Summer Solstice – The Longest Day of the Year ☀️ Saturday 21st June 2025

Formby Bubble
Jun 21
2 min read

Today marks the Summer Solstice, the official start of summer and the longest day of the year in the UK — and right here in Formby.

During the summer solstice, the Earth is tilted closest to the sun, which means the sun is at its highest point in the sky for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. As a result, we enjoy more daylight today than on any other day of the year.

In #Formby, that means:

Over 17 hours of daylight
A very early sunrise
A late sunset
And the shortest night of the year

The word solstice comes from Latin, meaning “sun standing still,” because the sun appears to pause at its highest point before slowly starting to drop lower each day.

Why do people go to Stonehenge?

Every year, thousands of people visit Stonehenge on the solstice to watch the sunrise perfectly align with the ancient stones. Built over 4,000 years ago, it’s believed the monument was designed to mark this special day.

From modern-day Druids to curious visitors, people gather there to celebrate light, nature, and the changing seasons — something humans have done for thousands of years.

Do you really have no shadow today?

Not quite! A common myth is that you cast no shadow on the summer solstice, but this is only true if the sun is directly overhead — which doesn’t happen in the UK. Here in Formby, the sun is high, but you’ll still see a short shadow, especially around midday.

So whether you’re walking the woods, sitting in the garden, or watching the sun go down over the dunes, take a moment to enjoy this turning point in the year. From here on, the days will slowly start to shorten again — but summer is only just beginning.

Happy Summer Solstice, Formby! 🌞