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Location
The Glastonbury site is near to the village of Pilton between Shepton Mallet and Glastonbury on the A361
in Somerset. It's on the sort of roads which are a delight for an afternoon drive, and a nightmare when
100,000 people converge on them. You have been warned.
Map of the immediate area
Multimap
is a useful online UK map service.
By Coach
The organisers strongly encourage the use of coaches to cut down on congestion. National Express are again
running extensive services to the festival. If you get your festival tickets by phone, you can get coach
tickets at the same time. Alternatively ring National Express direct on 0990 80 80 80. I'll put more
details about the actual services here when I have them.
National Express Glastonbury Page - full timetables for their services to and from the festival.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is at Castle Cary, about 5 miles from
the site as the crow flies. The railway companies are laying on extra trains to the
station, and there is a free shuttle service from the railway station to the
Festival bus station for ticket holders.
Railtrack's UK Journey Planner - excellent site
By Car
The recommendation is don't go by car. But of course lots of people will, so expect a great deal of congestion,
particularly late on Thursday, all of Friday and probably Monday. Shepton Mallet is at the junction of
two A roads, the A37 from Bristol/M4 to Yeovil, and the A39/A361 from junction 23 of the M5 across into
Wiltshire, so it's easy to find. The quietest route is usually the one from the South of the site (M3 to
just past Basingstoke, onto the A303 (past Stonehenge) to Wincanton, A371 towards Shepton Mallet, by which point you'll probably meet the traffic so it should be pretty obvious you want the A37 for a few hundred yards, then the A361 to the site.)
Once you are in the area, there will be signs directing you to the nearest parking. You have already paid
for this in your entrance fee, so if anybody asks you to pay it's not official parking. If you park
illegally, your car will be towed away, and the police will charge you £140 for the privilege. You're
almost certainly going to be directed to a car park diagonally opposite the part of the site you intend
to camp in; enjoy the walk.
If any of your party have mobility disabilities, follow signs to the dedicated parking area, from which
transport to the site is available.
Caravans and Campervans
If you want to take a caravan or campervan, there is a special
signposted site. Entry requires a ticket costing £20, available when you
buy a festival ticket. There will probably also be caravan tickets available separately, requiring
proof of possession of a festival ticket. Details when I have them.