Summer Solstice at Stonehenge 2024: All you need to know

It's one of the most important nights of the year for some in the Pagan and druid community - the Summer Solstice - with thousands expected to visit Stonehenge for the occasion.

English Heritage is allowing people up close to the stones for the event, opening up the monument field from 7.00pm tonight (Thursday 20th June).

Up to 8,000 people are likely to attend, with expected numbers up this year, due to the clear weather forecast.

The main event will be the sunrise on Friday morning (21st June), at 4.52am.

Stonehenge is one of the most iconic World Heritage sites with many believing it was built based on the sun's location, and as a way of marking the changing of the seasons.

Richard Dewdney from English Heritage explains it's such an important event for them:

"It's all about that picturesque moment when you're stood in the stone circle and you see the Solstice alignment, with the sun rising behind the Heel Stone and that ray of light through to the centre of the monument, it's a really unique experience.

"We believe the marking of Summer Solstice has been celebrated for thousands and thousands of years. The reason it's so special is that it attracts many people from many different walks of life, from all over the world."

If you can't make it along to the stone circle in person, the sunset and sunrise are being live streamed for people to watch at home:

We're urged to travel to the site to lift share or make use of Salisbury Reds public transport.

The bus operator is putting on special services from Salisbury city centre, through Amesbury and to the visitor circle through to 1.00am, and back again after the sunrise (from 4.00am).

There's also a reduced speed limit on the A303, put in place by National Highways, for the safety of those who are travelling to the stones.

Local byways near the site have been closed, to prevent a build-up of parked vehicles.

The A360 between The Avenue for Wilton and Longbarrow roundabout for the Stonehenge visitor centre is also closed, as part of ongoing roadworks related to the A303 tunnel project.

The car park will open at 7.00pm tonight (Thursday 20th June), with last entry at 6.00am on Friday (21st June), or sooner if it becomes full.

The events come just a day after Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed orange cornflour powder onto the stones, in a call for the next Government to phase out fossil fuels.

The stones have been specially cleaned, but there are concerns that it may have damaged some of the rare lichens that live on the stones themselves.

English Heritage say there's no visible damage as it stands.

Dr Nick Merriman OBE, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: “Stonehenge is a unique place, one that has special meaning to many of us. Surely vandalising a landmark that celebrates the changing seasons, the importance of community, and sheer human ingenuity completely contradicts the protestors’ own principles.

“Thankfully, there appears to be no visible damage but that’s in no way saying there hasn’t been harm, from the very act of having to clean the stones to the distress caused to those for whom Stonehenge holds a spiritual significance.

“We are looking forward to welcoming people to our Summer Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, whether that’s in person or online, for a joyous and peaceful occasion.”

Two people arrested in connection with the incident has since been bailed.

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