Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments – and this August lucky visitors will win the rare chance to step inside the ancient stone circle.English Heritage, which manages the landmark, has launched a new initiative giving advance ticket holders the opportunity to win exclusive access to the monument before it opens to the public.Normally, visitors can only view the stones from behind a barrier, with general public access inside the circle restricted since 1977.Throughout August, everyone who books an advance ticket to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire will automatically be entered into a daily prize draw.The experience is usually reserved for foreign dignitaries and other VIP guests. Visitors to Stonehenge could win a chance to get up close with the historic rocksGeorgia Butters, English Heritage’s head of operations for Stonehenge, described the rope-free experience as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’.She said: ‘Stonehenge is one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks and a bucket-list destination for millions of people across the globe – but very few people have ever experienced the monument in complete peace and quiet. ‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand within the ancient stones with no one else around, soaking up the atmosphere and spirituality of this remarkable place.’ The site dates back around 5,000 years, with the stone circle erected during the late Neolithic period, around 2500 BC. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, recognised for its ‘incomparable testimony to prehistoric times’. Two types of stones make up the monument – larger sarsens and smaller bluestones. Ancient carvings on the stones are not visible from the public path but access to the inner circle would allow guests to see them in person. The stone circle has been roped off since 1977 and visitors can now only get up to five metres closeWinners will also be treated to a breakfast roll and hot drink before they continue their visit.To be in with a chance of winning, visitors need to purchase a ticket to visit Stonehenge at least 72 hours before their trip.Every advance booking made for travel during August will automatically be entered into the draw, with one winning booking selected each day of the month.Winners will be notified at least 24 hours in advance and will be treated to their exclusive access between 9am and 9.30am.Stonehenge was built in accordance with the Northern Hemisphere’s midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset. Last month, thousands of sun-worshippers flocked to Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice, as the sun rises on the UK’s longest day of the year.Around 20,000 people gathered on the morning of June 21 at the Neolithic site to watch sunrise to mark the ancient astronomical phenomenon.Spectators were pictured standing around the monument’s ‘heel stone’ or entrance to witness the 4.52am sunrise. One booking each day in August will be selected for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Marking the occasion, visitors put on a purple light display before dawn, and were captured placing their hands on the ancient structure, playing traditional instruments and taking pictures in celebration as the sun began to stream through the morning fog into the centre of the stones.The summer solstice, which takes place on June 20 or 21 annually, occurs when the Earth’s axis has its maximum tilt toward the sun as it reaches its highest position in the sky, ensuring the longest period of daylight for the year.Solstices are widely believed to have been observed at Stonehenge for thousands of years, with Midsummer celebrations traditionally marked through outdoor events that include displays of dancing, bonfires and feasting.