Overview
- English Heritage announced on Wednesday that every advance booking for August made at least 72 hours before travel will be automatically entered into a daily prize draw for private access.
- Each day’s winning booking will receive roughly 20 minutes of escorted, exclusive time inside the stone circle in the morning, with winners notified at least 24 hours beforehand.
- A Stonehenge team member will attend each private visit, up to 10 people from a single booking may enter together, and winners will be offered a complimentary breakfast roll and hot drink.
- The move temporarily opens access usually reserved for dignitaries and paid small groups; Stonehenge has been roped off to general entry since 1977 and draws about 1–1.3 million visitors a year.
- The trial could set a precedent for wider close-access offers and will be watched for effects on conservation, visitor management and demand for paid inside experiences.