Stonehenge ready for thousands at solstice sunrise

A surge of visitors is expected at Stonehenge to see the sunrise on the shortest day of the year

As the shortest day of the year approaches, Stonehenge is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to mark the winter solstice sunrise on 21 December.

The ancient site, which is managed by English Heritage, will open its Monument Field this Saturday at 07:45 GMT so crowds can see the sunrise over the iconic stones.

For those unable to visit, English Heritage will also livestream the event.

The winter solstice draws thousands of visitors annually, many of whom come to experience the spiritual and cultural significance of the event.

To ensure smooth access, the car park at Stonehenge will open from 05:15 but, with limited spaces available, visitors are encouraged to use public transport to reach the site. Entry to the Monument Field will close at 10:00.

Traffic management in place

To accommodate the event and manage increased traffic along the A303, National Highways has announced a series of traffic measures:

• Solstice traffic will be diverted north from Countess roundabout via the A345.

• Northbound access on the A360 will be closed from Longbarrow roundabout.

• A 40 mph speed limit will apply on the A303 between Countess and Longbarrow roundabouts, with lay-bys closed.

National Highways' south west resilience planner, Kathryn Wiltshire, urged visitors and road users to plan their journeys ahead of time.

"As we've done for previous solstice events, traffic management will be in place for safety and to keep disruption to a minimum.

In view of a potential increase in traffic volumes for the Christmas Getaway, we advise all road users to check our traffic and travel information channels, plan their journeys, and allow plenty of time," she said.

How to stay informed

Motorists can find real-time traffic updates via:

• Twitter: @HighwaysSWEST

• Online: www.trafficengland.com

• Phone: National Highways Information Line at 0300 123 5000