Glastonbury Calling

Visiting Glastonbury is fairly straightforward. For air travelers, the closest major airport is Bristol Airport (BRS), about 45 miles to the north. Bristol offers flights from many UK and European cities, and from there you can rent a car or hop on a bus or coach into Bristol city center or Bath before transferring to local transport into Glastonbury. Other nearby airports include Exeter and Cardiff (both roughly a 2-hour drive away); they serve many domestic flights if Bristol is inconvenient.

If you prefer trains or coaches, Glastonbury is well connected despite not having its own station. The nearest railway station is Castle Cary, about 14 miles north of town – roughly a 25-30 minute taxi ride. Trains to Castle Cary run from London Paddington (via Bristol or Bath) and other UK cities. From Castle Cary you can grab a taxi or a local bus north toward the festival. Long-distance coach services like National Express or Megabus stop in nearby towns (for instance, Wells or Bath), and from those cities you can take the regular First Bus #376 service that runs through Glastonbury about every half hour, or simply catch a short local taxi. Once you arrive in Glastonbury, the town is compact enough to explore on foot and taxis or ride-share services are available for any final legs.

By car, Glastonbury is easy to reach from most directions. From the M5 motorway, take exit 23 (for Bridgwater) and follow the A39 south into Glastonbury. Visitors from London often use the M3 (or M4/A303 route) down to the A37/A361 and then pick up the M5 to J23—that will also take you onto the A39 into town. The roads are well-signposted, and the drive takes you through some lovely Somerset countryside. Keep in mind that parking in Glastonbury is limited when events are on, so plan to arrive early. The festival organizers usually set up extra parking areas, but if they fill up you may need to park in an overflow lot or a neighboring village and take a short taxi in.

Because Glastonbury is a small, tourist-friendly town, accommodations can fill up quickly around event time. It’s wise to book your stay well in advance. Glastonbury itself has a number of charming B&Bs, boutique hotels and guest inns. If those sell out, nearby towns are a great fallback: Wells or Street are just a short drive or bus ride away and have more hotels, and the cities of Bath or Bristol are within about an hour’s travel (offering a wide range of lodging options). Whether you prefer a cozy country inn or a chain hotel, look to book early. That way you can relax and enjoy Glastonbury Calling without worrying about where you’ll sleep after the music ends.