Glastonbury
Legends, lush gardens, and easy family wanders in Avalon
Highlights
Climb the iconic hilltop tower for sweeping Somerset views and misty morning photos.
Relax in tranquil, spring-fed gardens filled with flowers, trees, and hidden corners for kids to explore.
Roam the atmospheric Glastonbury Abbey grounds, combining history, legend, and space to run around.
Follow easy trails through green fields and hedgerows to experience England’s rural charm.
Browse crystal shops, bookshops, and quirky boutiques in one of England’s most unusual little towns.
Use Glastonbury as a base for low-stress excursions to nearby Cheddar Gorge and Wells.
Where to Stay
3 picks
The Covenstead
A highly themed guesthouse filled with mystical décor, vintage furniture, and lush plants, located just off the High Street within easy walking distance of the Abbey and shops.
Chindit House
Elegant B&B in a large house with a leafy garden and spacious rooms, set in a quiet area but still walkable to central Glastonbury.
Central Glastonbury Self-Catering Apartment
A privately run apartment (via major booking platforms) with kitchen and living space, located within a few minutes’ walk of shops and cafés.
Where to Eat
20 picks
Hundred Monkeys Café
Cozy, plant-filled café with lots of vegetarian options; stick to vegetarian breakfasts like sourdough toast with eggs, veggie breakfast plate, porridge, and pastries to stay halal.
Earthfare Café (inside Earthfare health food store)
Simple counter-service with a strong vegetarian and vegan focus; choose vegetarian salads, soups, and baked dishes to keep it halal.
The Who’d A Thought It Inn (vegetarian/seafood choices)
Traditional English pub; order vegetarian mains like veggie burgers, salads, and any fish/seafood options cooked separately, and avoid meat dishes to stay halal.
Burns the Bread (High Street branch)
Local bakery with pastries, breads, and simple sandwiches; choose cheese, egg, vegetable, or plain sweet pastries and avoid meat fillings.
Rainbows End Café
Well-known vegetarian café with a leafy garden; choose from vegetarian lasagnes, quiches, salads, and soups, all naturally halal-friendly.
Gigi’s Italian Restaurant (vegetarian/seafood orders)
Family-friendly Italian; order vegetarian or seafood pizzas and pastas (e.g., Margherita pizza, veggie pizza, penne arrabbiata, seafood pasta) and avoid meat toppings to stay halal.
Self-Catered Breakfast from Tesco Express
Pick up cereal, milk, fruit, yogurt, and bakery items from Tesco and eat in your room or apartment; select clearly vegetarian or fish products and avoid anything with pork or non-halal meat.
The Blue Note Café
Café with sandwiches and light meals; choose vegetarian fillings (cheese, roasted veggies, egg) and soups and avoid meat options.
The King Arthur (vegetarian/seafood choices)
Community-style pub with garden; stick to vegetarian mains, chips, and any fish dishes cooked separately, and avoid meat items.
Hundred Monkeys Café
Return for another vegetarian-friendly breakfast like porridge, granola, or eggs on toast.
Wells Marketplace Picnic (from local supermarket)
Buy bread, cheese, hummus, veggies, fruit, and snacks from a Wells supermarket (e.g., Tesco or Waitrose) and picnic on the green; choose only vegetarian or fish products with clear labels.
Self-Catered Simple Dinner
Cook pasta with tomato sauce, veg stir-fry, or fish using ingredients from Tesco/Earthfare, ensuring all meat/fish is halal or stick to vegetarian dishes.
Burns the Bread (grab-and-go)
Pick up vegetarian pastries and breads to eat on the move before your excursion.
Cheddar Picnic or Vegetarian Café Lunch
Either bring a vegetarian picnic from Glastonbury or choose clearly vegetarian dishes (like cheese sandwiches, soups, salads) at a local café in Cheddar.
Rainbows End Café (early dinner or hearty snack)
If you’re back in time before closing, enjoy an early vegetarian dinner—hearty salads, baked dishes, and cakes—all naturally halal-friendly.
Self-Catered Breakfast from Earthfare
Pick up organic muesli, fruit, and bakery items from Earthfare to enjoy a slow, halal-friendly breakfast at your accommodation.
Hundred Monkeys Café
Use this as a comfortable base for lunch, opting again for vegetarian soups, tartlets, and salads.
Gigi’s Italian Restaurant (vegetarian/seafood orders)
Celebrate the near-end of your trip with pizzas and pasta—again choosing only vegetarian or seafood dishes and avoiding meat toppings.
Burns the Bread (final visit)
Enjoy one last round of vegetarian pastries or bread with jam before you pack up.
Grab & Go Vegetarian Snacks for Travel
Buy vegetarian sandwiches, crisps, fruit, and drinks from Tesco/Earthfare for your onward journey, ensuring labels are halal-safe.
What to Do
22 picks
Glastonbury High Street Stroll
Wander the main street’s crystal shops, bookshops, and quirky boutiques; let kids hunt for dragons, fairies, and Arthurian souvenirs.
Glastonbury Abbey
Explore the dramatic abbey ruins, supposed burial place of King Arthur, plus wide lawns and a small museum; pick up the family trail map if available.
Abbey Park Free-Explore Time
After touring the abbey, spend unstructured time on the lawns—kids can play while you relax under the trees and take photos of the ruins.
Glastonbury Tor Hike
Walk up the grassy hill to St Michael’s Tower for panoramic views over Somerset; go slowly and let kids stop to watch sheep and take photos.
Tor Meadow & Hillside Free Time
After descending, relax on the lower meadow, let kids roll down gentle slopes, and capture your ‘wild hillside’ family photos.
Chalice Well Gardens
Stroll these peaceful, spring-fed gardens with wells, pools, and lush planting; kids can dip fingers in the ‘red spring’ and follow winding paths.
White Spring (Wellhouse Lane)
Peek into the dark, candlelit spring sanctuary opposite Chalice Well; dress modestly and be prepared for a very alternative, spiritual atmosphere.
Rural Footpath Walk towards Wearyall Hill
Follow easy country lanes and signed footpaths towards Wearyall Hill, enjoying hedgerows, fields, and distant Tor views; turn back whenever the kids are ready.
Wearyall Hill Scenic Stop
Pause on the hill for views over the town and countryside; historically linked to the Holy Thorn tree.
Library of Avalon & Bookshop Browsing
Explore the esoteric Library of Avalon and nearby bookshops full of Arthurian legends, mythology, and kids’ fantasy books.
High Street Free-Explore & Souvenir Hunt
Unstructured wandering time for the kids to pick small souvenirs—crystals, postcards, mini dragons—and for you to people-watch from a bench.
Bus Ride to Wells
Take the local bus (about 30 minutes) from Glastonbury to Wells, enjoying views of the green Somerset Levels on the way.
Wells Cathedral & Green
Admire the cathedral’s intricate façade, explore the cloisters, and relax on the green while the kids run around.
Vicar’s Close & Wells Free-Explore
Walk down medieval Vicar’s Close and explore Wells’ compact centre, with time for ice cream or a café stop.
Bus Back to Glastonbury
Return on the same bus route, aiming to be back before evening so kids can rest.
Day Trip to Cheddar Gorge (via bus or taxi)
Travel from Glastonbury to Cheddar (bus via Wells or pre-booked taxi), then explore the dramatic gorge on foot and, if you like, visit one show cave.
Short Gorge Walk & Lookouts
Take a gentle walk along the base of the gorge and up to one or two easy viewpoints; keep it short and fun for the kids.
Return to Glastonbury & Rest
Head back by bus/taxi, then let everyone rest at the accommodation, maybe with a short evening stroll if you have energy.
Return to Favourite Spot (Tor or Abbey)
Let the family vote: re-climb the Tor, revisit the Abbey, or spend extra time in Chalice Well Gardens for more photos and play.
Last-Minute Shopping & Photos
Pick up any final souvenirs, take family photos by the quirky shopfronts, and say goodbye to your favourite corners of town.
Pack & Check-Out / Relax
Return to your accommodation to pack calmly, rest, and let the kids watch a film or read while you organise departure.
Transfer to Next Destination
Head to the bus stop or taxi pickup point for your journey onward, allowing extra time with children and luggage.
Good to Know
8 picks
Halal in a Small English Town
Glastonbury doesn’t have fully halal-certified restaurants, so the safest approach is to choose vegetarian and seafood dishes when eating out and to self-cater using supermarket ingredients with clear labels. Avoid meat items unless you can confirm they are halal-certified, and consider bringing some dry halal snacks from home for extra peace of mind.
Single, Simple Home Base
Staying all seven nights in Glastonbury eliminates the stress of changing hotels with children. Choose a central guesthouse or apartment within 10–15 minutes’ walk of the High Street so that most sights and shops are an easy stroll, and use buses or pre-booked taxis only for one or two selected day trips.
Weather-Proof Packing
Even in summer, Glastonbury’s weather can switch between sun, wind, and drizzle in one day. Pack lightweight waterproof jackets for everyone, quick-drying layers, and comfortable walking shoes that can handle wet grass and muddy paths—especially for the Tor, countryside walks, and Cheddar Gorge.
Using Buses and Taxis
Local buses connect Glastonbury with Wells and Cheddar, but they don’t run very late and frequencies are limited. Check current timetables a day before (or ask your accommodation), aim for earlier departures with kids, and consider pre-booking a taxi for the return from Cheddar if you want more flexibility.
Respecting Local Spiritual Spaces
Sites like Chalice Well and the White Spring are very important to people with different spiritual beliefs. Dress modestly, keep voices low, and explain to the children that some people are praying or meditating there, even if their practices look very different from what you’re used to.
Cash, Cards, and Opening Hours
Most shops and cafés accept cards, but small New Age stores and donation-based sites often prefer cash. ATMs are available in town, and since many places close around 5–6 pm, try to do your shopping and cash withdrawals in the late morning or early afternoon.
Offline-Friendly Navigation
Mobile coverage can drop on hills and in rural areas; download offline maps for Glastonbury, Wells, and Cheddar before you arrive and mark your accommodation, bus stops, and key sights. Carry a small paper map from the tourist information office as a backup.
Kid-Friendly Day Structure
Plan one main ‘wow’ activity each morning (like the Tor, Abbey, or a day trip) and leave afternoons more flexible with parks, gardens, or free time. Always build in snack stops and short rests, and let the kids choose a souvenir or photo spot most days to keep them engaged.
Map
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