Driving from Heathrow (sorry if this has been asked!)

[dmedxb]

Hi everyone, 

Almost a week to go - hope we're all excited! I've been journey planning this week and I'm still a touch confused so if anyone could help then that would be amazing. We'll be driving from Heathrow (renting a car) on the Wednesday morning so approaching the site from the east. However, we're staying in off site camping on the west of the site (Zoo Bells). Neither of us live in the UK so we're having problems digesting the directions on the official website. 

The direct route on Google Maps looks something like this but this means we approach from the East which is no good: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Enterprise+Rent-A-Car+-+London+Heathrow+Airport,+Northern+Perimeter+Road,+Heathrow,+Hounslow,+UK/ZooLoos+Glastonbury,+United+Kingdom/@51.1826394,-1.969131,9.06z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x4876725645df71f3:0x3c3a091eda83b503!2m2!1d-0.476189!2d51.479462!1m5!1m1!1s0x4872232d3f957ef1:0xd1384a78b98b1071!2m2!1d-2.6117565!2d51.1528093!3e0

Should we instead miss the site to the south and then approach from Glastonbury town? https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Enterprise+Rent-A-Car+-+London+Heathrow+Airport,+Northern+Perimeter+Road,+Heathrow,+Hounslow,+UK/Podimore,+Yeovil,+UK/Glastonbury,+UK/ZooLoos+Glastonbury,+United+Kingdom/@51.1722407,-2.5452374,10.88z/data=!4m26!4m25!1m5!1m1!1s0x4876725645df71f3:0x3c3a091eda83b503!2m2!1d-0.476189!2d51.479462!1m5!1m1!1s0x48723e2a4943708b:0x78a6660759115339!2m2!1d-2.648678!2d51.023471!1m5!1m1!1s0x4872162ed610f935:0xe0aaa17b465769db!2m2!1d-2.718454!2d51.147427!1m5!1m1!1s0x4872232d3f957ef1:0xd1384a78b98b1071!2m2!1d-2.6117565!2d51.1528093!3e0

Thank you so much in advance! 

[martyafrica]

Hi, i would choose route 2 on your list above. its easiest if you're not used to driving in the UK and you're least likely to get sent on a confusing diversion.or be caught in long days.

Accept  you will hit some traffic when you are near site, so stop for a loo break/leg stretch at Podimore roundabout service station and you should be fine .Make sure you stock up on water/drink and snacks for the trip when  you pick up the car, the distance isn't huge but allow for potentially busy roads most of the Journey. The M25 and M3 can be awful depending on what time in the morning you are setting off.

Finally stick to the speed limit on A303 there are speed cameras and  often police speed traps all along this road.

[dmedxb]

Ah, thank you Marty, that's brilliant. Once we get out of Heathrow, we'll be stopping somewhere for our festival booze/food etc so will pick up snacks at the same time! We're picking up the rental car around 0930 so hoping that a lot of the M25/M3 rush hour traffic will have quietened down by the time we hit those roads. 

[BlueDaze]

When you get off the M3 and onto the A303 after a few miles you will reach Solstice Park just before Amesbury (traffic often slow here for the roundabout)... In there is a big Tesco and an Aldi that should be good for all your supplies and also an opportunity to stretch the legs and water the horses...

then get your cameras out for the obligatory rubbish photos of Stonehenge and plough on through much more appealing countryside.... 

Podimore  will be full of signs sending you up the A37 to the east of the site and that to your point is where you keep on...

remember with supplies, no glass on site so if you buy spirits you will have to get Sports bottles or something to decant into..

have a great festival.

[dmedxb]

Thanks BlueDaze - super helpful as well. We're staying with family on the Monday/Tuesday so they're saving plastic bottles for spirit decantation! 

[mario man]

Of those two routes I’ve done the second option many times - we always camp on the west side of the festival so head for west car parks. We took that route as a trial run one year and had no problems at all so have done it every year since (when driving - we’re on coach for a change this year!)

There is always a bit of traffic around Stonehenge on the A303, but apart from that you should be fine and not hit festival traffic until you are well along the A361 out of Glastonbury heading towards the site. 

As others have said plenty of options for supplies etc along the A303 and around Glastonbury town - therefore if the queues are bad best to have a pit-stop before hitting the A361.

Good luck and enjoy the fest! 

[dmedxb]

1 hour ago, mario man said:

Of those two routes I’ve done the second option many times - we always camp on the west side of the festival so head for west car parks. We took that route as a trial run one year and had no problems at all so have done it every year since (when driving - we’re on coach for a change this year!)

There is always a bit of traffic around Stonehenge on the A303, but apart from that you should be fine and not hit festival traffic until you are well along the A361 out of Glastonbury heading towards the site. 

As others have said plenty of options for supplies etc along the A303 and around Glastonbury town - therefore if the queues are bad best to have a pit-stop before hitting the A361.

Good luck and enjoy the fest! 

Thank you so much - my wife has been a couple of times but this is my first, can't wait! You too!

[herzzreh]

We always drive from Heathrow and take option 2 most of the way but we never go through Glasotnbury itself. We make a right on A37 and then take the lanes, get our right near Ashcombe Park. We always do this on a Tuesday though, so I'm not sure whether everything would be blocked off on a Wednesday. Tesco in Andover is our usual shopping stop. If you're flying from the States, buy liquor in duty free... it's cheaper, much cheaper.

Here's how we usually go -

 

Edited June 18, 2019 by herzzreh

[dmedxb]

16 hours ago, herzzreh said:

We always drive from Heathrow and take option 2 most of the way but we never go through Glasotnbury itself. We make a right on A37 and then take the lanes, get our right near Ashcombe Park. We always do this on a Tuesday though, so I'm not sure whether everything would be blocked off on a Wednesday. Tesco in Andover is our usual shopping stop. If you're flying from the States, buy liquor in duty free... it's cheaper, much cheaper.

Here's how we usually go -

 

Thank you, mega useful as well. We'll be on the Wednesday so I'll check the road closures guide to see how viable this is. 

Will definitely grab some supplies in duty free and then hit either Basingstoke or Andover for everything else!