOT!) TO BRING
To help you have an enjoyable time at Summer Solstice and to speed up the security process on arrival, please read the following information carefully before deciding what to wear and what to bring with you.
SENSIBLE SHOES AND WARM CLOTHING RECOMMENDED
The Solstice Car Park and Stonehenge are fields, and sensible footwear is essential. Make sure you wear, and bring with you, warm clothing as even in June the weather at Stonehenge can be very cold and damp. A small umbrella might be a good idea, although do be aware that large umbrellas are not permitted. Please do not wear a hi-viz jacket as this can cause confusion with safety officials.
We recommend bringing a small torch for walking to the monument from car parks and drop off points.
TRAVEL LIGHT AND LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME
Additional security measures will be in place at Summer Solstice in accordance with the current terrorism threat level.
Only small bags (approx. 30cm x 25cm x 15cm) will be allowed into the Monument Field and searches will be conducted. We strongly advise you to only bring essential items with you. Any items that are illegal will be confiscated and your entry refused.
English Heritage accepts no liability for any loss of, or damage to, property arising in any way whatsoever whilst at Stonehenge or in the Solstice Car Park.
NO GLASS
Glass is not allowed at the Monument as many people walk barefoot and, also livestock and wildlife graze in the area. If you bring any glass items with you, they will be confiscated. This also includes any other objects that could cause damage to the Monument or people there. To make arrangements to bring ceremonial mead to Solstice, please email solstice.stonehenge@english-heritage.org.uk .
KEEP PETS AT HOME
Please do not bring dogs, pets or other animals to Stonehenge. They are not permitted into the Monument Field, with the exception of assistance dogs for blind, deaf and disabled people. Apart from potentially upsetting wildlife and stock in the area, animal faeces present a health risk to children and also to people walking barefoot.
NO NAKED FLAMES
Due to the large number of people in attendance, naked flame is extremely dangerous at Solstice. It also infringes local bylaws/regulations and constitutes a potential fire hazard, so please do not light any fires – this includes BBQs, flaming torches, candles, night-lights, Chinese lanterns or fireworks.
SLEEPING AND CAMPING
In the interests of safety, sleeping bags or duvets are not allowed, but you are permitted to bring a small ground sheet or blanket. Please do not bring chairs (unless used as a recognised disability aid) and shooting-sticks are not permitted.
Sleeping on the ground creates a trip hazard especially as much of the access is during the hours of darkness. Also, people asleep on the ground could interfere with the work of the emergency services and hinder their ability to attend an incident. If you do want to sleep during the access period, it is strongly recommended that you either return to your vehicle in the Solstice Car Park or go to one of the public gathering areas outside the Monument.
Camping (including erecting any tented structures), fires or BBQs are NOT allowed at Stonehenge, in the Solstice Car Park, or anywhere in the surrounding National Trust land.
BLADED OR SHARPLY POINTED ITEMS
Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury will not be permitted.
AT STONEHENGE - YOUR SAFETY, FACILITIES AND WELFARE
English Heritage does everything it can to make your visit a safe and enjoyable experience. If you are thinking of coming to Summer Solstice, please read this information to help plan your visit and decide whether it will be suitable for you to attend.
HERE TO HELP
There are lots of stewards on duty to help with the smooth and successful running of the Solstice access. They are also there to answer your questions so please do not hesitate to approach them. If you notice anything that concerns you, please report it so that appropriate action can be taken.
ADMISSION
Admission to the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge is free of charge.
FACILITIES
There are gathering areas close to the Monument, two of which have braziers provided. Please use the areas for your own enjoyment, such as poetry readings, meditation or playing of acoustic instruments.
Portaloos, including accessible toilets, are available in both the Monument Field and Solstice Car Park.
Authorised catering units will be selling hot and cold refreshments throughout the access period. Please do not purchase refreshments from any unauthorised outlets.
WATER
There is a clearly marked tap for drinking water close to the Monument. The authorised catering units will be selling bottled drinking water as well as other hot and cold drinks.
WELFARE
Parents/Guardians are requested to ensure that children are not left unattended at any time. Children under 16 will be refused entry unless accompanied by an adult.
There is a clearly marked information / meeting / welfare point, close to the entrance to the Monument. It provides experienced, caring and confidential help for all kinds of practical and personal problems.
RUBBISH DISPOSAL
Please dispose of your rubbish at the designated recycling and rubbish points located in the Solstice Car Park and at Stonehenge to support a sustainable, environmentally-friendly Solstice. Stonehenge sits within a very sensitive landscape which is still in agricultural use – please respect the local farmers’ crops and livestock.
Every year, we aim to further reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to land fill and to increase the recycling rates: please help us to make this year a cleaner Summer Solstice.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
If weather conditions leading up to 20 June are particularly hot and dry, it may be necessary to ask people not to smoke. This is subject to advice from the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.
The Solstice Car Park is lit and there is ambient lighting at the Monument throughout the night. These lights are systematically turned off as dawn approaches but only when it is operationally safe to do so. Please do not tamper with any of the lighting towers – it can be dangerous.
No unlicensed, non-invited traders will be permitted access. This applies to the Monument area, the surrounding landscape and Solstice Car Park.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Wiltshire Police are in attendance. If you, or someone you are with, need medical attention, please seek help from one of the security or stewards on duty.
If you get lost, or lose track of your friends or children, locate a member of the security or stewarding team. Alternatively, go to the information / meeting / welfare point and report the situation to the welfare team.
In the unlikely event of an incident that requires the evacuation of Stonehenge or the Solstice Car Park, we would ask that members of the public respond quickly to instructions given by stewarding staff, the Police or other Emergency Service personnel. PA announcements for your safety and information may be necessary during the access period.
DISCLAIMER
English Heritage does everything it can to make your visit a safe and enjoyable experience. However, English Heritage accepts no liability for any injury to persons or loss of, or damage to, property arising in any way whatsoever whilst at Stonehenge or the Solstice Car Park, and entry is at people's own risk. Although stewards and security are present at both Stonehenge and the Solstice Car Park, please note that any people entering these areas do so at their own risk.
DISABLED ACCESS
We aim to make Summer Solstice accessible for visitors with disabilities. If you have a question that is not covered in the information below, please contact English Heritage Customer Services Solstice Information Hotline on 0370 333 1181 .
PARKING
Limited disabled access parking for blue-badge holders and their carers is available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Please make sure your blue badge is displayed in your vehicle as you arrive on site and whilst you are parked.
Normal car parking fees will apply.
DISABLED TRANSPORT ON SITE
There is a free bus service operating between the disabled access parking area and Stonehenge for unable to walk from the car park to the Monument Field. The bus is available from 19:00 hours on Thursday 20th June to 08:30 hours on Friday 21st June. The collection point for this service is adjacent to the parking area. If you wish to use the bus, please speak to a steward on arrival in the car park.
FACILITIES
Accessible toilets are available in the Monument Field, disabled access parking area and the Solstice Car Park.
Disability aids are permitted for those arriving at the Monument Field via the disabled transport, with the exception of shooting sticks. English Heritage regrets it cannot provide wheelchairs.
Assistance dogs are allowed in the Monument Field. To avoid delay when arriving, please make sure your dog is easily identifiable as an assistance dog.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Salisbury Red buses travelling from Salisbury station via Amesbury are, where possible, wheelchair accessible. For further information, please contact the Salisbury Reds Bus Company on 01202 338 420 or https://www.salisburyreds.co.uk/news/summer-solstice-2019/
CAMPING
Please remember camping is not permitted at Stonehenge, in the Solstice Car Park, or anywhere in the surrounding National Trust land.
There are several caravan and/or camp sites within 10 miles of Stonehenge. Please check availability and entry conditions in advance.
Stonehenge Campsite, Berwick St James, Salisbury, SP3 4TQ: 07786 734732 - provides a shuttle bus service to the Solstice
Stonehenge Touring Park, Orcheston, Nr Shrewton, Salisbury, SP3 4SH: 01980 620304
Coombe Caravan Park Coombe Nurseries, Netherhampton, Salisbury, SP2 8PN: 01722 328451
Brades Acre Camp Site, High Street, Tilshead, Salisbury, SP3 4RX: 01980 620402
Honeysuckle Homestead Camping, Dinton, Salisbury SP3 5HA: 01722 717887
Salisbury Camping & Caravanning Club, Castle Road, Salisbury, SP1 3RR: 01722 320713
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
Salisbury Tel: 01722 342860
Andover Tel: 01264 352807
Romsey Tel: 01794 512 987
Last Year's Video
