Stonehenge revellers ring in summer solstice

Thousands gathered at the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. English Heritage, the organization managing the site, reported that over 20,000 people attended the event, with special managed access to the stone circle extended until 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. An additional thousands joined the celebration through a global livestream.

The summer solstice, occurring on June 21, signifies the Northern Hemisphere tilting furthest towards the sun. Stonehenge, located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, southwest England, is believed to have been constructed to align with the sun's path on this day and the winter solstice. Modern solstice gatherings at the site date back to the mid-19th century.

Access to Stonehenge has been managed since 1978 due to vandalism and erosion from rising tourist numbers. The modern era of solstice celebrations saw a significant event in 1985, known as the Battle of Beanfield, involving clashes between police and New Age travelers. Since 2000, English Heritage has facilitated managed entry for the solstices and equinoxes, with pre-paid, booking-only parking and special bus services from Salisbury.

The celebrations took place as the UK and much of Europe faced severe heat warnings. While temperatures in the Salisbury area were comparatively modest, reaching a forecast high of 29 degrees Celsius (84.2 Fahrenheit), the weather underscored a broader heatwave affecting the continent. In France, authorities prohibited public alcohol consumption during Music Day celebrations, which coincided with the solstice.

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As the sun rose on the year's longest day, we welcomed more than 20,000 people to celebrate together, with thousands more joining via our livestream from across the world.