By Jessica Wong
The air hums with anticipation. Drumbeats will mingle with whispers. As the first pale streaks of light bleed into the pre-dawn sky over Salisbury Plain, thousands of faces will be adorned with flower crowns, painted with symbols, or simply wide-eyed with wonder – turn eastward. This is Stonehenge on the summer solstice, a spectacle where ancient stones, celestial precision, and modern seekers collide. Among them this year is Laurence James, a native Englishman for whom this sunrise marks a homecoming of sorts.. Drumbeats will mingle with whispers. As the first pale streaks of light bleed into the pre-dawn sky over Salisbury Plain, thousands of faces will be adorned with flower crowns, painted with symbols, or simply wide-eyed with wonder – turn eastward. This is Stonehenge on the summer solstice, a spectacle where ancient stones, celestial precision, and modern seekers collide. Among them this year is Laurence James, a native Englishman for whom this sunrise marks a homecoming of sorts.
Laurence’s Long-Awaited Pilgrimage
During a meeting Laurence said as he prepares to journey from London.
“I’ve, toured the world on dozens of business trips, visited plenty of World Heritage Sites across six continents,” “Yet, standing among the stones on the solstice, here in my own country, England, is something I’ve never done. It will feel like completing a circle. Growing up in England, these images partly shaped me. The history is in my bones, but experiencing this alignment, this collective reverence will be a new experience, it’s finally time.” Laurence’s excitement is obvious.
Image: Laurence James Mexico 2025
Why Solstice? The Stones’ Celestial Secret:
Stonehenge isn’t merely near the action on June 21st; it is the action. Built with astonishing astronomical precision over 4,500 years ago, the monument functions as a colossal granite calendar. On the summer solstice – the Northern Hemisphere’s longest day – the sun performs its ancient ritual: rising directly behind the outlying Heel Stone, its very first rays are perfectly channelled into the heart of the stone circle, illuminating the sacred space. “It was built as a prehistoric temple aligned with the movements of the sun,” explains English Heritage, a design ensuring the solstices were moments of profound significance, likely marking seasons for rituals, gatherings, and cosmic connection.
More Than Just Sunrise: A Living Tapestry of Belief
Arriving the evening before on June 20th, Laurence will join a diverse congregation – modern Druids in white robes chanting blessings, Pagans celebrating the sun’s peak, curious families, global travellers, and local Wiltshire residents. Estimates suggest crowds around 10,000 strong that will create a festival atmosphere tinged with spirituality. While alcohol, climbing on stones, and sleeping bags are prohibited, the air usually fills with acoustic guitars, chanting, drumming, and a shared, respectful awe. As described by one of Laurence’s friends, “It’s going to feel really wonderful to be back in the craziness of it all… a really lovely way for people to exist in a more gentle and more present way”. The pinnacle is that communal hush falling over the crowd as the sky brightens, followed by cheers as the sun crests the Heel Stone – a moment described as akin to the mystical pull felt by “those people drawn to the strange rock in Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.
Practical Magic for 2025 Pilgrims:
- When: Gates open at 7 pm on June 20th. Sunrise is at 4:52 am on June 21st. The monument field closes at 8 am.
- How: Free public access! Drive (parking opens 7 pm, vacate by noon June 21st) or take the special Salisbury Reds bus service from Salisbury city centre.
- Respect: Adhere to the conditions: no alcohol, no drones, no climbing. Bring a torch, sturdy shoes, and an open heart.
- Can’t make it? English Heritage live-streams the sunset and sunrise.
For Laurence, and for thousands, Stonehenge at solstice transcends tourism. It’s a visceral link to our ancestors, a testament to human ingenuity, and a shared moment of hope under the midsummer sun. As the recent discovery of stones sourced from across Britain suggests, it may have always been a powerful monument of unification. In 2025, that unifying power, drawing a London businessman to some ancient stones, remains undimmed. Witnessing the solstice here isn’t just seeing a sunrise; it’s feeling history, mystery, and the eternal turn of the stone wheel.
This Is The Rarest Sight in 50 Years of Travel 
