Stonehenge Special Access visits

Demand for Stonehenge Special Access tickets far outstrips supply of tickets with tickets and tours often sold out weeks if not months in advance.

There are also several facets of Stonehenge Special Access that you need to be aware of, for a smooth visit to be accomplished.

• Demand for tickets far exceeds supply, and dates are often sold out months in advance. Do not expect to get tickets without ordering well in advance.

• Tickets are allocated by Stonehenge and are released usually every autumn for the following year. We aim to display the following year's ticket dates for Stonehenge Special Access as soon as possible after they are made live. If you are planning ahead for later than these dates it is necessary to keep checking back until they become live some time around November.

• Midsummer's day is not available on normal special access, however Premium Tours run an annual solstice tour; dates become available early spring.

• Evening Special Access is only available in the summer months (March to September).

• Special Access visits are available most but not all months of the year. No tours run during October and November and last two weeks of June.

• Special Access visits take place at quite unsociable hours, commonly between 5.30 and 8am and after 6.30pm.

• Factor in that it is almost two hours' travelling time between London hotels and Stonehenge and you can see such a visit entails a very early start or late finish for those based in London.

• There is no public transport to Stonehenge at any time and the Stonehenge shuttle from Salisbury doesn't operate at hours when Special Access takes place.

• There are no audio guides available and the gift shop, exhibition centre and catering outlet are also closed though your Special Access ticket does allow you to visit during public opening hours the same day at no extra charge if you wish. Only the toilets are open.

• Visits last for one hour, with a maximum of 30 people.

• You can pre-order a guide book on ordering your tickets.

• On morning visits you have the advantage of using the facilities such as the gift shop, refreshment kiosk, audio guides, etc, once Stonehenge has opened to the public.

• When you go on a special access visit you will be one of just 30 Special Access ticket holders on site plus an English Heritage Host who will welcome and provide history on the stones as required.

• Although you can walk among the stones, the host will brief you on the Conditions of Entry which you will already have received with your booking which includes not to touch the stones amongst others. There are no restrictions on photography, but no photographs can be used on commercial websites except social media. You are not allowed to bring food or drink onto the monument.