Stonehenge opens for winter solstice on 22 December

Stonehenge will open for the Winter Solstice in Amesbury on 22 December 2026, giving visitors access to the stone circle for the sunrise gathering. English Heritage, the monument’s custodian, has published arrangements for the event, including public transport from Salisbury and a shuttle to the circle.

The gathering takes place within the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site in Wiltshire. Its winter date connects a current visitor arrangement with the monument’s long-established alignment to the sun.

Winter Solstice access begins on 22 December

English Heritage says access will be free on Tuesday 22 December 2026. Sunrise is expected at 8.09am, while the car park opens at 5.15am and the last admission for sunrise viewing is at 7am, according to the English Heritage event arrangements.

The organiser advises visitors to use public transport because temporary road closures and one-way systems will operate around the event. Cars without pre-booked parking will be turned away, and the official guidance warns against leaving vehicles on the A303 or nearby roads.

Visitors may walk from the Stonehenge Visitor Centre to the stone circle across uneven ground, or use a shuttle bus. The event rules prohibit touching or climbing on the stones, and alcohol, drones, glass and large bags are also prohibited.

Solstice light meets a 4,500-year-old monument

The winter event is tied to the site’s physical design rather than simply its calendar position. English Heritage describes the main axis of the stones as aligned with the solstitial axis, while the Stone Circle itself dates from about 2500 BC.

The wider monument was built in stages over roughly 2,000 years, from about 3700 to 1600 BC, within a landscape of ceremonial and burial sites. The official history of Stonehenge records the use of both larger sarsens and smaller bluestones in the central arrangements.

The World Heritage designation covers Stonehenge, Avebury and associated sites, rather than the stone circle alone. This matters for the December visit because the sunrise gathering takes place in a protected archaeological landscape, with access rules intended to protect the stones and the surrounding ground.

The BBC reports that the site is on Salisbury Plain and that last year’s winter gathering attracted about 8,500 people. Its travel information also identifies Salisbury as the nearest major railway station and notes that special buses will run from Salisbury and through Amesbury.

Travel arrangements connect Salisbury and Amesbury

English Heritage says Salisbury Reds will operate special services from Salisbury rail station and Salisbury city centre via Amesbury on 22 December 2026. The approach route for drivers will be marked with yellow signs for Solstice ticket holders, while visitors arriving at the site should follow stewards’ directions.

Visiting Stonehenge: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Winter Solstice gathering takes place at Stonehenge on 22 December 2026, with sunrise expected at 8.09am.
• Access to the stone circle is free for the gathering, but drivers must pre-book parking and vehicles without reservations will be turned away.
• Salisbury Reds will run special buses from Salisbury via Amesbury, and a shuttle will connect the visitor centre with the stone circle.
• The route across the site includes uneven ground and can be dark before sunrise; warm waterproof clothing, sturdy shoes and a torch are advised.

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Frequently asked questions about Stonehenge

When does the Winter Solstice take place at Stonehenge?

The public gathering takes place on 22 December 2026, with sunrise expected at 8.09am.

What is Stonehenge?

It is a prehistoric stone circle dating from about 2500 BC and part of a World Heritage Site in Wiltshire.

Where is Stonehenge and how do you get there?

The monument is near Amesbury on Salisbury Plain. Special buses will run from Salisbury via Amesbury on 22 December 2026.