This August, visitors to Stonehenge will have a rare opportunity to step inside the ancient stone circle as part of a new initiative by English Heritage. The organization, which manages the prehistoric monument, is offering advance ticket holders a chance to win exclusive access to the site before it opens to the public.
Normally, the public can only view the stones from behind a barrier. General access inside the circle has been restricted since 1977. Throughout August, anyone who books an advance ticket to the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire will be automatically entered into a daily prize draw. The experience is typically reserved for foreign dignitaries and other VIP guests.
Georgia Butters, English Heritage's head of operations for Stonehenge, described the rope-free experience as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." She stated, "Stonehenge is one of the world's most recognisable landmarks and a bucket-list destination for millions of people across the globe – but very few people have ever experienced the monument in complete peace and quiet. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand within the ancient stones with no one else around, soaking up the atmosphere and spirituality of this remarkable place."
The site dates back approximately 5,000 years, with the stone circle erected during the late Neolithic period, around 2500 BC. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 for its "incomparable testimony to prehistoric times."
The monument is composed of two types of stones: larger sarsens and smaller bluestones. Ancient carvings on the stones, which are not visible from the public path, would be accessible to inner circle visitors. Winners will also receive a breakfast roll and a hot drink before their exclusive access period.
To be entered into the draw, visitors must purchase a ticket at least 72 hours before their planned visit. Every advance booking made for August will be entered, with one winner selected daily. Winners will be notified at least 24 hours in advance and will gain access between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
Stonehenge was constructed in alignment with the Northern Hemisphere's midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset. In June, thousands gathered to witness the summer solstice sunrise at the Neolithic site, an ancient astronomical phenomenon observed at Stonehenge for millennia. Visitors marked the occasion with light displays, music, and by placing their hands on the ancient structure.