The summer solstice was celebrated by around 6,000 people at Stonehenge in Wiltshire this morning.
Those who watched the sunrise over the horizon at 4.49 a.m. at the neolithic Wilshire monument would have had to get up early.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, visitors have been allowed to return to the World Heritage Site for the first time in three years to commemorate the longest day.
Crowds disregarded coronavirus restrictions last year by attending the summer solstice. The police had to disperse them.
The partygoers gathered as Britain prepares for 77°F temperatures today, which will rise to 84°F by Thursday.
The highest temperatures, according to the Met Office, will be in the South-East, while Wales and Scotland will also have pleasant weather, with temperatures reaching around 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Light, soft winds are forecast in England and Wales, however Scotland and Northern Ireland will become cloudy, with showers possible.
Although the country is warming up again, temperatures this week will not be as high as they were last week or on Saturday, when the thermometer reached a scorching 91 degrees.
A large number of people gathered at the stones this morning to see the sun rise above the horizon, according to footage shot this morning.
Stunning photographs showed participants wearing floral headgear and vibrant clothing, while others showed them capturing the scene with their phones.
The event was livestreamed for anyone to witness from afar by English Heritage, which manages the site.
Drivers passing by the location were warned to expect traffic congestion on the adjoining A303 as people exited.
Stonehenge is a monument erected on the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset alignment. The sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the Stone Circle’s historic entryway, on the summer solstice.
The sun’s rays are then directed into the monument’s heart. Stonehenge is thought to have been celebrating solstices for thousands of years.
The word solstice comes from the Latin words sol, which means “sun,” and sistere, which means “stand still.”
Chris Park, a bagpipe-playing druid who attended, told The Guardian that his return after a two-year hiatus owing to Covid was’very thrilling.’
‘We haven’t been able to get to the stones for the summer solstice for the last two years,’ he explained.
‘It’s wonderful to be back and to be a part of this incredible scenery once more.’
‘We’ve been planning for this moment for two years,’ Jennifer Davies, Stonehenge’s head of historic properties, said.
‘Some individuals have been keen to return, while others may still be unable to cope with the crowds on Salisbury Plain.’
This morning, Wiltshire Police stated that “all is serene” near the monument and that “no problems” had occurred. It’s a stark contrast to the previous year’s events.
The reintroduction of the solstice is also welcome news for towns and villages near Stonehenge that formerly relied on tourism.
‘Inevitably, there were minor traffic delays entering Stonehenge due to the large number of vehicles eager to visit the monument, but the event went ahead without a hitch and the atmosphere remained festive throughout – no doubt aided by the fantastic weather this year.’
‘It’s wonderful news that only two people were arrested, demonstrating that our good working relationship with our partners, such as English Heritage at Stonehenge and the National Trust at Avebury, helps large-scale events like this go well.’
A 49-year-old male from the London area was arrested on suspicion of common assault, according to police.
A 41-year-old Trowbridge man was also arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A and Class B narcotics with the intent to supply them.
They are still being held in police custody.
Ness Point in Lowestoft was the first spot in the UK to witness the summer solstice. Thousands of people set their alarms and drove through the night to witness it firsthand.
‘The actual warmth is growing across southern areas of the UK,’ Met Office forecaster Aiden McGivern said of the weather today and this week. London is 25 [77F], Hull is 25, and the rest of the country is in the low twenties.
‘However, it will become significantly warmer on Wednesday and Thursday.’
‘There have been some cloudy skies in the northern sections of the country. During Tuesday night, however, the clouds break up across northern England, southern Scotland, and eastern Scotland.
‘As a result, at the beginning of Wednesday, there will be sunny spells here.’ The far north and north-west of Scotland will be cloudier and damper, with a slight breeze.
‘And even as we head into Wednesday, it’ll be a lovely, warm night.’
‘Wednesday then begins with plenty of sunshine over England and Wales, with eastern Scotland increasingly seeing a brighter day than Tuesday.’
‘Cloud breaks will be seen in western Scotland at times, with northern Ireland brightening up during the afternoon.’
‘However, a strong breeze for the far north-west of Scotland, as well as denser overcast for the northern Isles, will bring further rain here by the afternoon.’
‘Feeling cold, with temperatures reaching 13 (55F) or 14 (57F) in the far north and north-west, 25 (77F) in Aberdeen by this time, and 28 (82F) in the south-east.
‘So those temps are steadily rising. By Thursday, even warmer air will be on its way.
‘We will see some warmer air coming from the Atlantic with the ridge of high pressure across southern areas day by day insulation from sunshine, of course high or very high UV levels at the time, and we will see some high or very high UV levels at the moment.’