Best time to visit Stonehenge from London

If you are reviewing your list of things to see and do in London there is one visit you should not miss: Stonehenge, one of the most magical places on the planet. Walking through its stone circles is definitely a unique experience.

However, to get the most out of your visit it is important to take into account aspects such as the weather, the large crowds or the best times to take pictures. Not forgetting, of course, the great moment that Stonehenge experiences every year: the summer solstice.

One of the most important aspects when deciding the best time to visit Stonehenge from London is the weather. The area in which it is located, in the southwest of England, makes the weather conditions are very changeable and the rains are quite frequent. To this we must add that the Neolithic monument is located in a large esplanade, with no areas for shelter other than within the visitor center, a couple of miles from the remains.

In general, to limit as much as possible that bad weather ruin your trip from London to Stonehenge it is best to make the visit in the summer months or, as a second option, in spring. However, this does not preclude that autumn and winter also have their advantages when making a trip to Stonehenge from London.

As a general rule, it is important to check the weather forecast beforehand. Those who prefer to book one of the various tours departing from London to the monument should also take this into account.

Although autumn in London is usually cold, it is actually rain or even snow that can spoil the Stonehenge tour from London. In fact, on some occasions the agency that manages the monument may even close it if conditions are very bad and may pose a risk to visitors.

However, visiting Stonehenge from London in autumn also has some advantages. For one thing, there are usually considerably fewer visitors than in summer and there is nothing comparable to walking among the stones of the monument and the rest of what there is to see at Stonehenge without encountering crowds.

On the other hand, those lucky enough to go to Stonehenge on September 22 are going to be able to enjoy the autumnal equinox. Although with less fame than the summer solstice at Stonehenge, that date is another one of those marked by the followers of spiritual currents to go to the monument. On that day, the day lasts as long as the night and is considered a turning point in the seasons.

• Advantages: less crowds and the possibility of experiencing the equinox there.
• Disadvantages: the possibility of rain and wind and the early closing of the monument.

If I already warned that visiting all the attractions of Stonehenge and surroundings in autumn could be spoiled by rain, the risk increases even more if you go to London in winter.

However, booking a tour to Stonehenge from the capital is still possible, so if it is the only time you can do it you should not miss the opportunity. If you are lucky enough to have a bit of frost beforehand or a bit (just a bit) of mist appears, the sight of Stonehenge becomes almost ghostly.

December 21 marks the winter solstice, another time when Stonehenge becomes the focal point for many people. In particular, many come to watch the sunrise to see how the sun is affecting the stone structures of the monument.

• Advantages: as in autumn, the main advantage is the convenience of seeing the monument without crowds.
• Disadvantages: the rain that can fall quite often and that the monument closes earlier.

Although the risk of rain is still high in London in spring, it is one of the best times to visit Stonehenge from London, either on your own or on a tour.

For starters, the monument's opening hours are extended as daylight hours increase. Although more people are starting to come, there are still not as many visitors as in the summer months. The temperature is also more pleasant for strolling around Stonehenge or visiting some of the nearby attractions.

• Advantages: the weather is starting to improve and the visit is more pleasant.
• Disadvantages: there is still quite a risk of rain and more visitors are starting to arrive.

If you are lucky enough to be enjoying the monuments of London and the best museums in London during the summer in London, you should not miss the opportunity to book a tour to Stonehenge or, if you prefer, make the visit on your own.

The weather is usually much better during this time, so the visit is much more pleasant. The best, if you have the opportunity, is to go during the summer solstice, the most special day at Stonehenge.

• Advantages: it is the best time of the year to enjoy the experience of visiting Stonehenge.
• Disadvantages: the monument is quite crowded, especially at certain times of the day.

Here is a comparison of the weather in each of the seasons in case you decide to visit Stonehenge from London.

The best times to visit Stonehenge for photography are early in the morning or before sunset. But even if you have booked a tour to Stonehenge from London and arrive a few hours after sunrise, the amount of light in the area will not be too much for the photographs to appear too contrasty or with burnt parts.

Each time of the year has its own characteristics for taking great photographs: for example, the atmosphere on some winter days, when there is a bit of haze or light filtering through the clouds.

If you have decided to travel from London to Stonehenge in your own vehicle you can also try to capture images of dusk, although you will need a tripod (and set it up outside the complex) to get them right.

Stonehenge experiences several special days each season: the summer and winter solstices and the autumnal equinox. Although for the last few years they have been trying to control the influx of people, that day is a magnet for many followers of new age beliefs or Druidism. If you are lucky enough to be there, you will not only enjoy the sunset or sunrise at the monument, but also the costumes of many of those present and the ceremonies they perform.

In case you can not go on those special dates, English Heritage is broadcasting live online the highlights of the solstices and equinox. But if you are in London I highly recommend you to book a tour to Stonehenge to enjoy that day.

Many who plan to visit Stonehenge from London may not know exactly what they will see beyond the iconic image that appears everywhere. For starters, it should be known that for several years now it has been impossible to enter the inner stone perimeter. This decision was taken to protect the monument, which came to be threatened by the large influx of public and vandalism.

But this rule has an important exception: a special access outside normal visiting hours that can be obtained by hiring an organized tour that includes it, although you can also try to get permission independently. However, groups are limited to 30 people.

The companies that organize the tours know in advance the times when these special visits are allowed. If you manage to do it on your own on the English Heritage website, be sure to check the special schedule to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

If you're trying to avoid the crowds, the best times to visit Stonehenge are in the cooler months. Whether on your own or by booking an organized tour to Stonehenge from London, if the weather is kind to you, you will have a unique experience walking around Stonehenge in a calm and relaxed manner.

In addition, it is usually more crowded on weekends, as opposed to Monday through Wednesday.

In a normal year, Stonehenge can receive up to one million visitors, concentrated mainly in the months when the weather is good. Although the visit is still worthwhile, there is no doubt that the experience is much different when you can see the complex without the crowds.

Actually, there is no exact time of the year to visit Stonehenge and save time, but there is a way to do it: the organized tours from London. One of its advantages is, precisely, that they leave throughout the year, so it will always be an option at your disposal.

It is not strange that, when visiting a city with as many activities as London, we all try to save time to enjoy as many as possible.

In addition, many of these tours combine the visit to Stonehenge with other nearby attractions, such as the visit to the wonderful city of Bath from London. To further enhance this time saving, the return to London is in plenty of time to see, for example, some of London's best musicals.

In principle, any time is a good time to visit Stonehenge and take the opportunity to see the surroundings of Stonehenge. The area is full of archaeological remains and religious buildings that are worth seeing.

If you had to choose a time to make these visits, the best time would be late spring and early summer. Although there is certainly still the possibility of rain, that time of year is perfect to enjoy the tourist attractions without too many crowds and with a mild climate.

One of the most interesting options for these visits are the aforementioned organized tours. In addition to Stonehenge, you will find some that include Bath, Windsor Castle, Salisbury or even Oxford, where in spring you can still see its typical university atmosphere.