Stonehenge Travel Forum

Hi there -

I was wondering if anyone could tell me the last year or decade it was possible to get close to Stonehenge? As in close enough to touch or sit right next to the stones? I'm asking for a story I'm writing. I think 1978 was the year the fence went up, but would access have been restricted before then?

Thanks!

Cant pin it down til I find my pictures BUT I was there in 1976 or 77,think 76. At that time there were no restrictions - even some graffiti was visible. Seemed to be no one around to keep order except in a little booth where they sold tickets. However there was only an excuse for a fence around the place and many didnt bother to go to the gate and just went under the wire without paying or ticket.

Access to the stones themselves was prohibited by English Heritage (who now own/administer the site) in 1987.

As noted above, prior to 1984 (when Eng Heritage took over) it was easy enough to get over/under the wire fence. The fence is still wire, but there are security guards/patrols etc now.

Great information - thank you!

As a child and up to the age of 16 I spent the summers on my brother's farm in Wiltshire and every time we went past Stonehege we stopped for a runaround, sometimes a picnic. There were never many people about - but not so many people had cars in thoses days to get there.

My own children did the same years later but on a visit in September 1983 the site was cordoned off and, from the photo we took at the time, it looks like rope rather than wire. Perhaps the beginning of the end of open access?

Access up to the stones is still permitted on certain occasions, however, such as for special tour groupls like Astral Tours (or so I am told).

I have been within the stones. As far as I know, access is largely (if not entirely) restricted to groups with an academic interest. Visits are pre-booked well in advance, and take place prior to the usual opening hours (mine was at 8am). I suppose it is possible that they may be allowed after opening hours too, in the summer.

But for individual members of the public, or general tour groups, access is limited to the perimeter path.