Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor is a distinctive hill rising 158 metres above the Somerset Levels in southwest England, crowned by the roofless tower of St Michael’s Church. A place of spiritual significance across multiple traditions, the Tor has been associated with Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, Christian pilgrimage, and modern neopagan practice, making it one of the most symbolically layered landscapes in Britain.

History

The hill was likely a place of ritual significance in the Iron Age and possibly earlier, given its dramatic prominence above the wetlands. During the early medieval period, a monastery was established at the foot of the hill, developing into Glastonbury Abbey, one of the wealthiest and most important abbeys in England before its dissolution in 1539. The tower standing today is all that remains of a 14th-century church built after an earthquake destroyed an earlier structure. The legendary association with the Isle of Avalon and burial place of King Arthur, though unhistorical, has drawn pilgrims and seekers to the site since at least the 12th century.

What to See

The Tor itself is a 20-minute climb from the town via a well-maintained path. The tower of St Michael’s Church offers no interior access but frames spectacular views across the Somerset Levels, the Bristol Channel, and the Mendip and Quantock hills. Below the Tor, the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey include the legendary grave site of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. The Chalice Well Gardens at the foot of the Tor surround an ancient spring with year-round flow of iron-rich red water.

Getting There

Glastonbury is in Somerset, approximately 35 kilometres south of Bristol. There is no train station in the town; the nearest stations are Castle Cary and Bristol Temple Meads. National Express coaches run from London Victoria. By car from London the journey takes approximately two and a half hours via the M4 and A39.

Find it on the map

See this place and what’s around it →

Google Maps See the location on a full map → Street View Walk around the place virtually → OpenStreetMap Free community cartography →