To Stone Circle Access or not to?

You stated "...really rather do the inner access... a must see for my sister". If that is indeed the case, then by all means do it! Really good memories are often well worth the "inconvenience" and are in fact often enhanced by the "inconvenience". Just food for thought.

We had an "inner access" tour when we went to Stonehenge two years ago, and it was phenomenal. I really can't imagine seeing Stonehenge any other way.

Will try reworking. Thanks!

So the last day before we leave is July 1st and access should be available. I am thinking we should do sunset vs sunrise since we will be coming from London. What would be the best way to go about this since we won't have a car?

Days are long on the first of July.

According to sunrisesunset.com morning twilight is at 4:10am, sunrise: 4:56am, sunset: 9:26pm, and evening twilight at 10:12pm.

If you are planning to be there at either sunrise or sunset you may not want a long drive before or after, in the twilight.

Assuming - given this summer - that the routes, the stones, and you are not under water.

So the 9ish one then. Nigel, do you know of a reasonable car hire for this? Someone to drive us?

No, I live all the way across the country, 3 hours away.

I went to Stonehenge once. That was plenty for me.

According to the English Heritage website, the evening slots on July 1 are all sold out.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/forms/stone-circle-access

You might be able to get a morning slot (5 or 6 am) but getting there from London at that time in the morning will be difficult ( or impossible) without a car. Cost of a private driver would be significant, I would think.

Maybe change your plans and spend the night before in Salisbury?

July 2017 is all sold out? I just looked a few days ago.

Sorry---I was looking at 2016! Are they actually booking for 2017 now? The form only goes up to March 2017.

Oh, the times I posted were for this year. They will be different for 2017.

I did this a week and a half ago, and for me, it was entirely worth it. Stonehenge gets over a million visitors per year. (1.3 million at last count, I believe.) Divide that by the number of days it's open to the public and the number of hours it's open per day, and there would be an average of 500 people there at any given time. During busier tourist times, this would be higher, of course, and lower at slow times. July would be a busy time.

To me, that can't compare being there with only 29 other people and getting to walk among the stones for an hour. I loved it.

You can, if you wish, return during regular hours on the same day on the same ticket, but I saw no reason to do so.

We stayed overnight in Amesbury (at Fairlawn House) and used Stu's Taxi to get there and back early in the morning. http://www.stustaxi.co.uk Fairlawn House is a B&B, so we were back in time to partake of their excellent and hearty breakfast after our visit. Stu does do airport pickups from London, so it might be possible to hire him from London, but you would have to decide if, for two people, a tour would be more economical. Or, you could consider taking the train to Salisbury and getting a taxi from there, depending on the time of day of your access. (The bus from Salisbury to Stonehenge does not operate during inner circle access times.)

Thanks BB for the info and encouragement, I will not give up on the special access just yet. I just have to sit down and rebuild my itinerary.

I believe it is usual for Stone Circle Access to be restricted in the week before and the week after the solstice.

You should be fine to book for July 2017. It shouldn't be filled yet, and may not even be available for booking yet.

We booked in February for the end of May, and while the earliest time of the day was full, there were still spots available in the other 2 morning slots and in the evening slots.

The "Stone Circle" in Avebury, about 35 miles NW of Stonehenge allows touching the huge stones. Avebury is a quant English village with thatched stone houses.

Along with special access to Stonehenge I want to do Avebury and Old Sarum if possible. Maybe stay the night before in Salisbury and rent a car for the day before dropping it off and heading to a hotel near Heathrow for a flight out the next day.