Glastonbury - car parks open tonight, ahead of gates tomorrow morning
People heading to this year's Glastonbury Festival are likely to be spared both sizzling temperatures and washed out fields - as car parks open at 9pm tonight
Last updated 21st Jun 2022
As the Glastonbury Festival returns, following a two year absence due to the pandemic, bosses have issued travel advice to those heading to Worthy Farm.
Roughly 1,500 people attended the first Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival in 1970, with the site now growing to cover neighbouring farms - and spanning more than a mile and a half across, with an eight-and-a-half-mile perimeter.
Around a quarter of a million people are expected on site at some point - if support and performers are taken into account.
Headliners this year on the famous Pyramid stage include Sir Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and rapper Kendrick Lamar - with Diana Ross in the Sunday teatime legends slot.
The car parks on site open today, allowing festival-goers to arrive throughout the night by vehicle, when traffic volumes are low.
A spokesperson for the festival explained: "There will, however, be no entertainment or facilities (other than toilets) in the car parks and festival-goers will be expected to remain in their cars until the festival gates open at 8am on Wednesday morning. Please bring a reusable bottle of water with you, to stay hydrated while you are waiting."
People living locally to the festival are encouraged to cycle in - with those cycling even getting showers and a secure camping area as a reward.
ARRIVING VIA TRAIN
Around a third of people usually arrive on site via train - or by a pre-booked coach, where tickets are issued once they get onboard.
A shuttle bus system will operate from Castle Cary train station to the festival site, although festival bosses are urging people to keep up to date with the latest strike information via GWR
More than half of trains to Castle Cary have been cancelled, more information here
Transport advice from Somerset County Council (roads)
Somerset County Council has traffic management staff working at the festival control room and will be keeping people updated on the latest travel conditions all week here
Roads will be far busier than usual, and it takes time to get everyone onto the site; so, anyone travelling in the area is advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
Somerset County Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital Cllr Mike Rigby, said: “It is excellent to see the return of Glastonbury Festival taking place in our wonderful county once again after a difficult couple of years. We are incredibly lucky to have such a renowned, worldwide event and we are very proud to work alongside the festival throughout the year in preparation.
“Like every year, we will be working throughout the week and doing our best to keep residents and festival goers up to date.
“With the current train strikes, we implore people to please plan ahead if you need to travel. You can follow our Travel Somerset page on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.”
During Glastonbury, the council works closely with the event organisers to manage the highway network and keep vehicles moving. There is also an embargo on roadworks on all main routes meaning non-emergency works are suspended and roads are kept clear.
WEATHER (via ian Jones, PA)
People heading to this year's Glastonbury Festival are likely to be spared both sizzling temperatures and washed-out fields, with forecasts suggesting no weather records will be broken.
Temperatures will peak at 25C on Thursday before getting steadily cooler each day, ending at 16C on Sunday, the Met Office said.
Conditions are likely to be unsettled during the festival, with a chance of rain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
A spell of persistent rain from Friday evening into Saturday is possible, while a blustery breeze will make it feel much cooler by the end of the weekend.
Most Glastonbury festivals have seen a mixture of sunshine and showers, archive figures show.
There have been only nine rain-free festivals since the event was first held in 1970.
These include 1970 itself, the 30th anniversary in 2000, and 2019 - the most recent festival to date.
The 2007 festival holds the record for the single wettest day, when 60.1mm of rain fell at the nearby weather station at Rodney Stoke.
The lowest minimum temperature has been a chilly 4.2C, recorded at Yeovilton weather station in 1987.
In contrast, the highest maximum temperature was recorded five years ago in 2017, when the Rodney Stoke weather station reached 31.2C.
The strongest gusts of wind were recorded in 1985 and 1987, when 41mph was reached at Yeovilton.
Even if there is little rain during the festival itself, heavy downpours in the days beforehand can turn the site into a mud-bath.
This is what happened in 1997 and 2016, leading to wretched conditions for most people - although some refused to let it spoil their enjoyment and chose instead to have a glorious wallow in dirt.
With little rain forecast ahead of this year's festival, a mud-bath on a similar scale looks unlikely.
But showers over the weekend might leave festival-goers feeling rather damp.