25th June 2025

Time for the pilgrimage to Glastonbury, my 15th. These are the years I have previously visited. 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 1999, 1998, ie every Glastonbury since 2009. On 2019 I took uni friends Simon and Ravi to Lovefields. In 2024 I took Phil and Selina. I started using The Lovefields in 2014, mainly because I had ticket issues. They have a variety of accommodation, from pitch-your-own tents/campervans, to various pre-erected constructions at varying levels of sophistication. The Mongolian yurts at the top of the range with insulated walls, and bell tents lower down the scale. Depending on the structure you rent, you also have access to breakfast, or not. Breakfasts are very good, good range of pastries, cereals, juices and of course a cooked offering. Veggies are catered for. Full breakfasts are from the Thursday to Sunday, with a packed breakfast on the Monday to keep you sustained for your journey home.

When I first went to Lovefields, lunches were included. Now they cost extra and are offered on only a few days of the event. I think Thursday and Sunday. I don’t take part in the lunches. The facilities at the glamping site have improved, with the construction of the barn, more music venues, bars and popup food stalls. You could almost stay here, and forget the festival. I wonder if anyone does?

Leaving for Glastonbury

Selina and Phil arrived at our home on Wednesday with Dr Grebo (their cat), which was deposited on Rosemary, to be fed and pampered while we were at Glastonbury. We left home at 10.45, using are usual route, stopping at Starbucks at at Beckington Services for a coffee and cake before continuing on to Glastonbury. I remembered to put into Google the intermediate ‘way points’ to get us where we wanted to go. This was to stop Google sending us down narrow lanes, and residents only roads to bypass any traffic jams. So, yes, we did join a short traffic jam but were soon at Lovefields.

The Lovefields

We checked in at Lovefields VIP reception and were soon processed. Our wrists were tagged with EPO bands by the lovely Sue, then we were shown to our yurt, where we duly unpacked. This year we were supplied with a padlock and two keys, so were able to lock the yurt up, and we could get back inside without having to find the key from the others. Lovefields was much the same, the yurts, bell tents. airstreams all in similar positions. We had electricity, useful for charging. This time it was easier for us to get to the showers and loos, and yes a new shower block without having to walk down the hill. Car parking was more civilised this time. Last year there were too many cars parked in odd places. Maybe they cut back on the numbers this year, or they found more space to park?

What changes at Lovefields this year? There appeared to be a life-size unicorn on the barn veranda. Why? The bar and stage area had been improved, there were now some rooms (shipping containers) away from the stage, fitted out with loungers where you could chill and have a conversation while the bands were playing. In front of the stage there were more benches all made from recycled scaffold boards.

The area below the VIP area, had been reorganised slightly, food stalls were on the North side, and there was a gift shop on the South side. Stage, canopy and fire pits were in much the same area as last year.

Glastonbury Festival

After unpacking, we did our usual wandering around the festival site, having a cider from the Brothers Bar. That was the only cider I drank from there this festival. I seemed to use the cider bus far more often, drinking their real draft cider which had absolutely no sweetness to it. I was even warned by the person pouring the cider, who recommended the medium rather than the dry. I stuck to the dry, and lovely it was.

We walked up to the Park and visited Glastonbury on Sea. Selina had not been there before. I had visited the previous year. Yes, it was very busy, and the show was similar to last year. There are some fascinating automatons playing musical instruments. We spent quite some time there.

As evening arrived, we went to the Pyramid Stage. This was the opening ceremony and featured acrobats. I am sure it was spectacular for those near the front, but way back in the crowd it was difficult to see, and the rule/decision on not having any amplified sound on the Wednesday, meant you could not hear anything going on. I liked the drone display last year, probably because we could sit in the bar at Lovefields and see it. But I heard others on the Pyramid Field had thought it was a disaster. We want some noise.

I headed over to Siver Hayes and met up with my Walker/Elevon colleagues from years back. They were stewarding the area, so I could not stay there too long talking with them.

Gallery