How to get to Glastonbury 2023 for less by train
27th May 2023
The UK’s most famous festival returns to Worthy Park this June – Rock up by train this year, save some money and cut your carbon emissions along the way
Glastonbury returns to Worthy Park, Pilton, Somerset this June 21st to 25th and if you’re one of the 200,000 music fans lucky enough to have secured a ticket – a bumper, muddy (and hopefully sunny) few days of music, arts and entertainment, comedy, theatre, and culinary delights await!
Glastonbury makes tireless efforts to create a more sustainable and eco conscious environment for festival goers, the surrounding natural landscape on its farm, and its locality. Banning the use of single-use plastic in 2019, introducing the sale of crisps in compostable packaging last year and continuing to use renewable energy where possible.
As well as this, Glastonbury promotes public transport as the most efficient and eco-friendly way to get to the festival - it is not only cost effective, but the greener choice. Leaving your car at home and taking the train can cut your carbon emissions by two thirds, making it one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport.*
We have rounded up some great money-saving and environmentally friendly tips to make getting to this year’s festival the best and greenest yet!
Where is Glastonbury's nearest train station?
Glastonbury’s nearest train station is Castle Cary station, with Advance tickets available now through NationalRail.co.uk, where travellers can save an average of 43% on a single ticket and can even save up to 61% if you book early enough! Some train companies offer seat bookings too. There is a free shuttle bus running from the train station to the festival bus station for festival ticket holders. Once you arrive, you’ll be dropped directly at Pedestrian Gate A – so no lengthy walks from the car park!
Rock’n’roll with your Railcard!
Our best money saving tip is to purchase a Railcard in advance of your trip. Railcards allow for 1/3 discount on rail fares and can even be used together with Advance Tickets for even greater savings! Whether you are travelling solo, with family, friends or as a couple, there is a Railcard for you.
At just £30 for one year, Railcards allow for average annual savings of up to £153, so you'll have made the cost of your Railcard back on just one or two trips. On top of this, Railcard has additional special offers including ClassPass, Virgin Wines, Cottages.com and much more. You can download your card straight to your phone - a whole summer of festival hopping and chart-topping trips await! It couldn’t be easier.
Find the best Railcard for you at Railcard.co.uk
Are there any group discounts if we travel by train?
Begin your festival adventure right and soak up the atmosphere with friends when you travel together with GroupSave. GroupSave offers discounts of 34% for groups of 3-9 when you travel together. Check out NationalRail.co.uk/GroupSave for more information.
What about luggage?
It is important to remember that you can only bring on the train what you can carry by yourself. Standard conditions of travel remain for the train journey to Glastonbury, so trolleys, wheelie bins, wheelbarrows and the likes are not permitted. For further information see National Rail’s Conditions of travel.
What else?
- If you’re travelling by train with an e-ticket, it’s always a good idea to have a printed copy of your ticket as a backup, should you lose your phone at the festival, or if your phone battery runs out. A top tip would be to print a spare copy of your return train ticket, and book it into the free property lockup near gate A when you arrive – pick it up as you leave for a stress-free journey home from the festival.
- You’ve already helped cut CO2 emissions by travelling by train – let's help keep this down by following the rules of the farm:
- Put any litter in designated recycling and waste bins.
- Don’t bring any glass bottles and remember to bring a reusable water bottle, which you can refill at any of the hundreds of free water taps and 37 WaterAid kiosks across 33 locations around the Glastonbury site.
- Keep the farm as you found it and remember to clear up your campsite when you leave.
Start planning your journey to Glastonbury today at NationalRail.co.uk
*https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/greener