Summer solstice celebrations around the UK – in pictures
Around the UK people marked the longest day in the northern hemisphere, from the annual festival at Stonehenge to the London Eye, while a gathering of hundreds of druids, pagans and revellers gathered at the ancient neolithic monument in Avebury, Wiltshire
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The sun breaks the horizon at StonehengePhotograph: Ben Birchall/PA
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On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the stone circle, and rays of sunlight are channelled into the centre of the monumentPhotograph: Ben Birchall/PA
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A woman at Stonehenge catches up on some sleepPhotograph: Ben Birchall/PA
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For the first time ever, the London Eye opened at dawn to celebrate the solsticePhotograph: Jonathan Hordle/PA
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Headgear at StonehengePhotograph: Will Oliver/EPA
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A man blows bubbles at StonehengePhotograph: Ben Birchall/PA
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A man between the stonesPhotograph: Ben Birchall/PA
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People gather on a ridge overlooking the Avebury neolithic henge monumentPhotograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of yearsPhotograph: Will Oliver/EPA
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The Avebury henge is the largest stone circle in BritainPhotograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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A hula hoop at AveburyPhotograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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Revellers practise yoga before sunrisePhotograph: Toby Melville/Reuters
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Up to 25,000 people were expected to attend the overnight celebration of the longest day of the year at the Stonehenge world heritage sitePhotograph: Toby Melville/Reuters
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Sunrise was at 4.52am local timePhotograph: Will Oliver/EPA
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A man juggles at AveburyPhotograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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Catching the sunrise on smartphonesPhotograph: Will Oliver/EPA
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A performance of the Kings Drums, after the sun set on the night before the longest day in AveburyPhotograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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Dancing at Avebury after sunsetPhotograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
