If you ever find yourself in the beautiful English county of Wiltshire, it would be criminal not to go and marvel at the prehistoric monument that is Stonehenge.
Probably one of Britain’s most famous landmarks, Stonehenge will be packed full of bodies on June 21, as people flock to the stones to celebrate Summer Solstice: when the sun reaches the northernmost point on the celestial sphere.
A record breaking 14,500 people gathered at Stonehenge in 2001 to see the sun rise on the longest day of the year, amongst those present were Druids, New Age Travellers and ordinary observers who gathered around the stones at around 4am to enjoy the best sunrise they have ever seen.
A record breaking 14,500 people gathered at Stonehenge in 2001 to see the sun rise on the longest day of the year
This year's Solstice looks set to be packed with people from around the globe who believe that the stones were constructed with some religious astronomical purpose in mind, return here every year for the solstice.
The English Heritage have even released a conditions of entry document on their website to ensure nothing gets out of hand on the longest day of the year.
Stonehenge itself is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones which aarchaeologists believe were erected around 2200 BC and new archaeological evidence reveals that Stonehenge served as a burial ground in its early days.
The monument was produced by a culture with no written language, yet over the years, various authors have suggested that supernatural or anachronistic methods were used, usually asserting that the stones were impossible to move otherwise.
So how did it get there? Well, the oldest known explanation for the existence of Stonehenge is that a giant had helped Merlin the Wizard build Stonehenge after he decided it should be removed from Ireland, where it was originally located, but many think the stones were formed by extra-terrestrials or some 'greater' being and view the site as sacred. However, the monument you see before you today his been greatly restored from 1901 to 1964, much to the criticism of many historians who believe this compromises the authenticity of the monument.
This amazing feature of the British landscape is a must-see spectacle, and although you can no longer walk amongst the stones, the English Heritage does however permit access during the summer and winter solstice, and the spring and autumn equinox. Additionally, visitors can make special bookings to access the stones throughout the year.
You can see the stones from 9.30am to 6pm in the Spring (16 March - 31 May,) from 9am to 7pm during the Summer (1 June - 31 August,) 9.30am until 4pm throughout Autumn (1 September - 15 October) and 9.30am through to 4pm during the Winter months (16 Oct - 15 March.)
Admission for an adult is £6.50 and a child up to 15 years of age for £3.30. There are concessions for students and pensioners who are charged £5.20 and if there are several of you, a family ticket (Two adults and up to 3 children) will set you back £16.50. English Heritage and National Trust Members go free.
Getting there is easy, if you are driving just follow the signs from Amesbury 2 miles west on the junction of A303 and A344/360. If you travel by train, the nearest station is Salisbury which is about 9.5 miles away, once you get off, hop onto a bus or taxi which will take you straight to the monument.
Tomorrow: Wonders of the Medieval World - The Colosseum
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