Glastonbury

Glastonbury's accommodation reflects its unusual character: a mix of genuinely ancient coaching inns, characterful bed and breakfasts in Edwardian townhouses, and a scattering of farm-based retreats on the edge of town. Because the centre is compact and largely traffic-free to explore, staying within walking distance of the high street means you can leave the car behind for the whole visit, wandering between the Abbey, the Tor and the crystal shops without needing to plan around parking. Several of the town's B&Bs occupy handsome period houses with views towards the Tor or the Mendip Hills, and many owners are longstanding Glastonbury residents happy to share recommendations found in no guidebook.

At the upper end, the town's historic coaching inn and a nearby farm-turned-holiday-resort with its own spa and pool offer a more polished stay, while a good spread of solidly comfortable guesthouses and family-run inns cover the middle ground. Budget-conscious visitors are well served by simple, welcoming B&Bs on the residential streets just off the centre, several of which have been taking guests for decades and know exactly what pilgrims, festival-goers and curious day-trippers need. Rooms across the town fill up quickly for the summer solstice and especially for the Glastonbury Festival period in June, even though the festival itself is held several miles away in Pilton, so early booking is strongly advised for any visit between May and July. Outside these peak weeks, Glastonbury is a relaxed, easy town to find a bed in, with options to suit couples on a spiritual retreat, families exploring the Levels, and walkers tackling the Tor at dawn.

The town rewards slow exploration on foot, with most of its key sights within a mile of the high street.

• Glastonbury Abbey — wander the atmospheric ruins of one of medieval England's wealthiest monasteries, set in 36 acres of parkland, and see the spot marked as King Arthur's grave.
• Glastonbury Tor — climb the steep grassy path to the roofless 14th-century St Michael's Tower for panoramic views across the Somerset Levels; the National Trust manages the site and it is free to visit.
• Chalice Well Gardens — a tranquil walled garden built around a natural spring whose red-tinged, iron-rich waters have been considered sacred for centuries.
• Glastonbury Tribunal and Lake Village Museum — a medieval merchant's house on the high street housing finds from a genuine Iron Age lake village discovered nearby.
• St John's Church — a handsome 15th-century parish church with one of the tallest towers in Somerset and a well-tended churchyard.
• The high street's independent shops — browse crystal and healing shops, second-hand bookshops and artisan cafes that give the town its distinctly bohemian character.
• Wearyall Hill — a quiet hillside on the town's edge linked to the legend of the Glastonbury Thorn, said to have grown from Joseph of Arimathea's staff.
• Somerset Rural Life Museum — housed in a historic farmstead just outside the centre, telling the story of farming and rural life on the Levels.

Glastonbury's food scene reflects its character: strongly vegetarian and vegan, with an emphasis on wholefoods, herbal teas and locally grown produce, alongside a handful of proudly traditional pubs. The Glastonbury Tuesday Market, held in the historic market square, is a good spot for local cheese, cider and seasonal produce, while independent cafes along the high street serve everything from full English breakfasts to raw food and herbal tonics. The George & Pilgrim, a genuine 15th-century coaching inn, remains the town's most historic place for a pint and a Sunday roast, and Somerset's famous scrumpy cider is poured in several of the older pubs. Street food and market stalls appear regularly around the Abbey gates, and the town's bakeries and delicatessens are well suited to putting together a picnic for the walk up the Tor.

The gentle, low-lying countryside around Glastonbury, part of the wider Somerset Levels, is well suited to camping, with several sites making the most of views towards the Tor's distinctive silhouette. Pitches range from simple grass touring fields to smart hardstanding pitches with electric hookups, and a number of local farms have diversified into glamping, offering shepherd's huts and cabins alongside traditional tent and caravan pitches. Most sites lie within a couple of miles of the town, close enough for an evening walk in for dinner, while still feeling like proper countryside camping surrounded by orchards, paddocks and grazing land.

Facilities vary by site: some cater specifically to couples and adult groups seeking a quiet, peaceful stay, with fishing lakes, on-site shops and well-appointed washrooms, while others are firmly geared towards families, with playgrounds, play barns and space for children to roam safely. A little further afield, sites towards Cheddar and the Mendip Hills add glamping options such as bell tents and shepherd's huts to the mix, along with campfire-friendly pitches for a more sociable stay. Whichever type of site suits, most are open from spring through to autumn, and it is worth booking ahead for June, when demand across the whole area rises sharply around the Glastonbury Festival period even though the festival ground itself is some miles from the town.