🌅🗿 Winter Solstice at Stonehenge – Magical Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience

Just 16 places available! Last year this trip sold out and over 20 people were left on the waitlist, so don’t leave it too late.

We’ve created a list of FAQs to help answer your questions.

Join us for a rare, once-a-year chance to celebrate the magical Winter Solstice and witness the sunrise over Stonehenge! 🌅❄️

On the shortest day of the year, thousands of people from around the world gather to honour this ancient moment of spiritual and cultural significance. For our ancestors, marking the passage of time was essential. As winter brought darker days and colder nights, people would have longed for the return of light and warmth. Stonehenge’s precise alignment with the solstice sunrise is no coincidence – it may well have been created to celebrate this powerful turning point in the year, when the sun begins its journey back toward longer days.

During the Winter Solstice, music, dancing, singing and centuries-old rituals fill the air. 🥁🎶 The sunrise is welcomed with hopes of renewal, rebirth and good energy. Many come simply to embrace the peaceful, mystical atmosphere and witness the moment together.

It’s also one of the very few times you can stand right among the sacred stones and even touch them. The stone circle only opens to the public for free at the solstices and equinoxes. On any other day, Stonehenge is roped off and can only be viewed from around 10 metres away. 🚧

And the best part? Entry on solstice morning is completely free, while a standard ticket on a normal day costs around £30.

See the BBC’s live coverage of last year’s event:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4g4exnj2p5t

ITINERARY

03:30 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
03:45 Sharp departure
06:00 Free time next to Stonehenge
08:09 Sunrise
09:30 Meet next to the minibus for departure
11:30 London, Hammersmith

WHAT TO BRING

Please wear sensible footwear – the car park and area around Stonehenge are grassy fields and can be uneven underfoot
Warm, waterproof clothing – please note that large umbrellas are not permitted during the Solstice
Small torch for walking to the stone circle
Small ground sheet and/or blanket
Food and drinks to keep you fuelled throughout the morning

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Large bags – only small bags (approximately 30cm x 25cm x 15cm) are permitted, in line with current security measures. Bag checks may be carried out, with illegal items confiscated and entry refused.
Alcohol and drugs
Drones

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.

TRAVELLING TO THE MEETING POINT

Night buses run across London, or you can take an Uber to the meeting point. Please plan your journey in advance. If you think you might have trouble getting there on time (particularly if you live in East London), let us know as soon as possible at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to help.

BOOKING

To keep ticket prices down and avoid PayPal/Meetup fees (£7 extra per ticket), we kindly ask for payment by bank transfer. Please include your Meetup name and the trip as the payment reference (e.g. John Stonehenge). As places are limited, we can hold your place for 24 hours.

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to “Paid” as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. You don’t need a paid Meetup subscription to do this – just close any pop-up windows and continue.

THE PRICE OF £80 INCLUDES

Transport throughout the trip
Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver
Full commentary where appropriate
Stonehenge parking fee
Professional event organisation
Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
Admin fee
20% VAT

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
Food

HOW TO CONTACT US

For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected] We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.

Your guide will be Anna (07596844467, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip.

REVIEWS ⭐

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REFUND POLICY

You can check our refund policy here.