All in all, we're talking 11 acres of roadside and leisure heaven. Solstice Park Services is directly off the A303 and boasts a 24 hour Co-op (with petrol station, charging points and toilet), Harvester pub (Amesbury Archer), KFC, McDonald's, Solstice Bar & Grill, Toby Carvery and Pizza Hut. There's also a Holiday Inn with a brasserie.
The forecourt boats Co-op Petrol, Co-op Food, Costa Express, Rollover, AdBlue Containers, Car Wash, Jet Wash and a Free Cash Machine in case you need an urgent Big Mac. There are also charging points at the services - certainly wqorth a plug!
This is the last roadside refreshment stop before Stonehenge, which is about two miles further down the A303. Before you go, look out for the strange piece of sculpture by Charlotte Moreton that looks like a cross between a helicopter and a fly. Can you guess what it is?
OK, so it's a dragonfly sculpture, made from a recycled helicopter. There are five other works by Charlotte Solstice Park and maybe more planned. Send in your suggestions to us now!
Gold helicopter by Marky: I'd very much like to see a gold helicopter actually made of real gold.
White Horse by Martin Muncle Munchers: I would like to suggest placing a giant white horse here just a few feet taller than the one planned for Kent.
Albatross by A. Mariner: How about a great big albatross made out of an old Jumbo Jet?
Burger 2 Go by Yummy Mummy: How about a giant gold burger that glows like a spaceship at night?
Solstice Park Services, Mid Summer Place, Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7SQ
To travel from Woodhenge to Solstice Park Services, head south on the A345 (Countess Road) for approximately 1 mile until you reach the Countess Roundabout. At this junction, take the first exit onto the A303 eastbound toward London and continue for about 1.5 miles before taking the exit for Solstice Park, bringing the total distance to roughly 2.5 miles. Significant delays are most common at the Countess Roundabout, which serves as a major intersection for traffic moving between Salisbury and the A303, and congestion often builds on the A303 eastbound approach during peak travel hours or holiday weekends as motorists transition away from the Stonehenge heritage area.
Solstice Park (Opens in new window) The website for Solstice Park primarily functions as a business and development portal rather than a tourist guide, providing information about the site's role as a 160-acre strategic employment and logistics hub.
Business and Employment Data: It details the park's history over the last 25 years, noting that it currently employs over 2,500 people and is designated by Wiltshire Council as a Principal Employment Area.
Expansion Proposals: A significant portion of the site is dedicated to future visions, including technical assessments and proposals for expanding the eastern boundary to create an additional 2,000 jobs.
Logistics and Connectivity: The page highlights the park's "exceptional connectivity" via the A303 to major networks like the M3 and A34, as well as its 30-mile proximity to Southampton Port.
On-Site Amenities: While focused on industry, it lists available services such as 24-hour access, EV charging points, and the presence of food, retail, and hotel facilities (like the Holiday Inn Salisbury-Stonehenge.
Sustainability and Technical Specs: Information is provided regarding the sustainable nature of the development, including EPC "A" ratings for buildings and environmental impact considerations for new projects.
Previous Stop: Woodhenge An atmospheric Neolithic site near Stonehenge, featuring six concentric rings of concrete markers that indicate where massive timber posts once stood around 2500 BC. This UNESCO World Heritage site is aligned with the summer solstice and includes a central flint cairn marking a significant prehistoric burial.
Next Stop: Amesbury Famously Britain’s oldest continuously occupied settlement, with a history dating back to 8820 BC. Located just two miles from Stonehenge on the River Avon, it offers charming historic sites like the 10th-century Church of St Mary and St Melor, the scenic Lord’s Walk, and the Amesbury History Centre.
