Enjoy a laid-back Glastonbury

24th June 2025

Beyond the big acts and stages, there is a more tranquil side to Glastonbury – one peppered with thought-provoking art installations, unique bars and random encounters.

Here are a few places to head to for a quieter Festival experience:

Seek out the Dragon’s Tail
With shelter and plenty of seating, at night this new area nestled between Shangri-La and Unfairground, is a refuge from the hubbub of the South East Corner. On hand is the Wyvern’s Watch bar, serenaded with super chilled Carnival vibes from an array of authentic Notting Hill Carnival Sound Systems. Make sure you visit in daylight too to fully appreciate the beautiful giant sculpture that lends the area its name.

Take in some hilltop vistas
High on the hill, beyond the Tipi Field you’ll find the convivial camp fire of Strummerville. With its inviting fireside seats and singalongs, it’s dedicated to the memory of Joe Strummer and served by the welcoming CasBar, so that neither your beer nor bonhomie can run dry.  For ample personal space and a cracking view of the Festival beneath, head beyond the Ribbon Tower and up above the Park. Sit yourself by the iconic Glastonbury sign on the southernmost tip of the Festival site and watch the sun set, the moon rise or simply the whole of the Festival, as it quietly unfurls beneath you.

Visit the Green Fields
Once the main stages kick in, these fields offer a quieter, market-like experience, where noise is low-level and people traffic is less congested. Head into the blissful calm of the Permaculture Garden to see how we can live in true harmony with nature, while piously enjoying a slice of organic cake. From here, head through the inspirational Green Futures, dipping in on a few environmentally-themed talks, to the Healing Fields and Peace Garden, one of the Festival’s most chilled out areas. At the King’s Meadow, eschew the Stone Circle, and instead hunt for the majestic dragon, bathing in the cool spring nearby.

Explore the Wood
Nestled on the north side of the Festival, leading to Woodsies and the chilled-out canopied-delight of the ambient Tree Stage, The Wood is a nature-rich sanctuary to bask in tree-dappled sunlight. Climb up to the ship-shaped platform high up in the big ash tree (a nod to Michael Eavis’s early seafaring adventures), and stroll along the bridge through the tree canopy, peering through branches at the looming Glastonbury Tor in the distance. At night, illuminations light up the foliage making it all seem that much more magical.

Daylight hours in the South East Corner & Silver Hayes
At night, the Festival’s South East corner – comprising Block9, Unfairground, The Common and Shangri-La – and the enthralling neon-lit stages of Silver Hayes, are busy beacons to partying Festival-goers. But during daylight hours the spaces become gloriously laid-back and unveil their campaign-lead identities. Take the time to wander around these impressive builds and fully soak-in their inspired creativity.

Theatre & Circus
Marvel at the wonderful Walkabouts and astounding street performers that make this pocket of the Festival one of the best places to escape the crowds. 

Festival Welfare
If you do become overwhelmed or feel you need someone to talk to, head to Worthy Welfare near the Big Ground medical centre, Green Welfare in the Green Fields or the Worthy Rest hubs at the Park and in Silver Hayes where specialised counselling teams from Safer Spaces Now and iThink are on hand for support and advice.