Need to know
The official start of astronomical summer is marked this weekend, happening at the exact moment when the northern hemisphere is tilted at its maximum towards the sun
Christopher Ballinger and Astha Saxena
05:00, 20 Jun 2026
Everything you need to know for the summer solstice in the UK
- The summer solstice will take place on Sunday, June 21 at 9.24am BST, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year in the UK.
- This astronomical event occurs when the northern hemisphere is tilted closest towards the sun, creating up to 18 hours of daylight in parts of the UK, including London.
- Although people often think of the solstice as lasting an entire day, it is actually a precise moment, when the sun appears at its highest position in the sky, creating the extended daylight that characterises the event.
- Stonehenge will host thousands of visitors for the traditional solstice celebration. As a location it is aligned with the direction of the sunrise on the summer solstice, making it a significant site for marking this annual event.
- English Heritage is allowing open access to Stonehenge from Saturday evening through Sunday morning. Sunrise is expected at around 4.52am above the Heel Stone.
- Be warned that parking has already sold out. Visitors are encouraged to use public transport to get there where possible as heavy car traffic is anticipated from Saturday afternoon, June 20.
- The occasion is celebrated by pagans, druids and many others who gather for rituals symbolising rebirth and the changing seasons.
- Astronomically, the summer solstice does mark the beginning of summer. Explaining the reason behind this, the Royal Museums of Greenwich states: “The tilt of the Earth produces the seasons, including the changes in weather associated with them. When the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it receives more direct sunlight and for a longer portion of the day, so the temperature increases. Similarly in winter, the reduction in sunlight hours and more glancing angle to the Sun means the air remains colder.”
- Whilst the solstice marks the official start of astronomical summer, meteorological summer starts at the beginning of June, due to the time it takes for the atmosphere and oceans to heat up, and runs until the last day of August.
