Glastonbury, Somerset (not just a music festival!)
Glastonbury (Somerset) is of course best known for being the home to the world’s biggest music festival (it’s actually held in a nearby village). But that’s not the only reason to visit. Home to a stunning Tor, a quirky town and nearby sights like Wells (England’s smallest city), there are plenty of other reasons to visit.
If out walking, follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs on leads near steep banks (and away from toxic spring bulbs). If at the coast, read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside (check for beach bans, before travel).
Walk up Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor is the obvious start, because it sets the scene in minutes. The climb is short, but it makes you work just enough to feel you’ve arrived somewhere.
At the top, St Michael’s Tower stands stripped back and weathered, which suits the hill. On a bright day, the views to Somerset Levels spread out in a wide, calm sweep, with lanes, fields, and water lines catching the light.
Most people head up and down the same way. If you take a wider loop, the Tor changes shape as you walk, and the hill stops being a single postcard shot.
This slower route gives you space, and it also frames the town below. As a result, Glastonbury town feels less like a cluster of shops and more like a place sitting in its landscape.
St Michael’s Tower (look out, not down!)
St Michael’s Tower is all that remains of an older church, and it reads like a marker more than a building. The stone feels plain and direct, and that simplicity helps, because the setting does the rest.
From up here, the horizon does most of the talking. The views to Somerset Levels can look soft and almost coastal, especially when the air turns hazy and the land flattens into pale greens and silvers.
Visit Glastonbury Abbey (history you can feel)
Glastonbury Abbey sits close to the centre, yet it feels set apart. You step through, and the noise drops a notch, even on a busy day.
The ruins don’t need much explanation to land. Besides, the site connects to the Isle of Avalon story, which hangs around the town in a quiet, persistent way, even if you treat it as legend rather than fact.
It’s tempting to do a quick circuit and move on. However, the Abbey rewards a slower pace, since the stonework, grass paths, and open spaces keep shifting your attention.
Spend time with the Isle of Avalon story
The Isle of Avalon story sits all over Glastonbury, in shop names, guidebooks, and local talk. Still, you don’t have to sign up to anything to enjoy it:
It’s a mythical island in Arthurian legend, renowned as a place of healing, and the final resting place of King Arthur. Following the Battle of Camlann, a mortally wounded Arthur was taken there by Morgan le Fay to recover, with legends suggesting that he remains there, waiting to return.
Go to Chalice Well Gardens (stillness & shade)
Chalice Well Gardens feels like a small world of its own. The paths twist through trees and flowers, and the whole place carries a gentle hush, even when other visitors are around.
Water sits at the centre of the experience, and it sets the tone. Meanwhile, benches and sheltered corners make it easy to stay longer than planned, because nothing pushes you to keep moving.
Notice the red spring at Chalice Well
The iron-rich water is famous for its colour, and it catches people off guard. It looks intense, yet it’s just water doing what water does, shaped by the ground it travels through.
Don’t drink this water, it can make you sick (iron oxide is also toxic to dogs, the same reason to wash your face after using sunscreen or cosmetics).
You can walk from Chalice Well to the Tor, if you’re feeling energetic. This route also gives you a nice rhythm, garden calm, hillside climb, then town again.
Glastonbury High Street (many indie shops)
Glastonbury town is known for its alternative streak, but it’s not all crystals and tarot cards. You can also find independent bookstores, shops that sell classic music and small cafés.
You’ll find plenty of places to grab lunch, a pastry, or a proper cup of tea. Some are clearly visitor-friendly, while others feel more like everyday spots for locals.
Glastonbury Music Festival (in nearby Pilton)
Glastonbury music festival is actually held near the village of Pilton, whose population swells from 1000 to 200,000 each summer. The locals don’t mind that much, as the festival-goers are a pretty peaceful lot, and obviously bring in income for the pubs!
The festival does generate huge amounts of litter. But it has things in order, with chosen litter pickers (who get their own campsite with flushing toilets and meal vouchers) going into action when the festival ends.
Leaving the place pristine within a few days. Unusual items found include:
- A grandfather clock
- A bra with poo in it
- A wig that someone had vomited in
- People sleeping under piles of clothes!
Read tips for greener music festivals.
Near to Wells (England’s smallest city)
If you’re near Wells city, Glastonbury makes an easy add-on, and it doesn’t feel like a detour. Wells gives you cathedral grandeur and neat streets. Glastonbury is very different, so the places balance each other well in one trip.
