Everything Under the Sun: 6 Best Spots to Celebrate the Summer Solstice in the UK

Can you feel it? The drawn-out nights providing more daylight, the flowers in full bloom scenting your nostrils with floral notes, and the warm sunrays kissing your skin. It must be the countdown to the summer solstice or Midsummer. As the Northern Hemisphere gears up to reach this yearly milestone, we look at the top UK locations you can visit to be amongst the best celebrations.

Coming up in this article: 

• What is the Summer Solstice? 

• Where Can I Take Part in the Midsummer Festivities in the UK?  

• History of the Summer Solstice Festivals  

What is the Summer Solstice? 

Occurring annually between the 20th and the 22nd June, the summer solstice marks the longest day and shortest night within the Northern Hemisphere.  

The reason the event takes place yearly is due to the Earth’s placement when orbiting the sun. During the year, the Earth rotates on a tiled axis, and when the Northern Hemisphere is at the suns closest point, the days become longer and nights shorter. This same effect is present during the winter solstice, except instead of being closest to the sun, we celebrate being at its furthest point. 

You might be thinking “how to equinoxes fall into these rotations?” And that’s a very good question. We like to think of the spring equinox and autumn equinox as halfway points between the solstices. For the simple reason that on an equinox, the days and nights lengths are the same.

Where Can I Take Part in the Midsummer Festivities in the UK?

Wondering where in the UK you can join in the celebrations? Don’t worry, we’ve picked the best 6 places for you to have your moment in the sun. Whether you’re craving a short break to Scotland, or a weekend in the heart of England, we’ve found the perfect places that have summer solstice celebrations for you to join.

1. Stonehenge, England

One of the UK’s most iconic landmarks and one of the seven wonders of the world: the Neolithic standing stones are an enigma. We’re not quite certain what the builders intended when they built Stonehenge about 5,000 years ago. But thousands congregate here every year to see the solar phenomenon. Perfectly aligned with the sun’s movements, the Heel Stone provides a spiritual venue to experience the rising and setting of the Earth’s largest star.

Regardless if you can make it to the solstice, touring Stonehenge is a site not to miss out on. Luckily, Rabbie’s can take you there throughout the year.

2. Glastonbury Tor, England

For a spot of Druid mystique visit Glastonbury Tor this summer solstice. The open-air tower, perched on a hill in the Somerset countryside, has mythological and Pagan ties. It’s second in line after Stonehenge for solstice guests, so clearly has made a good name for itself as a prime location. Check out 3-day Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Bath & the South West Coast tour from London to see it for yourself.

3. Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire, England

In Little Moreton Hall, you can take part in Tudor Midsummer festivities. Every year they put on a weekend extravaganza in honour of the summer solstice. The celebrations include willow-crown making and a Renaissance boogie in the orchard. Plus, our favourite; parading puppets around the place to chase nasty demons away and guarantee healthy crops.

4. Bryn Celli Ddu, Wales

Bryn Celli Ddu on the Welsh Island Anglesey is a Neolithic tomb with a secret. At first, it was a New Stone Age ditch with a curious stone circle. Later, mysterious builders altered it into a mound concealing a tomb with intricate passageways and chambers. And yes, you guessed it, something special happens here on the summer solstice. For one morning and one morning only, the rising sunlight floods into the enclosure, lighting it up for all to see. Be sure not to miss out and book your trip to Wales in time for this spectacular.

5. Unst, Shetland, Scotland

The term solstice is a combination of the Latin words sol meaning ‘sun’ and sistere ‘to stand still’. And if you’ve ever wished time to stop, you can come close in Britain’s most northerly island, Unst in Shetland. During the summer solstice here, the sun barely dips below the horizon before rising again. That means a 19-hour-long day and 5 hours of twilight which the locals call ‘Simmer Dim’. With its northerly position, this corner of the UK is one of the best places to witness this celestial event.

6. Hyde Park, London, England

To add a bit of a red herring into the mix, head to Hyde Park in London to experience the Swedish Midsommar celebrations. With the growing population of Swedes in London, they’ve chosen a new place to celebrate their precious holiday. For over ten years, the park has been the prime location for the festivities and the perfect place to dance the day away around a maypole. Once you’re done with the party, you can follow up your fun with a Rabbie's tour from England's capital.

History of the Summer Solstice Festivals   

We’ve looked to the sun to tell us about the changes in the seasons since Neolithic times. Solstices, in particular, mark important points in the year and have been celebrated worldwide. And the longest day of the year has always baffled us even more and prompted a significant amount of worship. 

The Egyptians built their pyramids and sphinx to line up with the sun cycles to appease the sun god Ra. Medieval Celtic, Slavic and Germanic people lit bonfires to commemorate the phenomenon and wish for a good harvest and ward off evil spirits. 

The ancient Greeks were also interested in the sun’s movements and solstices. They used myth and gods to interpret reality. Their tales of gods Apollo and Helios, who embody the sun, recognise this mysterious natural power.

Paganism is still alive in Sweden and Midsommar is a reason for a big celebration. People wear flower crowns, eat herring, and dance around a maypole pretending to be frogs. And unwed women pick seven flowers the day before to place under their pillows, so they’ll dream of their future husbands. 

In the UK, you’ll find mysterious Neolithic standing stones scattered around the country. From what we know, they pay tribute to solar movements and have become prime locations to observe the sunrise and sunset on the summer solstice. And in the Scottish Borders, they select the “best laddie” during local solstice festivities. The strongest and most fearless man or “laddie” gets the impressive title from proving himself in a variety of games and competitions

Feel the Magic with Rabbie’s 

With your summer solstice celebration locations in order, the last thing you need to do is begin the countdown. Whether you depart in five days, or five weeks, it’s never too early to start getting excited. Get ready to embrace the magical whispers of ancient folklore passed through the generations, stand in the presence of great stone structures, all the while basking in the summer sun. What more could you want? Let us lead the way with the help of our knowledgeable driver-guides, who can reel off more tales than any of the greatest books, all in the comfort of our mini-coaches. Ensure you’re also signed up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about new departure points, the latest dose of travel inspiration, and the first to hear about our Black Friday travel deals.