Summer Solstice at Stonehenge is this Friday – Here's what you need to know

English Heritage will welcome up to 25,000 visitors to the site ready to watch the beautiful sunrise, which is scheduled for 4.52am.

Admission to the event is free, with access to Stonehenge opening from 7pm on Thursday, a few hours before sunset at 9.26pm.

However, due to the limited car park spaces, English Heritage is once again urging visitors to use public transport or car share.

Two grass car parks will be accessible from the A303 from 7pm on Thursday until 6am on Friday, and once full, visitors will not be allowed onto the site.

The car parks will need to be vacated by noon on the Friday.

Bus transport will be available from Salisbury train station and pedestrians are also advised to use the designated, temporary pedestrian crossing on the A303 at Stonehenge Cottages

Last year, Wiltshire Police said the event passed "extremely peacefully" with no arrests being made.

TRAFFIC WARNINGS

Because of the internationally famous event, Highways England is advising motorists to plan their journeys along the A303.

This is due to limited parking on site,

During the Solstice, Highways England will assist the flow of traffic both before and after the event.

A 40mph speed limit will be in place on the A303 between the Countess roundabout and Longbarrow roundabout, with the lay-bys closed in between, and the dual carriageway will be reduced to a single lane between Countess Roundabout and Stonehenge Cottages.

Its A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down project team is currently conducting ground investigation surveys along the proposed route past Stonehenge and this work will be respectfully halted for the Summer Solstice.

The programme of work, involving borehole and trial pit investigations to inform the scheme’s later procurement process, will be paused on the Thursday, in advance of the Solstice event, and will restart on Monday, June 24 and conclude later in the summer.

Gareth Price, Highways England emergency planning officer for the south west, said: “We are anticipating traffic volumes to increase around the event, and our aim is to keep the Highways England network running while keeping road users safe and informed.

“The traffic management will be in place for safety and to keep disruption to a minimum, and we advise all road users to check our traffic and travel information channels, plan their journeys and allow plenty of time.

“A temporary pedestrian crossing will also be installed near Stonehenge Cottages for the safety of visitors walking from Stonehenge Road, Amesbury, and we advise all pedestrians to use this to access the site.”

Drivers can obtain up-to-the-minute travel information on Twitter, by phoning the Highways England Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or by accessing the website: www.trafficengland.com