Picture this: festival season has landed and you’re standing in a huge field with your friends and family while fans all around you belt out timeless tunes. If that sounds like the highlight of your summer, then Glastonbury Festival should be on your bucket list.
As one of the biggest and busiest UK music festivals, atmosphere is guaranteed. The festival today is a world away from its humble beginnings, when just 1,500 revellers were in attendance. The site itself has grown to some 900 acres – large enough for 500 football pitches – with more than 200,000 festivalgoers passing through the gates each year. Taking place over five days, the festival promises world class entertainment and the chance to make memories alongside the people you love. It’s also one of the greenest festivals in the world—perfect for if you love festivals but also want to do your bit for the environment. Ready to get your party on? Find out everything you need to know about Glastonbury Festival below, including how to get there.
Glastonbury Festival is held at Worthy Farm, which is located in Pilton, Somerset. Its address is: Worthy Farm, Worthy Lane, Pilton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4BY.
Since so many revellers come to Glasto, the roads that lead to the site get very congested. Often, you’ll save yourself lots of hassle by travelling by train instead. Not only will you also be reducing your carbon footprint, but you’ll have a chance to relax and meet other festivalgoers before you’ve even arrived at Worthy Farm.
As a matter of fact, since Glastonbury has a focus on helping the environment, they encourage festivalgoers to travel by train. Nearly a third of people get to the festival this way, so why not be a part of the masses?
Things to do at Glastonbury Festival
While they might be the main draw, Glastonbury Festival is about so much more than the big name headliners. Throughout your long weekend you can experience and join in with everything from contemporary music, dance, and comedy to theatre, circus, and cabaret – to name a few. The one guarantee is that you’ll never find yourself at a loss for something to do!
Line ups and music
The Glastonbury Festival line up announcement usually takes place around three months before the festival and is a highly anticipated time of year – with good reason. Over the years some of the biggest names in music have taken to the Pyramid Stage, including the likes of The Kinks, Jay-Z, The Verve, Adele, Radiohead, and The Rolling Stones. Glastonbury doesn’t restrict itself to one genre either so you can enjoy an eclectic music line up over the four days - there quite literally is something for everyone.
Areas and stages
Expect endless entertainment throughout your five days at Glastonbury Festival. It’s a true family festival, where each stage offers something new and exciting to discover. Modelled after the giant Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the Pyramid Stage is undoubtedly the heart of the event. Head there to enjoy performances from some of the biggest names in music – and don’t forget to give the TV cameras a wave.
Though not quite as large as the Pyramid Stage, The Other Stage is another crowd favourite. Through the years it has hosted legendary performances from the likes of Pulp, Oasis, and Blur, among many others. Meanwhile, if you need shelter from our unpredictable British weather, head to the Acoustic Stage. In the sanctuary of a ginormous circus tent, you can enjoy blues, folk, contemporary, and country music while keeping nice and dry.
Take a journey into the future at Block9, which showcases high-tech tunes ranging from Glitch-Funk Algorave, Post-Dubstep IDM and Footwork through to Cyber-Dub. Or why not head to Unfairground for an all-round show consisting of radically subversive music and art? While if you’re looking for a place to relax, visit The Wormhole, a daytime wellness wonderland which morphs into a late-night jazz spot as the sun begins to set.
Other areas include Glasto Latino, a colourful, exciting Latin American-themed dance party. Then there’s The Green Fields, a place for environmentalists to come together and spread their important message – as well as The Common, where you can be a part of some spectacular cultural ceremonies.
Theatre and circus
Take your seat beneath the big top and await any one of 400 circus acts who have travelled to Worthy Farm from every corner of the world. From light-hearted acts performed by comedians and dancers to thrilling, high-flying acrobatics and stunt performances, there’s something for everyone at Glastonbury’s Circus.
Pilton Palais Cinema
If you’re searching for somewhere to rest your legs – it’s a huge site after all – then Pilton Palais Cinema is the place to do just that. Showcasing a selection of much-loved films, the cinema is located in a quiet spot at the bottom of the Acoustic Field and is completely free to visit.
Kidzfield
Dreaming of visiting with the kids? Well, since all children aged 12 or under are free to enter Glastonbury Festival so long as they’re with a ticket-holding adult, there’s nothing stopping you from bringing the whole family along. While your kids can enjoy most of what’s on offer in Glastonbury, if you’re looking for somewhere designed with them in mind, Kidzfield is the place to go. From singing and dancing to circus shows and musical instrument lessons, there’s so much fun to be had here.
The Markets
Missing some retail therapy on your long weekend? Then shop ‘til you drop at the Markets, where you can find everything from hand-crafted treasures to delicious world cuisine.
Glastonbury tickets
Every weekend at Worthy Farm is in extraordinary demand, which means that tickets will sell out very quickly. Register online in advance and make sure you keep checking the festival’s website and social media pages for news on when the tickets will be released. It’s usually around October time, though tickets go on resale during March and April too. If you haven’t managed to get tickets this year, don’t worry, as there are still plenty of festivals on our network worth checking out.
Tips for enjoying Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival is likely to be the highlight of your summer, so to get the best out of your festival experience, follow these tips below:
- Get here using public transport if possible
- Pack light. Only bring what you need and what can’t be bought from inside the festival
- Prepare for all weather conditions. Make sure you have a good pair of walking boots or wellies, a waterproof jacket, a towel, sun cream and a sunhat
- Leave no trace - take all rubbish away with you once the festival is over and do your bit for the environment
Food and drinks
With all the excitement of Glastonbury Festival, you can soon work up an appetite. Thankfully, when those hunger pangs kick in, it won’t take you long to find a delicious meal or snack. With over 400 food traders offering up a variety of world cuisine at the festival, the choices feel endless. Festival food can be known for being quite pricey, but Glastonbury focuses on keeping things cheap with their ‘£6 Meal Deal’ scheme. There are loads of food choices within the scheme to sample which are both filling and flavourful, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
You’re also free to bring your own food and alcohol, though glass bottles will be confiscated, so make sure you transfer your drinks to a plastic bottle. If you’d prefer, you can head to one of Glastonbury’s many bars for a quick tipple. Choose from The Meeting Place, West Holts Bar, The Cockmill, Avalon Inn, The Park Bar, The Cornish Arms, and The Elephant Bar – to name a few.
Places to stay in and around Glastonbury Festival
For the full festival experience, many people choose to camp at Worthy Farm. Pick your preferred field, pitch up your tent and enjoy the experience of sleeping out in the open. Those after a little extra comfort can opt for luxury tipis and yurts instead – or if you’d rather bring along your campervan or caravan, you can find designated parking spots around the festival site.
Glastonbury Festival accessibility
Glastonbury Festival strives to provide an environment where people of all abilities can enjoy the spectacle. Those with mobility issues can hire a wheelchair and make use of accessible facilities, including an accessible campsite with toilets and showers, parking, viewing platforms and more. BSL interpreters are also available at the festival and offer a free service for deaf customers throughout. Apply to use the festival’s accessible facilities when buying your tickets by filling in an Access Application Form.
