Stargazing at Stonehenge

[Lee_P]

I recently ran a few stargazing sessions at Stonehenge -- some cloudy! -- and took a few photos in the short amount of time I had before the participants arrived. It was quite something to be all alone among the stones at night.

 

[Elp]

Do you need prior permission to be on site at night? Never actually been, only passed it.

Edited January 28, 2022 by Elp

[jacko61]

I thought it was all cordoned off; or is that just at the solstice?

Graeme

[johninderby]

You have to pay to visit normaly and the site is open from 9:30am till 5:00pm.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/prices-and-opening-times/?utm_campaign=aka_stonehenge_21&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9pft08TU9QIV2t_tCh1TIAjsEAAYASABEgKpFvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Not sure if they ever allow visting outside of those hours. Maybe worth asking if they ever have nightime events.

Edited January 28, 2022 by johninderby

[Lee_P]

2 hours ago, Elp said:

Do you need prior permission to be on site at night? Never actually been, only passed it.

2 hours ago, jacko61 said:

I thought it was all cordoned off; or is that just at the solstice?

Graeme

2 hours ago, johninderby said:

You have to pay to visit normaly and the site is open from 9:30am till 5:00pm.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/prices-and-opening-times/?utm_campaign=aka_stonehenge_21&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9pft08TU9QIV2t_tCh1TIAjsEAAYASABEgKpFvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Not sure if they ever allow visting outside of those hours. Maybe worth asking if they ever have nightime events.

I was only allowed there because I was working for English Heritage, and it was all arranged in advance. 

[Laurieast]

How close to the stones will I get?

How close to the stones you can get during normal opening hours at Stonehenge

During normal opening hours you cannot walk up to the stones themselves. The nearest you will get to the stones is about 10 yards, the monument being roped off by a low barrier, (see picture below).

However it is possible to walk up to and among the stones at Stonehenge outside public opening hours. These are called Special Access visits. During these sessions of one hour duration, only 26 people are allowed onto Stonehenge, going beyond the barriers and walking amongst the stones.

The fact that these Stonehenge Special Access visits are outside public opening hours mean that they are at dawn or evening. Given that Stonehenge is two hours' drive from London this obviously provides logistical issues in getting there.

The Special Access Visits are also immensely popular, demand far outstrips supply and they are often sold out months in advance.

We have dedicated pages for people independently wanting to partake in a Stonehenge Special Access Visit and also a page on scheduled Stonehenge Special Access Tours from London.

[Laurieast]

^

https://www.londontoolkit.com/whattodo/stonehenge_what_to_expect.htm

[Elp]

Always been intrigued to do a widefield shoot excursion but due to weather unpredictability and not being local it's difficult.

[FenlandPaul]

Wow, what an opportunity!  Thanks for sharing.