Stonehenge Opening Hours & Visitor Information (2026)

All the essential practical information for your Stonehenge visit in 2026 — opening hours, last entry, what opens and closes when, and what to plan around.

2026 Opening Hours

Stonehenge is managed by English Heritage and operates a timed-entry system with seasonal opening hours. All times are local (GMT in winter, BST in summer).

Closed: Christmas Day (25 December) only. Open every other day of the year including all bank holidays, New Year’s Day, and Easter.

Solstice and equinox: Hours may vary slightly on and around the summer solstice (approximately 21 June) and winter solstice (approximately 21–22 December) due to special access events. Check the English Heritage website for specific arrangements in the weeks leading up to these dates.

Last Entry Times

The last admission is always two hours before closing time. This is the final time at which a new ticket will be accepted at the Visitor Centre. It is designed to ensure all visitors can complete a full visit — including the shuttle bus or walk to the stones and back — before the site closes.

In winter (closing 5pm): last entry is 3:00pm
In summer (closing 6pm): last entry is 4:00pm

Visitors who arrive after their booked time slot may be asked to wait for the next available slot. During busy periods, this can result in a wait of 30 minutes or more. Arriving on time or slightly early is strongly recommended.

The shuttle bus from the Visitor Centre to the stone circle runs every few minutes throughout the day, but the last shuttle departs from the stones approximately 30 minutes before closing. Visitors who walk (rather than shuttle) should allow approximately 40 minutes for the round trip across the landscape.

Timed Entry: How It Works

Stonehenge operates a timed-entry system. When booking your ticket, you select a specific half-hour arrival window. On arrival, you check in at the Visitor Centre within that window and are then free to explore the site for as long as you wish during opening hours — there is no limit on how long you can stay once you have checked in.

Online booking is strongly recommended. This guarantees your preferred time slot, saves approximately 15% compared to the gate price, and avoids the risk of sold-out slots during peak periods. Walk-up tickets are available at the admissions tills subject to availability, but popular time slots — particularly 9:30am and 10am on summer weekends — can sell out well in advance.

What Is and Isn’t Included With Admission

A standard paid admission ticket includes:

• Access to the stone circle viewing path (the circular route around the monument)
• Access to the Visitor Centre exhibition — over 250 archaeological objects, interactive displays, and the Stonehenge Collection
• The reconstructed Neolithic houses near the Visitor Centre
• The free shuttle bus between the Visitor Centre and the stone circle (runs every few minutes)
• The free audio guide app — download the “Stonehenge Audio Tour” app in advance from your app store; available in 12 languages

Free access (no admission required):

• The café at the Visitor Centre
• The gift shop
• The toilets

Not included in standard admission:

• Walking inside the stone circle itself — this requires a separate Stone Circle Experience booking (see below)
• The wider National Trust landscape beyond the Visitor Centre grounds (accessible via walking routes from the car park area, free)

Stone Circle Experience: Opening Hours and Availability

The Stone Circle Experience — which allows visitors to walk inside the stone circle itself, beyond the rope barrier — takes place outside normal opening hours, at dawn (morning session) or dusk (evening session). It is a separate, more expensive booking from standard admission.

• Price: £70 for adults (18+), £40 for children aged 5–17; under 5 free; English Heritage member discounts apply
• Duration: Approximately 1 hour at the stones
• Group size: Maximum 52 people per session
• Not available: October and November (no sessions)
• Booking: Through English Heritage directly; now bookable through March 2027

For a full guide to Stone Circle Experience options including tour operator alternatives: Stonehenge Sunrise and Sunset Special Access: Ticket Guide

Parking

The Stonehenge Visitor Centre car park is located approximately 1.5 km from the stone circle — you will take the shuttle bus or walk from the car park to the monument.

• Non-members: £4 parking charge (payable by the Pay By Phone app; download in advance)
• English Heritage members: Free; display membership sticker in window
• National Trust members / associated members (CADW, Historic Scotland, CSSC): Free; display exemption document in window
• Coach parties: Separate coach park provided

Parking fills quickly on summer weekends and bank holidays. Arriving early (by 9:30am) significantly reduces the risk of congestion. Do not use a satnav postcode other than SP4 7DE — other postcodes may direct you to restricted roads.

The Shuttle Bus

A free shuttle bus runs between the Visitor Centre and the stone circle throughout the day, approximately every few minutes. It is accessible for wheelchair users. Dogs are not permitted on the shuttle bus.

Alternatively, there is a walking route of approximately 1.3 km each way through the prehistoric landscape — a pleasant 20–25 minute walk in good conditions that gives a better sense of the monument’s setting than the shuttle. Allow approximately 40–50 minutes total for the round walk if choosing this option.

The last shuttle from the stones departs approximately 30 minutes before site closing. Visitors who miss the last shuttle must walk back to the Visitor Centre.

Facilities

• Café: Open during site hours. Serves hot and cold food and drinks using local ingredients. Seating indoors and outdoors. Open to all — no admission ticket required to use the café.
• Gift shop: Open during site hours. Wide range of Stonehenge-themed souvenirs, books, and educational materials. Open to all.
• Toilets: Located at the Visitor Centre only — there are no toilet facilities at the stone circle itself. Plan accordingly before taking the shuttle.
• Baby changing: Available at the Visitor Centre.
• Cloakroom/left luggage: Not available. Do not bring large luggage — there is nowhere to store it.

Accessibility

The main visitor routes — car park, Visitor Centre, shuttle bus, and stone circle path — are described by English Heritage as accessible for wheelchair users, subject to weather and ground conditions. Twenty-two Blue Badge parking bays are available near the Visitor Centre entrance. The shuttle bus is accessible. The stone circle viewing path is a compacted surface path.

For visitors with specific accessibility requirements, call English Heritage on 0370 333 1181 to discuss arrangements in advance.

Hearing loops and BSL-interpreted tours are available; check the English Heritage website or contact them in advance for scheduled BSL tour dates.

Audio Guide

The Stonehenge Audio Tour app is the official audio guide — free to download from the App Store and Google Play, available in 12 languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, and Swedish.

Download the app on a reliable Wi-Fi connection before your visit — phone signal near the monument can be limited, and downloading on-site uses more data than is comfortable. The app includes a walking commentary keyed to specific locations around the viewing path, information about individual stones, and material on the wider archaeological landscape.