Tomorrow marks the arrival of the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.
It marks the onset of summer, and it’s a cause for celebration. Each solstice thousands of people head to Stonehenge, which is famous for its alignment on sunrise on the special day.
Tomorrow’s solstice will be taking place at 4:52am.
According to Heritage England, the stones near Amesbury in Wiltshire were set up in about 2500 BC and designed to align with the movements of the sun.
Standing in the centre of the monument at summer solstice, the sun rises just to the left of a large standing stone outside the stone circle, known as the Heel Stone, seen through a gap in the outer sarsen circle.
The sarsen stones, put up in at the centre of the site in about 2500 BC, were carefully placed to line up with the movements of the sun. Credit: PA
It is likely that people gathered at Stonehenge at both midsummer and midwinter solstices to conduct rituals and ceremonies relating to the changing seasons, the sun and the sky.
The longest day of the year was likely a time of celebration, with warm nights and long daylight making it the perfect time to gather together.
What’s the history of Stonehenge?
The purpose of Stonehenge is unknown to us. It has no obvious practical purpose.
It was not lived in and could not have been defended, so there must have been a spiritual reason why Neolithic and Bronze Age people put so much effort into building it.
Many theories have been put forward over the years, but no one truly knows.
Library pictures Credit: Wiltshire Police
Marking the movements of the sun was clearly important to the people who built Stonehenge, as they went to such great lengths to align the monument with them.
But we have few clues as to what they did here.
How do I get there?
There will be parking on site, as well as a regular bus service from Salisbury city centre. English Heritage is urging drivers to avoid abandoning their cars.
Any cars parked illegally or causing an obstruction are warned that they will be towed away.
English Heritage is urging visitors to report anything concerning, or to seek help from any of the security or stewarding team which will be on duty.
The Wiltshire Police and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust will also be in attendance to ensure the smooth running of Summer Solstice.
Where can I watch the solstice?
If you don’t have a ticker for the event, you can watch it on English Heritage’s live stream here!