A Guide To Camping And Glamping At Glastonbury
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Where to set up camp at the UK's biggest festival
Secured tickets to Glastonbury this summer? Congratulations – now it’s time to think about where to pitch up for the festival. Spanning around 900 acres (roughly the size of 500 football pitches), the giant site can feel overwhelming, with numerous different campsites, all with their own quirks and perks. And that’s before you’ve even ventured into the glamping options: there’s also a wealth of choice when it comes to luxury accommodation, from pre-erected tipis to eye-wateringly expensive Bedouin tents. So where is best for you? We lay out some of the best options with our guide to camping at Glastonbury.
Where Should You Camp At Glastonbury?
Camping
Pennard’s Hill
BEST FOR: partygoers
This notoriously rowdy site is the place for the hardcore partiers. Located in the southern part of the festival, it’s not far from Glastonbury’s famous late-night hotspots: Shangri La, the Stone Circle and Arcadia, meaning you can easily stumble back to your tent after a night of dancing. There are some things to be wary of, though: firstly, its central location can mean it’s noisy and overcrowded. And secondly, try to avoid camping at the lower part of the hill, just in case there’s a repeat of the infamous 2005 floods, which left tents at the bottom of Pennard’s Hill partially submerged in water.
Big Ground
BEST FOR: committed main stage lovers
This is one of the most popular camping sites at Glastonbury. Despite being located near the Pyramid Stage (crucial for hardcore music fans), it’s not too noisy late at night, as people usually head to the South East Corner after the music stops. Plus, it’s also home to the only flushing loos on site (aside from the glamping areas). This site fills up very quickly, so get there early on the Wednesday if you have your heart set being in the centre of the action.
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Cockmill Meadow
BEST FOR: families
Got a couple of kids in tow? Cockmill Meadow is reserved especially for families. It’s located in the northeastern corner of the site, not far from the Kidzfield, the Acoustic Stage, and Pilton Palais (cinema), and with plenty of food outlets nearby. A couple of years ago, another family camping area, Ash Tree Family Camping, was added beside Cockmill Meadow, meaning there’s more space.
Lime Kiln Ground
BEST FOR: views
Situated at the most northern point of the site adjacent to Hitchin Hill, Lime Kiln Ground offers impressive views of the festival. If you’re arriving late, there’s often still space here. However, the downside to this area is you’ll have to drag yourself up the hill back to your tent every night, plus it’s a pretty long walk from the stages and party areas.
Glamping
Can’t hack the tent life? Fear not: there are more options than ever before when it comes to glamping at Glastonbury. There are two official sites with pre-erected tents, Worthy View and Sticklinch, but bookings for these always sell out very quickly. However, there are a number of offsite options, most offering 24-hour shuttle services in and out of the festival.
The Pop-Up Hotel
With its own swimming pool, spa, salon and concierge, The Pop-Up Hotel is worlds away from your average camping experience. There are an array of accommodation options on offer, from canvas bell tents decked out with proper beds to the Tipi Tenthouse Suite, which fits up to 10 guests and costs a casual £28,999. Guests can also enjoy food from the a la carte restaurant, catch secret performances from guest musicians, and revitalise with yoga, hot tubs and ice baths. You’re also not far from the action, with Gate D just a 10-minute walk away.
Holt Farm
Launched just last year, Holt Farm aims to bridge the gap between regular camping and ultra-expensive glamping. Situated offsite, but right next to the festival, it offers bell tents from between two and four guests, as well as the option to pitch your own tent and enjoy the facilities, which includes hot showers, clean loos, saunas and ice baths. There’s also parking available on-site, plus street food trucks and a cocktail bar.
Apple Tree Inn Glamping
This boutique site offers around 200 tents, ranging from classic bell tents kitted out with mattresses and duvets to more luxurious options complete with beds, towels and toiletries. Located just yards from the main festival gate, Apple Tree Inn also benefits from its own country pub, plus all the amenities you’d expect from a glamping site, like warm showers, clean loos and phone charging points. Better still, guests can make the most of champagne breakfasts, an all day BBQ and wooden barrel saunas.
Camp Kerala
Expect to rub shoulders with A-listers at Camp Kerala, Glastonbury’s long-standing five-star glamping site which has been around since 2005. Visitors here can sleep in spacious Shikar tents equipped with sheepskin rugs, duck-down duvets, luxury toiletries and fresh flowers, get glammed up for the day at the beauty salon, and rejuvenate with IV drips, sauna sessions and cold plunges. The main restaurant serves top-notch food made using local produce, while the Saffron & Fire eatery focuses on slow, live fire cooking. Tickets include all your food and drink for the festival, so unsurprisingly this one doesn’t come cheap – rumour has it you’ll shell out over £8,000 for two people. But if you’ve got cash to splash, this is where to spend it.
