How to Spend the Perfect Day in Glastonbury

Sharing is caring!

You may have heard of Glastonbury because of the infamous Glastonbury Festival (with over 150,000 people in attendance) that happens every year, but there’s more to the town than just the concert weekend, in fact the festival isn’t even held in Glastonbury (it takes place a few miles outside of town).

There’s a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy whether you are a history lover or peace lover or new age lover or someone who likes a little bit of quirky in their life, then there is something here for you.

How to Spend the Perfect Day in Glastonbury, England 

How to Get to Glastonbury.

Glastonbury is a town located in the southern part of Somerset and is not the easiest to get to unless you drive there.

• Train: The closest train station to Glastonbury is Castle Cary which is about a 30-minute drive from the town center, so you will need to arrange a taxi.
• Bus/Coach Trip: There is a direct coach that leaves London once a day and drives overnight to Glastonbury, so you will need to spend the night if you choose this option. If you take a bus then departing from Bristol will be the easiest and most frequent bus option and Bristol International Airport is also the closest airport.
• Car: Then the easiest option is renting a car and driving into town. The best parking lot to use is St. John’s Square parking lot. You can park for £5.60 ($7.30) for the whole day, there are lots of parking spaces, and you can walk to all the attractions.

Why Glastonbury?

Why visit this little town in essentially the middle of nowhere? The vibe of Glastonbury is a unique one, centered around the legends and folklore of the Glastonbury Tor and King Arthur. It’s become known as a “new age” or neopagan town with eccentric shops selling crystals, pixie and fairy items, incense, and tarot cards down to goddess healers and meditation sessions.

Myths and Legends in Glastonbury.

Most of the folklore and legends all center around the Glastonbury Tor, which is a tower sitting high upon a hill just outside of the town border. Joseph of Arimathea is said to have arrived on a boat with the Holy Grail and stuck his staff into the ground to create the Glastonbury Thorn or holy thorn. The tree flowers twice a year, which is unusual, and a sprig is sent to the British Monarch every Christmas. Joseph is said to be the one who created the first church of Glastonbury in AD 63 and brought early Christianity to Britain.

Legend has it that Glastonbury Abbey was built to house the Holy Grail and during medieval times many pilgrimages were very profitable for the abbey. Many people believe that the Holy Grail now resides below the Glastonbury Tor in the Chalice Well. King Arthur’s burial site is also said to be located here, just a few feet before the high altar of Glastonbury Abbey.

The Glastonbury Tor is said to be the ancient Isle of Avalon and the center of a colossal-sized zodiac landscape created by rivers, streams, paths, and churches overloaded with Arthurian symbolism. The Tor has also been associated with being a gateway to the land of the dead, also the entrance to the land of the fairies, and multiple paranormal sightings and activity.

Where to Eat and Drink.

There are plenty of cute cafes to grab lunch and pubs to grab a pint and if you’re a vegan then you’re in luck because there are so many places!

Heaphy’s
16 Market Place

A cute cafe in the town square where you can people-watch and enjoy a coffee and panini.

The George and Pilgrim
1 High Street

You will feel transported back into the 1400s as this pub retains its features and charm from the time period. You can also spend the night in one of the 14 rooms!

Rainbows End Cafe
17A High Street

Glastonbury’s first vegetarian cafe has it all from main meals to tasty pastries, also a great spot to grab a vegan or gluten-free lunch.

The Blue Note Cafe
4A High Street

The real gem is the courtyard out back that’s located in the Glastonbury Experience courtyard.

What to do in Glastonbury

Glastonbury Tor

Well I’ve already talked about the Glastonbury Tor, so why don’t you feel the energy and vibe for yourself and take a hike up the 500 foot hill to visit the Tor. It’s an easy climb and I saw plenty of older people making the hike (be aware there are some steep, uneven inclines and there are some steep steps with no handrails). Just be careful when you get closer to the top because it can get super windy. The foot of the Tor is about a 10-15 minute walk from town and it’s about 15 minutes to the top.

Chalice Well and Gardens

Located at the foot of the Glastonbury Tor is the Chalice Well, also known as the Red Spring. There are pretty gardens surrounding the spring and it’s a small entrance fee if you want to walk around. Definitely worth a visit because the gardens are beautiful. This is a very peaceful area and cell phones are not allowed. Bring a water bottle because you can fill up on natural spring water!

Glastonbury Abbey

Back in the town center, the entrance is off Magdalene Street which turns into Market Place, so you can see the entrance from the market square. This abbey is in more ruins than most, but walking around the grounds is beautiful.

The kitchen building is still fully intact and the church is two levels of beauty. The nave has been completely destroyed but you are given a map that shows you where the original abbey stood.

The archways leading to the high altar are still intact and that’s where you will find the resting place of King Arthur marked by a sign and normally some flowers. Enjoy the rest of your visit by walking around enjoying the ponds and the landscape.

Go Shopping! (or window shopping)

Exit the abbey and turn left. You are now walking towards the market square. Turn right on High Street and enjoy all of the quirky shops that the town has to offer.

Check out the Glastonbury Experience on the corner of Market Place and High Street, there’s a healing center, a cute book shop, a clothing store, The Blue Note Cafe courtyard, a crystal shop, and more.

Continue up the hill to the top of High Street and then turn around. Walk back down the other side and enjoy the shops on the opposite side of the road now. I’m serious, go in all of them! They are all unique in their own way.

Explore the Streets

Don’t forget to enjoy the street art hidden down the alleys and on the sidewalk. Mainly on the opposite side of the street from the market square, you can find a man who has been doing chalk drawings on the street with inspirational quotes every day for years and years.

This eccentric town is definitely worth a visit if you want to get your fill of Glastonbury Festival vibes without the expensive tickets and crowds. The locals are nice and the shopping is unlike anywhere else in this country, so make sure you add this to your list of places to visit in the UK.

Have you been to Glastonbury? Let me know in the comments below!

Save this Glastonbury One Day Itinerary for Later on Pinterest.

Sharing is caring!