The legendary Glastonbury Festival returns this weekend, featuring headline acts like The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo on the iconic Pyramid Stage. With over 200,000 attendees heading to the renowned Somerset site, significant road congestion is expected.
National Highways has issued a warning to motorists to plan their journeys carefully and allow extra travel time. Key routes leading to Worthy Farm, including major motorways and A roads, are predicted to experience heavy traffic from Wednesday, June 25, through Friday, June 27, as festival-goers arrive.
Although Pilton village lies about five miles from Glastonbury, the festival’s traffic impact on the town is minimal. However, traffic is expected to peak on Wednesday, especially around junctions 25 and 23 of the M5 and along the A303 corridor. Historically, the A39 often encounters significant congestion by mid-morning on arrival days.
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Traffic flows will also intensify on Monday, June 30, as attendees depart the festival. The primary route used by festival traffic is the M5, with drivers exiting at junction 23 to connect to the A39 and A361. Additionally, the A303–A37 route is popular for travelers arriving from London, with eastbound traffic on the A303 near Podimore Roundabout expected to be particularly busy.
Kathryn Wiltshire, Resilience Planner for National Highways South West, urged travelers to prepare ahead of the event. “With around 200,000 people attending this year, roads leading to Glastonbury will be very busy. We encourage drivers to plan their journeys carefully,” she said.
Wiltshire emphasized the importance of maintaining network flow and safety, adding, “Our goal is to keep the National Highways operational while ensuring the safety of festival-goers and other road users. We recommend checking traffic updates regularly, setting off early, and allowing ample time for your journey.”