There's no train station in Glastonbury, and none is coming. The practical way to get there from Bristol without a car is the First Bus 376 (also shown as 376A), which runs from Bristol Bus Station via Temple Meads and Wells, with a single fare capped at £3 under First Bus's West of England fare structure. By car it's under an hour via the A38 and A39.
It catches people out every year: visitors search for train times, find nothing useful, and assume Glastonbury is harder to reach than it is. It isn't, once you know the route.
Why there's no train
Glastonbury did once have a railway station, but it closed decades ago and was never reinstated. The nearest working station today is Castle Cary, itself a taxi or onward bus ride from the town, which makes it a slower and often pricier option than going direct by bus from Bristol. If you're set on rail plus a connection, Castle Cary is the one to search for; for most day-trippers from Bristol, it's simpler to skip the train entirely.
Getting there by bus
First Bus's 376 service runs from Bristol Bus Station, via Temple Meads, Whitchurch and Pensford, on to Wells and then Glastonbury (continuing further to Street). Under First Bus's West of England fares, a single journey over 6 miles is capped at £3, whichever zone you're crossing into, using tap on, tap off payment on board (touch your card once when you get on and once when you get off, and it charges the cheapest fare automatically).
Journey time varies with traffic and stops, but budget roughly an hour and a half to two hours each way from central Bristol, since it's a stopping service rather than an express. Check current times on the First Bus app or Traveline before you travel, since routes are reviewed periodically.
Getting there by car
By road it's a more direct trip, under an hour via the A38 and A39, without the stops the bus makes along the way. Glastonbury's own streets get busy and there's limited parking right by the main sights, so plan on paying for a car park in town rather than expecting to park at the Tor itself, since there isn't one there.
What to see
Glastonbury Tor: free to visit and open at all times as open countryside, looked after by the National Trust. There's no parking at the Tor itself beyond two Blue Badge spaces; the nearest fee-paying car park is at Draper & Co on Chilkwell Street, about a two-minute walk away, or you can walk up from the town centre (roughly 1.5 miles). The paths to the top are concrete with a bench partway up, and the views over the Somerset Levels are the main reason people make the trip.
Glastonbury Abbey: the ruined medieval abbey in the centre of town, open 10am to 6pm daily (last entry 45 minutes before closing). Online admission is £14 for adults, and each paying adult can bring two under-16s in free, with additional children at £6.60. Groups of 10 or more adults get a 10% discount.
The High Street: independent shops, cafés and the town's well-known alternative and spiritual scene, worth half an hour of browsing between the Tor and the Abbey.
How long to spend there
A single day is plenty for the Tor, the Abbey and a wander down the High Street, especially if you're travelling by bus and factoring in the journey time each way. If you're driving, you have more flexibility to add Wells (with its cathedral) on the same trip, since it's directly on the same road and bus route.
Is it worth doing without a car?
Yes, if you're comfortable with a slower day: the bus fare is capped and reasonable, and it drops you close to the centre of town. If your time is tight, driving cuts the journey in half each way and gives you the option of combining Glastonbury with Wells on the same outing, since both sit on the same road and bus route. Either way, it's one of the more distinctive day trips from Bristol, and a good one to add to a longer weekend in Bristol if you have an extra day to spare. For getting around once you're back in the city, see our guide to getting around Bristol.
FAQs
Is there a train to Glastonbury? No. Glastonbury has no railway station. The nearest is Castle Cary, which still needs a taxi or bus connection into the town itself.
How do you get from Bristol to Glastonbury without a car? The First Bus 376 service runs from Bristol Bus Station via Temple Meads and Wells to Glastonbury, with a single fare capped at £3 under the current West of England fare structure.
Is Glastonbury Tor free to visit? Yes. It's open countryside looked after by the National Trust, free to walk up at any time, though there's no parking at the top.
How much does Glastonbury Abbey cost? Online admission is £14 for adults, with two children under 16 admitted free per paying adult and additional children at £6.60.
How long does the bus from Bristol to Glastonbury take? Roughly an hour and a half to two hours each way, depending on traffic and stops, since it's a stopping service via Wells rather than a direct route.
Can you do Glastonbury as a day trip from Bristol? Yes. A single day covers the Tor, the Abbey and the High Street comfortably, whether you're travelling by bus or car.