With a heatwave on the horizon, the pièce de résistance is the Summer Solstice. If you've found yourself thinking the sun's been hanging around a little longer lately, you'd be right – it's the longest day of the year, with more daylight than any other. So whether you're planning a BBQ, gathering friends for an impromptu movie night, or simply looking for an excuse to stay outside that bit later, there's never been a better time to make the most of it.

While Stonehenge remains one of the most famous places to mark the occasion, the Summer Solstice is celebrated in all sorts of ways across the world. In Sweden, Midsummer is practically a national institution, with people heading to the countryside to wear flower crowns, feast on strawberries, dance around maypoles and sing well into the evening (thankfully, nothing like the events of the 2019 horror Midsommar). In Mexico, crowds gather at Chichén Itzá to see the ancient sun-drenched El Castillo pyramid, while in Austria, huge bonfires light up the Alps as communities come together to usher in the year's longest day.

Whether you're joining an age-old tradition or just enjoying an extra few hours in the garden, it’s well worth joining in on the celebrations.