Spending a Summer evening in Glastonbury, Somerset: Things to do beyond the festival

There’s nothing better than stopping off and spending a Summer evening in Glastonbury when the weather is so glorious.

Glastonbury is certainly worth visiting, even when the festival isn’t taking place. On our visit, we spent an afternoon and evening exploring the town, walked up Glastonbury Tor and finished with fish and chips and a Somerset cider.

Sorry to those who it may disappoint, but this post does not consist anything about the world-famous festival, and pretty much what this town is known by whenever its name is mentioned!

However, it is one festival that is definitely on my bucket list for the future. One day when I’m lucky enough to be successful in getting tickets that is! I’ve always wanted to go, but sadly I’ve either been a skint student, just skint in general, working abroad or just not been lucky enough to purchase any!  But I live in hope that one day I will get to go! #fingerscrossed.

To experience the high street, walking up the Tor, and having dinner in the award-winning restaurant took around six hours. But there were other aspects of Glastonbury that we didn’t get to experience on our trip, like Glastonbury Abbey and the Chalice Well. So, a full day would be advisable to experience everything and not feel rushed.

By car: An hour’s drive from Bristol and an hour and a half from Exeter, the nearest motorway exit is junction 23 for Glastonbury. From there, it’s a 40-minute drive following the A39.

By train: The quickest and easiest route to Glastonbury by train is Castle Cary Station, and then the 567 from the station to Glastonbury Town Hall. This route takes just under 3 hours from London Paddington.

There is no dedicated parking at the Tor, but there is paid parking in the town of Glastonbury. From there it’s a 30 minute walk to the Tor. There is a seasonal shuttle bus that runs from April 1st to September 30th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Saturday and Sundays 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM from Dunstan’s Car Park to the bottom of the Tor which costs around £4.50 return for adults and £2.50 for children under 16.

We found it to be quite a quirky, interesting town. Just walking up the high street you get a feel good vibe of a happy, calm, chilled place. I could see why it is often referred to as the spiritual centre of England. Just the buildings and their colours, the smell of incense and friendliness of the locals gives the place a pleasant atmosphere, and uplifting feel.

There were various local trade shops, charity shops and the church, St John the Baptist, at the top of the high street. As you walk back down towards the bottom and into the centre there are various local pubs and the award-winning Knights Fish and Chips Restaurant.

Various local events take place along the high street and centre of the town throughout the year, including Beltane on May 1st to mark the Pagan Summer. This event showcases a lively parade of Morris and maypole dancing. Samhain & Glastonbury Dragons Wild Hunt featuring dragon drummers in October. The famous Guy Fawkes Glastonbury Carnival in November. And Glastonbury Frost Fayre in late November, which is a huge Christmas street fayre with stalls, food, live entertainment and the Christmas light switch-on.

A short distance from the town centre stands Glastonbury Tor. A National Trust site. Sitting on top is the roofless tower of St Michael’s Church, which is a grade I listed building.

Comfy trainers on and we were ready for the hike up the Glastonbury Tor! I’m not gonna lie, I found it hard going at points! Perhaps it’s about time I thought about renewing that gym membership!

However, I was determined to make it to the top! Thirty minutes or so later (but could possibly have been 30+ maybe!) we were looking out over spectacular 360° views of Glastonbury and the Somerset Levels. What a treat! The hike up (and back down) was worth it!

Allow yourself around an hour and a half minimum. It took us just over 30 minutes to walk up, and about 20-25 minutes to come back down again! Then you want to give yourself some time to take in that 360 degree view and take photos.

It is a fairly steep hill, so you’ll need a good level of fitness to get to the top without taking a breather. But there are some benches along the way if you need to make a stop or two (like I needed to!).

First and foremost, you’ll need a decent and comfortable pair of trainers or walking boots. Also comfortable, loose clothing or sports wear is advisable.

A small backpack with a bottle of water, jacket, sun cream and your phone to take photos.

Even though the Tor is quite steep, it is still perfectly accessible for children. In fact, there were quite a few families with young children taking the walk when we were there. Just be cautious of the fact that it is a sheer drop over the sides of the Tor!

No, there is no cost. It is totally free to walk and visit Glastonbury Tor.

After making it back down the Tor, we were ready for the award-winning fish and chips at Kinght’s restaurant. This particular fish and chips restaurant has won several Fish & Chips awards, including The National Fish & Chips Award 2024.

To get to the restaurant you need to walk through their takeaway part. This brings you to the restaurant door where a waiter guided us to our table. It is usually a busy place, for obvious reasons! But, there was plenty of space and the service was fantastic. Booking is required with a £5 deposit for groups of 9 or more Thurs-Sat, which seems reasonable. And, dogs are also welcome in the restaurant!

And of course, as you’re in Somerset, it is customary to have a cider to wash down your fish and chips, right? I have to say, the menu looked so delicious it wasn’t easy to make a choice! But, in the end, I opted for the Fish, Chips and Tipple option with a Hecks Farmhouse Cider from their Proper Cider drinks menu.

Hecks Cider, located in nearby Street, are multi-award-winning Cider makers with a large selection of ciders.

We didn’t try from the Wilkin’s Cider menu (next time perhaps!) But, one of the locals said that it’s well worth trying and apparently the maker is ‘quite the character!’

You certainly will not be disappointed and will be spoilt for choice at this restaurant!

Glastonbury really was a super visit. I’d love to see more of it and visit the Abbey, the Chalice Well, the White Springs and do the Mural Trail. I will be making a longer trip of it next time!

Spending a Summer evening in Glastonbury was a good choice!