Glastonbury Festival is a five-day festival of performing arts that takes place near Pilton, Somerset in England. Best known as a music festival, the event also hosts dance, comedy, theatre, circus and cabaret acts. The biggest names in pop and rock have played at Glastonbury over the years, alongside many thousands of others appearing on smaller stages and performance areas.
The festival is considered one of the largest in the world. Attended by over 135,000 music fans, the event sees a massive influx of people to the area and requires extensive infrastructure in terms of security, transport, water and electricity supply. The majority of staff are volunteers, helping the festival to raise millions of pounds for good causes. The main charities which benefit include Oxfam, Greenpeace and Water Aid.
Regarded as a major event in British culture, Glastonbury also receives extensive media attention around the world. The BBC provides live television and radio coverage throughout the festival. In addition, more than 80 performances from individual artists are set to be streamed live on a dedicated section of their website.
History
Organizer Michael Eavis was inspired to host the first event (then called Pilton Festival) after seeing an open air concert by Led Zeppelin at the 1970 Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. After the 1970s, the festival took place almost every year, growing larger each time. The number of attendees was often swollen by gatecrashers, with an estimated 250,000 people attending in the year 2,000, more than double the number of tickets sold.
From its humble beginnings over four decades ago, the Glastonbury Festival quickly grew and established itself as one of the world’s foremost cultural events. Countless legendary acts have performed at the festival, with previous headliners including household names such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, James Brown, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and the Rolling Stones.
Glastonbury Festival’s famous Pyramid Stage has hosted some of the biggest names in music.
Glastonbury Festival 2017
The initial batch of 135,000 tickets for the Glastonbury Festival 2017 sold out in less than 50 minutes when released last October. This was before the line-up had even been announced, underscoring the event’s immense popularity.
This year’s headliners will include Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Foo Fighters and Radiohead. As well as these hugely popular acts, festival goers can enjoy over 2,000 performances across 100 different venues, taking in music from all genres, cabaret, comedy, theatre, circus, film, dance, a kids field, poetry, arts and crafts, and much more. Each area of the site has its own character and attractions, all wrapped up in a uniquely bohemian atmosphere.
The Glastonbury Festival 2017 takes place from Wednesday June 21 – Sunday June 25 at Worthy Farm in Somerset.
For further information, and to see full details on the festival line-up, please visit the official website.
Headliners Coldplay close the show at the 2016 Glastonbury Festival.
Flying to Glastonbury
The closest international airport to the Glastonbury site is Bristol Airport (IATA: BRS, ICAO: EGGD). Located at Lulsgate Bottom in North Somerset, it is a commercial airport serving the city of Bristol and surrounding areas. The airport is around 36km north of the festival site.
Bristol Airport offers a dedicated 600m2 General Aviation (GA) terminal, with self-contained security facilities and two passenger lounges. The airport is operational 24/7, and functions as an Airport of Entry (AoE). Customs and Immigration staff are on duty 24 hours.
Equipment available on-site includes fuel trucks, de-icing rig, ASU, tugs, GPU, O2/N2, toilet and water services, cabin cleaning, hangarage and access equipment for visiting engineers. Aircraft parking is located within meters of the terminal entrance, and can accommodate up to 16 large aircraft.
PPR, Slots & Parking
Prior Permission Required (PPR) is mandatory, however no landing permits are required. It takes around 72 working hours to process PPR. Full flight details should be submitted with the request.
Slots are not necessary for GA traffic at Bristol airport unless there is a special event located nearby at the time of operation, in which case they may be implemented. Currently, there are no relevant NOTAMs posted over the festival period. However, due to the volume of people heading to Glastonbury it is advisable to arrange your flight at the earliest opportunity.
Aircraft parking needs to be booked, with a lead time of 72 working hours. Long term parking is possible, subject to availability.
Helicopter transfers are also available directly to the festival site from Bristol Airport, allowing revelers to bypass the traffic on the ground (which is expected to be heavily congested) and arrive in comfort and style.
If you have any questions on arranging your flight to Bristol Airport, please contact our team today on +971 4 212 4000 or email info@jetex.com.
Arrange Your Festival Experience with Jetex
Planning a trip to Glastonbury? Arrive in style with Jetex!
The Jetex Lifestyle team will ensure you and your party receive 5-star treatment throughout your trip. Jetex Lifestyle is a groundbreaking concept, bringing together an irresistible package of privileges and bespoke services. Our exclusive partnerships and extensive connections enable us to craft unique experiences which are unavailable elsewhere. If you can imagine it, we can arrange it!
From exclusive helicopter transfers to locating the perfect accommodation close to the festival site, Jetex Lifestyle can tailor your Glastonbury experience to your exact requirements.
For further information, please contact us on +971 4 212 4088 or lifestyle@jetex.com.
