Solitude standing: Stonehenge opens lottery for unique solo experience at English Heritage site
English Heritage has launched a unique competition to satisfy the dreams of people seeking to spend a moment of quiet calm alone within the iconic circle at Stonehenge, one of Britain's most emblematic monuments.
Published on 31/07/2026 - 13:06 GMT+2
Millions of people have walked around Stonehenge over the past century, but almost none have experienced Britain's most iconic prehistoric monument in complete silence. That is about to change.
Throughout August, English Heritage is giving one visitors each day the opportunity to step inside the UNESCO World Heritage site's famous stone circle before opening hours, with exclusive access reserved solely for the winners and their group.
The unique experience comes at no additional cost. Anyone who books a Stonehenge ticket through the English Heritage website at least 72 hours before their visit will automatically be entered into the daily prize draw.
Each winner will be left alone at the monument to spend 20 minutes inside the 5,000-year-old stone circle between 9:10am and 9:30am, before the site opens to the public.
Although a member of the Stonehenge team will accompany the lucky recipient to answer questions about the site's history and conservation, no other visitors will be present during the exclusive access period.
Stonehenge has welcomed millions of visitors since becoming a ticketed attraction around 125 years ago but, according to English Heritage, the honour of having the monument entirely to oneself has traditionally been reserved for heads of state, celebrities and participants in premium private tours.
The private visit offers a rare chance to appreciate details often missed during a standard visit, from the sheer scale of the megaliths to ancient carvings that cannot be seen from the public pathways. Winners will also have the chance to take photographs and videos without the usual crowds in the background.
And if that's not enough to tempt you into trying your luck, each member of the winning party will receive a complimentary breakfast roll and a hot drink.
What you need to do
Stonehenge attracts around 1.3 million people every year, making it one of England's most popular heritage attractions.
While visitors can already book premium Stone Circle Experience tours that are shared with groups of up to 52 people, the August prize draw is the first initiative to offer complete privacy inside the ancient monument at no extra cost.
Book your Stonehenge ticket through the English Heritage website at least 72 hours before your visit in August, and you'll automatically be entered into the daily prize draw.
