This years Summer solstice will be celebrated from the evening of Thursday 20th June to the morning of Friday 21st June 2024. Sunrise and sunset will be live streamed on the official English Heritage YouTube channel. If you plan to attend in person, please read the following page carefully.
English Heritage are pleased to provide free Managed Open Access to Stonehenge 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 below before deciding whether to come.
Please note: English Heritage are operating a pre-booking system for parking at Stonehenge during summer solstice in order to make best use of limited car parking on site and reduce local road congestion. We recommend travel by public transport or car sharing. If you do choose to drive, there are a limited number of parking spaces which you may wish to prebook online. Otherwise, parking will be available on the night until the carpark is full.
We anticipate significant delays in the immediate area due to temporary road closures:
Drivers face traffic carnage near popular tourist site with ‘incredibly damaging’ three-month road closure
A360 temporary closure update – 12 April 2024
FULL LIST OR LOCAL ROAD / BYWAY CLOSURES
Parking charges apply. Visit our Travelling to Stonehenge page for more details.
Stonehenge is a significant World Heritage Site and to many it is sacred – please respect the stones and all those who are attending.
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. 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. The Stonehenge summer solstice is a popular annual event that sees thousands of people descend on Wiltshire to celebrate the changing seasons. Summer solstice falls on the longest day of the year.
What is the summer solstice?
At the summer solstice, the sun travels the longest path through the sky, and therefore that day has the most daylight. The exact moment of the solstice is the time of year that the Earth is closest to the sun.
According to the astronomical definition of the seasons, the summer solstice also marks the beginning of summer, which lasts until the autumnal equinox (22 or 23 September in the Northern Hemisphere, and 20 or 21 March in the Southern Hemisphere). Under the meteorological definition, which splits the year into four seasons of three full months each based on the Gregorian calendar, winter starts on 1 December every year, and summer starts on 1 June.
2024 Stonehenge Summer Solstice Links:
The summer solstice: When is it and what causes it? SPACE.COM
When is the summer solstice 2024? The first day of summer and meaning behind it – Evening Standard
Druid Leader King Arthur Uther Pendragon, Head of the Loyal Arthurian Warband. STONEHENGE NEWS BLOG
Respecting the Stones. Managed Open Access –STONEHENGE NEWS BLOG
Solstice at Stonehenge. From Past to Present. – STONEHENGE NEWS BLOG
The Stonehenge Solstice Pilgrims – STONEHENGE NEWS BLOG
Respecting the Stones. Managed Open Access –STONEHENGE NEWS BLOG
Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. From Past to Present. Stonehenge New Blog
Why Thousands Of Pagans Gather At Stonehenge For The Solstice Stonehenge News Blog
The Stonehenge News Blog
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest Stonehenge News and 2025 Summer Solstice updates
http://www.Stonehenge.News
Stonehenge Stone Circle News and Information 