We think seeing the summer solstice at Stonehenge should be on everyone’s bucket list. The annual greeting of the summer’s arrival and year’s longest day is such a unique and quaintly British affair.
Where else in the world can 20,000 modern-day druids, pagans and revelers pack around a relatively small, precious and singularly exalted World Heritage Site all at once? It’s the world’s most famous summer solstice event for good reason!
As icons of ancient history go, they don’t get any bigger than Stonehenge. Yet for all the historians and scientists it’s enraptured, the monument’s origins still remain a mystery. Some think it’s some sort of astronomical calendar. Others say it was made by an ancient sun-worshiping culture. Its alignment with the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset certainly lends weight to the latter theory.
The summer solstice is one of the few times when you can get up close and personal with the monument. In a bid to stop vandalism and accidental damage to the stones, English Heritage has pretty much kept the area roped off since 1978.
There’s great news about the weather tonight. It’s set to be dry, and for the first time since 2005 the sky will be clear at sunrise. That means it’ll be possible to see the sun arc over the famous ‘Heel Stone’ (at 4:52am), a pillar positioned outside the main stone circle that aligns with the rising sun.
So don’t miss out. Don some wacky clothes, put on your dancing shoes, dust down your tambourine and join with thousands of alternative minded folk in their spiritual and astronomical pilgrimage.
For a quick insight into the event’s vibe, watch the short film below.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: tarotastic)
