Winter Solstice at Stonehenge is a celebration of the onset of Winter and the promise of Spring on the horizon. It falls on the 21st or 22nd of December each year. Moreover, visitors from all over the world come together to mark this event and to see the sun rise over the Historic stones.
Celebrate the unique experience of the winter solstice at Stonehenge, one of the world’s oldest and famous places and a UNESCO world Heritage site. There are two solstice events each year, one being the Winter Solstice and the other being the Summer Solstice. For the June event, we run a summer solstice tour of Stonehenge. You will find it with the rest of our limited edition tours. Outside the solstices, small groups can still be admitted to stand among the stones; our post on inner circle access covers how that works. The winter one is the most important and celebrated. Additionally, you can actually stand within the stones to witness this event. Standing among them is rarer than you might think, so it is worth knowing how close you can normally get to the stones on a regular visit.
The Ancients believed the Winter Solstice was a time of death and rebirth, where spirits roamed the lands. It was a celebration of the onset of winter with the promise of Spring on the horizon, and its connection to the deep rhythms of nature. As the sun rises over the ancient stones, you will enjoy the tradition that you know is thousands of years old. Furthermore, you will feel a connection with the earth and all the people who have gone before.
What is Stonehenge?
Stonehenge is a prehistoric Stone structure built by the Ancient Neolithic people around 5500 years ago. Our guide to visiting Stonehenge covers the site itself in more depth. This monument is built on Salisbury plain in Wiltshire, which is a county in England.
This must-see Stone monument is a magical and spiritual place, and the winter solstice comes around only once a year. It is held on the day marking the shortest day of the year and the longest night. This is caused when the Earth’s tilt reaches the furthest point from the sun. The Ancients believed the sun was suspended in the sky on these occasions. Today, we know that this effect is caused by the tilt of the Earth during its orbit. Additionally, solstice roughly translates as “sun stands still.”
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is, in fact, the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, along with Avebury. Avebury is 31 miles north of Stonehenge and also has stone circles employing about 180 stones. It has a museum and a Neolithic burial site, which you can actually go in and see. Nevertheless, it is Stonehenge that attracts the attention of both various religious cultures and visitors.
What is the event like, and who attends?
You will share it with today’s congregation of the Druid community, including Neo Druids, Neo Pagans and Wiccans, along with Visitors from around the world at this site of unequalled religious significance. The main event is the rising sun casting its glow through the ancient stones. But, as you stand and enjoy this, you will see that the gathering itself is just as moving. You might hear traditional songs, witness quiet blessings, or even join hands with strangers in a spontaneous moment of celebration. After all, it’s an experience that feels both deeply personal but shared at the same time.
What will the weather be like?
Well, as this is the UK, you have to prepare for a range of different weather conditions. Generally, at that time of year, you may encounter some rain. However, it can also be cold and clear in December, which will make for a wonderful event. The ground underfoot could well be muddy if you are walking off the dedicated paths. Therefore, boots are a good idea.
What to Bring to the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge
We would advise waterproof and warm clothing. Bring a warm hat and gloves too if you feel the cold. It is always better to be overprepared than wear something that means you get wet and cold and don’t enjoy the event. For this reason, bringing a small backpack with a snack and drink, perhaps a flask of coffee may be useful too.
Getting to Stonehenge
There are a number of ways to travel to Stonehenge for this event. We offer private sightseeing tours of Stonehenge from London as well as Southampton docks and many more locations. If you would like to visit we can organise a tour and also include any other famous locations you would like to visit.
If you are travelling yourself, it is easy to access from the A303 by car or bus. There is parking on site thought this can get very busy and we cannot say if there would be any spaces.
