Stonehenge at sunrise or sunset?

What are the two inner circle departures?

A sunrise tour at 5:30 AM and a sunset tour at 10 AM, both from the Millennium Gloucester Hotel (Casino entrance) in South Kensington, ending at Gloucester Road Station.

How does the sunrise day run?

Stonehenge first, then a guided walk in Lacock, about 45 minutes at the George Inn and an afternoon in Bath.

The tour lists one hour at the stones, one hour in Lacock, 45 minutes at the George Inn (food at your own expense) and about an hour at the Roman Baths stop. One guest wrote that it was "definitely worth getting up for the 5:30 a.m. start".

How does the sunset day run?

It leaves at 10 AM, visits Lacock and Bath first and finishes inside the stone circle in the evening.

The tour notes that the order can change with the season's access time. Guests on this version describe the circle as the high point of the day: one wrote that "a late afternoon in the inner circle" with the English Heritage guides was "the highlight of the tour".

Will you actually see the sun rise or set at the stones?

Not always: the tour itself warns that on long summer days you may not see the actual sunrise or sunset, because the access slot is fixed around opening hours.

In summer the sun rises early and sets late, so the morning session can come well after dawn and the evening session before dusk. Your chances of real colour are better in the shorter days of winter and early spring, and cloud can hide it at any time of year. Book for the time that suits your trip, not for a guaranteed sunrise.

Which light is better for photos?

Both work: early sessions are cool and quiet, and evening sessions bring warm, low light; either way you photograph the stones without the daytime crowds.

One guest on an evening visit wrote: "The light was beautiful. It was wonderful to get pictures without other people in them." Remember you share the circle with your session group of up to 26, so patience gets you the empty frames.

Prefer the evening? This after-hours visit adds Avebury and West Kennet Long Barrow; note it is non-refundable.

★ 4.9 · 11 hours · from $209

Explore the after-hours inner circle and Avebury tour → Tour details

Which months run, and when is the pause?

The tour runs from April to March, three to four days a week in summer and less often in winter, with no inner circle visits in October or November.

The pause comes from English Heritage, which runs no Stone Circle Experiences in those two months. It is already taking bookings until March 2027 (English Heritage), so winter and spring dates are open now.

Sunrise or sunset: which should you book?

Sunrise if you are awake early anyway and want the stones before anything else; sunset if you would rather sleep and build up to the circle.

• Jet-lagged or an early riser: sunrise.
• Travelling with teenagers or late sleepers: sunset.
• Want the stones as the climax: sunset.
• Want the rest of the day to feel relaxed after the big moment: sunrise.

Either way it is a long day: one guest called it "a full 12hr day". Pack for cold air at the stones with what to wear to Stonehenge.

What happens if it rains?

The visit still runs, but in wet weather access inside the circle may be stopped for health and safety, and you are guided beyond the outer walkway instead.

Dress for wind and rain whichever departure you choose: the stones stand in an exposed spot, and English Heritage advises wrapping up warm at any time of year.

Frequently asked questions