Crowds gather at Stonehenge to mark the summer solstice as a heatwave sweeps across London and the UK

Thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge on Saturday morning to observe the summer solstice, coinciding with a heatwave that brought hot temperatures to London and other parts of the UK.

In London, temperatures reached 18C by 5am, with many areas, including Greater London, officially experiencing a heatwave since Friday. Overnight temperatures in Yeovilton and Crosby peaked at 19.7C by 6am, with several towns in Cumbria and Lancashire also seeing highs above 19C.

The summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year and the transition from spring, allowed visitors rare access to the Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire. Spectators watched as the sun rose behind the Heel Stone, casting light into the center of the ancient circle.

Jennifer Wexler from English Heritage described the event as a significant tradition spanning millennia, where people have gathered to celebrate the sun reaching its highest point in the sky.

Ahead of the event, both Stonehenge and Wiltshire Police cautioned about heavy traffic and large crowds. An amber heat-health alert, the first since September 2023, was issued for all regions of England until Monday morning.

In London, Sunday will be sunny and very warm, with increasing cloudiness later in the day. The night will remain warm with clear skies and a chance of scattered showers. Monday to Wednesday will bring dry weather with sunny intervals and a cooling breeze, possibly with a few showers later in the week.