Stonehenge Solstice this weekend!

SOLSTICE SUNRISE 4.58AM, SUNDAY 21ST JUNE 2009

Solstice car park opens 7pm Saturday 20th June
Access to Stonehenge 7pm Saturday 20th June (Last asmission 6am)
Stonehenge closes 8am Sunday 21st June
Car park closes 12 noon Sunday 21st June

With the Summer Solstice in the early hours of Sunday morning, and good weather leading up to the event, we expect a busy Stonehenge this Saturday night.

Stonehenge is a safe festival and lots of people do bring children along, although in many respects it’s not ideal. For a start, most of the activity takes place overnight and in the early hours of the morning. And it gets REALLY cold at the Stones overnight.

English Heritage don’t permit tents or even sleeping bags at the Stones, although gorundsheets are okay. They advise people to wrap up warm – but not to light fires.

Our advice for families is expect children to sleep through most, if not all, of the event. Buggies with cosytoes and extra blankets, plus a raincover are essential for little ones and consider taking a Radio Flyer type wagon plus lots of blankets for 4-7 year olds and let them sleep.

Older children may not want to be there at all – or if they do, plan to arrive half an hour before sunrise rather than making a night of it. It can get noisy near the Stones – although there is no amplified music, there are lots of drums and chanting, so consider Peltors. Wear rugged shoes and lots of layers, and take some food and drink, although there are usually a few stalls onsite. Toilets are plentiful adn clean – they are only in use for one night, after all – but take some wipes in case of loo roll shortage.

English Heritage says a high volume of traffic is expected at the site this weekend. They are advising a combination of train and shuttle bus transport, although there will be a public car park in fields about a mile’s walk away from the stones (easy, flat walk, okay for buggies).

More information
English Heritage site

Family Festival rating: 3/10

Are you going to Stonehenge? Are you taking kids with you? We want to know how it goes! Contact Family Festivals with your own reviews and photos.