We are flying into Heathrow and renting a car. Our original plan included a stop by Stonehenge, Salisbury (I just finished Sarum) on our way to Bath (after flying all night, of course!). My concern is we land on June 22nd and I'm afraid we'll get stuck in summer solstice Stonehenge traffic. Should we wait and take the Mad Max tour from Bath the next day or do you think there's no need to worry? Thanks for your input!
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
If the solstice is the morning of June 21, as I think it is, you'll be there the day after, so there won't a problem.
If I'm wrong, according to my wife's experience and pictures I've seen, you're screwed if you try it.
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1850 posts
I just checked the English heritage website for Stonehenge. It says that opening hours around the solstice are subject to change and you should check with them. (I think this has to do with the grass getting trampled during the solstice celebrations. I know private access is not available the last part of June.)
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/visitor-information
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2800 posts
Ed is right, summer solstice is the 21st. There will be heavy traffic Sunday evening the 20th and on the 21st, but on the 22nd you should be fine.
Posted by
Lock Haven, PA
44 posts
Just before you get to Stonehenge divert into Amesbury to Reeve the Baker. Fabulous Wiltshire pasties. We stumbled on it whilst seeking petrol When I saw people queued up on the sidewalk to get in I knew it was a must stop. I have been there twice since and it is always excellent.
Reeves is a chain, so you will find them elsewhere.
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
In response to Jeff's reply, Reeve the Baker has now switched from making pasties to making pastries.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9369 posts
Apparently, Tim, you don't know what a Wiltshire Pasty is. Fillings vary, but it is sort of like beef stew in a pastry crust - beef, potato, carrot, leek, etc. "Pasties" is exactly what Jeff meant.
Posted by
Ojai, CA
591 posts
Sounds like a Pittsburgh pierogi......
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
780 posts
Ah but a pierogi has kind of like a pasta covering, whereas Pasties are actually like a pastry dough with meat and stuff in them, and then baked. They were made as a "food on the go"... and are DELICIOUS!
Also delicious is the Pastys' cousin, the Sausage Roll...
Posted by
Santa Rosa
16 posts
You might do better to get your bearings, perhaps go to Salisbury, drive on to Bath and do a Mad Max Tour next day. We ended up having a friend drive us to all the stops on the tour, Stonehenge, Avebury and the Cotswald towns. We took a bus ride from Bath to Wells and spent several happy hours there on a Saturday, soaking up the local market and the cathedral. We liked it more than Bath. All of that said, Stonehenge is best in early morning before most of the tour buses arrive. You can get photographs with no people in them!