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Stonehenge Special Access visits

Inner Circle Tours - get close to the stones at dawn or dusk

Stonehenge Special Access Tour inside the stones
Inside the stones on a Special Access Tour

When you visit Stonehenge during public hours you have to keep behind a small rope fence about two foot off the ground. For most people this is perfectly adequate and has the advantage that no people get into your photographs.

For those who are really, really interested in Stonehenge it is possible to go beyond the rope fence and walk among the stones.

These visits are called Special Access or Inner Circle visits and take place outside public opening hours (i.e. dawn or dusk).

The times of these visits can make for some excellent atmospheric photo opportunities.

With the exception of special days such as the two solstices and equinoxes, where special provision is made at dawn, this is the only time you will be able to walk amongst the stones at Stonehenge.

How to gain access to special access

There are three ways of conducting a Special Access Tour:

- by booking a public coach tour. A variety of tour companies offer tours from London, we cover them all.

- by booking a private tour. Your transport is organised for you and assistance is provided in obtaining the tickets, a knowledgeable guide or driver/guide is also an option.

- by booking straight with English Heritage on their website and arranging your own transport

Stonehenge Special Access visits - key facts

Among the Stones at Special Access Stonehenge
Centre of the circle: your guide will tell you the fascinating history of the ancient wonder of Stonehenge
Stonehenge Special Access inside inner circle
Close to the megaliths

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.

Scheduled Special Access tours from London

Walking Stonehenge landscape Special Access Stonehenge
The Avenue: walk the Stonehenge landscape

Four London based tour companies offer tours that include Special Access. This overcomes the logistical problems of getting to Stonehenge early morning or evening when there is no public transport to Stonehenge.

However, it is still a very early start or a late return to London and these companies cannot get enough tickets for their needs.

As a result dates are very sporadic. Most days there will not be a tour running and they will normally sell out well in advance on those days the tour runs - do not leave it until you arrive in London or you will be disappointed.

With these restrictions in mind, there is little opportunity to pick and choose which operator you go with; generally you have to take whichever tour best suits your dates.

One of the advantages of going with a tour company is that you will have a guide who should be quite knowledgeable about Stonehenge.

Stonehenge Special Access Tours from London - more details

Scheduled Special Access tours from Salisbury

Regular Special Access tours are also run from Salisbury, and are highly recommended, particularly if you are interested in seeing more of the surrounding landscape itself. Allow a much longer time for these tours - five hours in total. From London it is possible to use public transport to and from Salisbury by train the same day for these evening special access tours.

Stonehenge Special Access Tours from Salisbury - more details

Stonehenge Special Access independently or put your own group together

If you wish to organise your Special Access visit independently then the method is to apply to English Heritage, owners of Stonehenge, directly for Special Access tickets. In fact, most of these tickets are sold in this way. English Heritage have a 'Stone Circle Access Form' which you can fill in online, after checking out the timetable. Your application for an allocation of tickets, includes your desired dates and times.

Be aware, demand far outstrips supply and you will need to make your application a couple of months or more in advance to have a reasonable chance of there being tickets left.

If you are successful in being offered an allocation of tickets, you can then purchase the tickets.

Follow the link below for full details of making your own Special Access visit. If you are a group, small or large we also offer a service to put together transport and ticket packages.

Visiting Stonehenge Special Access privately - full details

Stonehenge Special Access dates - 2024 - March 2025

STONEHENGE SPECIAL ACCESS TOUR DATES MAR 2024 - MAR 2025

IMPORTANT: THESE ARE THE TOUR DATES ONLY AND DO NOT REPRESENT TICKET AVAILABILITY

MORNING TOURS

Dates

Premium Tours

Evan Evans

Anderson Tours

Mar 24 4, 7, 11, 1 2, 9, 16, 23 N/A
Apr 24 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 N/A N/A
May 24 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 N/A N/A
Jun 24 3, 6, 10, 13 N/A N/A
Jul 24 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 N/A N/A
Aug 24 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 N/A
Sep 24 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 26, 30 7, 14, 21, 28 N/A
Oct 24 N/A N/A N/A
Nov 24 N/A N/A N/A
Dec 24 7, 14, 28 2, 9, 16, 30 6
Jan 25 4, 11 6, 13 N/A
Feb 25 4, 11 3, 10, 17, 24 28
Mar 25 4, 11 1, 8, 15, 29 N/A

Premium Tours Special Access Tours

Evan Evans Special Access Tours

Anderson Special Access Tours

Premium Tours Summer Solstice

 

EVENING TOURS

Dates

Premium Tours

Evan Evans

Anderson Tours

Golden Tours

Mar 24 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 24, 27, 31 4, 11, 18, 25 8, 29 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26
Apr 24 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24 N/A 12, 26 N/A
May 24 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29 N/A 10, 24 N/A
Jun 24 2, 5, 9, 12 N/A 7 N/A
Jul 24 17, 21, 24, 31 29 5, 19 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
Aug 24 4, 7, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 19, 26 2, 16, 30 3, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31
Sep 24 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18 2, 9, 16 13 3, 7, 10, 14, 17
Oct 24 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Nov 24 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Dec 24 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Jan 25 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Feb 25 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Mar 25 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 23, 26, 30 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 7 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 25, 29

Premium Tours Special Access Tours

Evan Evans Special Access Tours

Anderson Special Access Tours

Golden Tours Special Access Tours

Premium Tours Summer Solstice

 


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