Latest updates from Summer Solstice at Stonehenge
It's finally here! Thousands have descended on Wiltshire's ancient world-famous stone circle for the Summer Solstice. Druids and pagans alike flocked to Stonehenge to perform ancient rituals, while others congregated for a spectacular view of the sunrise over the sacred site on the longest day of the year.
Crowds have been returning to Stonehenge in numbers since a huge dip incurred by the pandemic. Pre-Covid, up to 30,000 people regularly gathered to see the sun rise over the monument on the longest day of the year.
Tuesday (June 21) marks the astronomical start of 2022 summer with festivities at the 5,000-year-old stone circle, near the village of Avebury, already underway. Activities include gathering around the Stonehenge stones to watch the sunrise, with crowds of 10,000 usually attend to watch the sunrise behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stonehenge.
Entry is free of charge and you won't need tickets to attend, but English Heritage will live stream the sunset and sunrise at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice. Further details on Stonehenge celebrations can be found on their website.
Wiltshire Police, who has been working closely with partners during the build-up to the event to ensure the safety of those who wish to attend, also urges people to visit the websites and social media channels of both English Heritage and the National Trust for the latest information.
There are set to be delays and a temporary 40mph speed limit on the A303 during the Summer Solstice event at Stonehenge. The Ridgeway at Overton Hill has also been closed to vehicles until Thursday, June 30, and the High Street in Avebury will also be closed to anyone other than residents from 6am today until 12pm on Wednesday.
We will be bringing you all the latest updates from Summer Solstice on Wiltshire Live. If you have a comment or photos to share with us, you can find us on Twitter or Facebook. Give the page a Like to get updates straight to your news feed.
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