Glastonbury Tourist Information

Glastonbury Shopping & Attractions

Glastonbury's town centre is small, but jam-packed with all sorts of interesting independent shops, cafes and restaurants. You can buy everything from jewellery incorporating crystals and minerals that hold a variety of healing properties to candles and incense, books, eco-friendly shops, musical instruments and everything you might need for witchcraft. Over time more cosmopolitan outlets have started to appear including beauty salons and modern cafes which seem slightly incongruous next to the colourful New Age shops that line the streets. But you will find something to suit all tastes. You'll find lots of small independent shops down little alleyways and in courtyards leading off from the High Street so make sure you do a bit of exploring to see all that Glastonbury has to offer.

St John's Car Park (pay and display) provides a good amount of town centre parking behind High Street, although greener transport options are widely promoted in Glastonbury which is something of a centre for "green" and sustainable businesses.

Glastonbury holds a market every Tuesday in the Market Place which sells fresh fruit and veg, fish, plants, clothing and craftwork. On the fourth Saturday of every month Glastonbury's Farmers Market takes place in St John's car park.

The area around the Abbey is what is left of medieval Glastonbury and the Tourist Information Office is in The Glastonbury Tribunal, believed to be a 15th century Merchant's house. On the first floor is the Lake Village Museum that takes you through everyday life in an Iron Age settlement. Many of the artefacts were excavated from Glastonbury Lake Village that had lain preserved in the peat that once covered the Somerset Levels for thousands of years. Glastonbury Tourist Information Centre, Glastonbury Tribunal Limited, 9 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9DP. Tel: 01458 832954. Fax: 01458 832949.

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Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey is the reason for many people's trip to Glastonbury. It is believed to have been the first Christian centre in Britain when the old church was built around 63 AD - the base of which exists today at the west end of the nave. It is billed as the "oldest above-ground Christian church in the world". The Abbey was added to over time by the Saxons and then the Normans. By the time of the Domesday Book Glastonbury Abbey was the richest monastery in the country. The monastic buildings were destroyed by fire in 1184 and later the Great Church was reconsecrated and services began again on Christmas Day 1213. During the Dissolution of the Monasteries Glastonbury Abbey was stripped of its valuables in 1536 and its abbot hanged, drawn and quartered for resisting the Act of Supremacy that made Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Pilgrimages to Glastonbury Abbey have been taking place for almost 2000 years. This tradition continues with services in St Patrick's Chapel, founded by Abbot Beere in 1500, take place every week throughout the year. In the summer these services are held outside in good weather. The modern-day Glastonbury Pilgrimage has its roots in the 20th century when local Somerset churches began a pilgrimage as an expression of personal faith in 1924. These pilgrimages usually take place on the second Saturday and Sunday of July and attract worshippers from all over Britain and Europe. At noon the assembled pilgrims receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the ruins of the Abbey Church. Later an Orthodox service is held in the ruins of the Lady Chapel. During the day musicians, choirs and actors are on hand to entertain the crowds until later pilgrims gather near St John's Church to form a bannered procession down the High Street to the ruins of the Abbey to hear Evensong. On the Sunday a Roman Catholic pilgrimage begins on the slopes of Glastonbury Tor and proceeds down to the ruins for Mass.

Despite the religious function of the Abbey, you can visit the ruins which are set in 36 acres of parkland throughout the year. The Abbey is hidden away behind the High Street and you gain access to the Visitor Centre and shop on Magdalene Street. The Visitor Centre now houses a museum with a model of how the Abbey would have looked in 1539, a children's display amongst other displays. There is a picnic and wildlife area within the ground and as your ticket is valid for the whole day you can really take your time to take in the peaceful, historic surroundings.

Glastonbury Abbey, The Abbey Gatehouse, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9EL. Check the official Glastonbury Abbey website, link right, for additional contacts, entrance fees and additional information.

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Somerset Rural Life Museum Glastonbury

Near the Abbey is the Rural Life Museum whose centrepiece is a fourteenth century barn. This aims to show what social and domestic life would have been like in Victorian rural Somerset. It follows the life story of a farm worker, John Hodges, and displays tools and farming techniques that he would have used for willow growing, peat digging and cider making. There is a packed programme of events throughout the year including demonstrations of traditional crafts such as spinning and stick weaving demonstrations.

There is a tearoom, museum shop and disabled facilities. Car parking is free. Opening hours: Apr-Nov: Tues-Fri and Bank Holiday Mondays.

Somerset Rural Life Museum, Abbey Farm, Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8DB Call: 01458 831197 Fax: 01458 834684. Email: county-museums@somerset.gov.uk

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Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor is the striking pinnacle shaped hill that marks your approach to Glastonbury itself. St Michael's Tower stands on top of the 521 feet hill and can be seen for miles around the flatter surrounding countryside. It dates from the fifteenth century and is built on top of an earlier fort dating from the church. In September 1275 an earthquake centred in the Portsmouth area shook the Tor and was felt in London. As a consequence the St Michael's church that stood at that time was destroyed.

Glastonbury Tor is fabled to be the Isle of Avalon of Arthurian legend and is credited with having strong spiritual energy. It is the focal point for many pilgrimages either spiritual or for the fabulous panoramic views from the top.

The slopes of the Glastonbury Tor show obvious terraces. These have been attributed to either a Neolithic sacred labyrinth or as a result of ancient farming practices or sheep grazing. Excavations on the Tor have revealed Neolithic flint tools and Roman artefacts so it has certainly been used since ancient times. It is managed by the National Trust today who maintains a path up to the tower.

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Glastonbury Thorn

Attempts have been made to reintroduce the Glastonbury Thorn to the Tor which is associated with Joseph of Arimathea who is said to have brought the Holy Grail to Britain.

When he landed on the Island of Avalon he came to Wearyall Hill just below Glastonbury Tor. He is said to have rested after planting his staff into the ground. Come morning his staff had taken root leaving the sacred Glastonbury Thorn.

The Glastonbury Thorn is a variant of the more common hawthorn we see in hedgerows today. It was first mentioned in the sixteenth century. This shrub was unusual in that it flowered twice a year, once at Christmas, whereas the usual hawthorn only flowers once in early Spring.

The original Glastonbury Thorn was cut down and burned by Cromwellian troops during the English Civil War. Several Glastonbury Thorns still survive, two in St John's Parish Church from which sprigs are cut and sent to the Queen, a tradition that started by the Bishop of Bath and Wells under James I's reign.

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Glastonbury Somerset Carnivals

Glastonbury is on the circuit for the Somerset Carnivals. These are usually held between September and November. It's well worth timing your visit to coincide with one of the carnivals that are held at a whole host of towns throughout the county. The Somerset Carnival tradition dates back to the 1600s when many places in Somerset commemorated the Gunpowder Plot. Street entertainment, fireworks and special events throughout the town add to the fun and carnival atmosphere.

Processions gradually make their way round a predetermined route from around 7pm at night. The floats are illuminated with colouring lighting which makes a welcome splash of colour in the dark autumn nights. A huge amount of effort is put into creating carnival entries. Some are created by Carnival Clubs; some by keen individuals or groups, all work throughout the year raising the money themselves to create spectacular themed floats which are judged prior to the procession begins. Prizes are hotly contested and ensure the standards are raised year-on-year.

It's a fun night out for all the family and you can help raise funds for charities or the clubs for the next year's entry. Thousands attend carnivals, so watch out as parking can get very limited on carnival nights and town centres can often be cut off to traffic during the carnival.

Check the weblinks right for this year's carnivals and past carnival photographs.

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