Stonehenge Draws 20,000 Solstice Revelers as Managed Access Runs Until 8:30 a.m.
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Jun 21
Stonehenge Draws 20,000 Solstice Revelers as Managed Access Runs Until 8:30 a.m.
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Jun 21
Summary
More than 20,000 people gathered at Stonehenge overnight into Sunday morning, with English Heritage extending special access inside the stone circle until 8:30 a.m. for the summer solstice.
English Heritage said thousands more watched by livestream as the sun rose on the Northern Hemisphere's longest day, when the monument's prehistoric layout aligns with the sun's path.
£25 pre-booked parking sold out for the 2026 event, up £5 from last year, and authorities warned drivers not to stop on the nearby A303 and other trunk roads because vehicles would be towed.
Managed solstice entry has been in place since 2000 after decades of tighter controls at Stonehenge, where open access was curtailed from 1978 over vandalism and erosion concerns.