Coach Tickets 2025

[Barneym]

5 minutes ago, cheesey_toastie said:

"It usually goes from outside the Penny Black, next to the bus station" - this was from 2023 so ensure you check your email:
Source: 

 

 

There was a spreadsheet / list where someone put together this info for each departure point....

If you're wondering what time you're likely to depart - Northern coach spots seem to be 5am > midday and coaches anecdotally fill up from booking order. So if you got in at 1801hrs expect early. Though they obviously juggle groups to fill coaches (so a couple might get on an earlier coach with two spares)... all of this is pure speculation but I've been on the See Tickets coaches about 5 times and it does seem to hold.

 

  NOTE - I've only ever gone from Manchester or Birmingham so can't vouch for the above!

 

If anyone has a link that would be really helpful as we have people from a couple of places so it would be good to guess their times (I know I could just wait but i like to organise!)

[dotdash79]

Whilst I’m sad I won’t get the excitement of getting a ticket in the post I at least know my coach time so I can plan accordingly. 

[gooner1990]

1 hour ago, majormajormajor said:

 

Conversely, it'll be nice to potentially have a semblance of life in me on Sunday. I'm usually completely done for by Saturday after caning it from Wednesday lunchtime.

 

Would agree with that.  I'm now 43 (44 this summer)

 

The last two I've been to I've been spent once I wake up on the Sunday morning.  Could easily do with turning up Thursday afternoon, but I know I would miss out on too much if I did that.  

 

TBH if the festival turned round and said no more Wednesday, its only Thursday onwards it wouldn't bother me, and would ensure more people on site Sunday rather than the streams of people leaving you now see from late afternoon onwards. 

[cheesey_toastie]

24 minutes ago, Barneym said:

If anyone has a link that would be really helpful as we have people from a couple of places so it would be good to guess their times (I know I could just wait but i like to organise!)

https://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/topic/239024-2019-coach-times-and-locations/

 

 

[Crazyfool01]

13 minutes ago, cheesey_toastie said:

https://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/topic/239024-2019-coach-times-and-locations/

 

 

We are probably due to update this at some point but probably not worth it post fallow year ?! Or is it ? 

[cheesey_toastie]

1 minute ago, Crazyfool01 said:

We are probably due to update this at some point but probably not worth it post fallow year ?! Or is it ? 

It's probably no less up to date than See Tickets. 

 

The year after the two Covid cancellations they sent us to a Birmingham pickup point that had been built over!! Utter chaos reigned as the coach drivers parked up half a mile away and all the festival goers had to work in tandem with the drivers to send everyone to the right place. 

[cheesey_toastie]

Just now, cheesey_toastie said:

It's probably no less up to date than See Tickets. 

 

The year after the two Covid cancellations they sent us to a Birmingham pickup point that had been built over!! Utter chaos reigned as the coach drivers parked up half a mile away and all the festival goers had to work in tandem with the drivers to send everyone to the right place. 

Was quite amazing as everyone found our coach and we only left an hour or two late. Credit to the different coach firms there - they really worked together to sort out a mess. They were calling each others drivers to let them know the situation.

[Crazyfool01]

Just now, cheesey_toastie said:

It's probably no less up to date than See Tickets. 

 

The year after the two Covid cancellations they sent us to a Birmingham pickup point that had been built over!! Utter chaos reigned as the coach drivers parked up half a mile away and all the festival goers had to work in tandem with the drivers to send everyone to the right place. 

Yeah they can be chaotic along with drivers getting lost or taking routes that are mind boggling 

[cheesey_toastie]

1 minute ago, Crazyfool01 said:

Yeah they can be chaotic along with drivers getting lost or taking routes that are mind boggling 

Last year's return driver had a cob on about the length of time he was expected to do alone to get to Manchester. Pretty sure he deliberately "got lost" finding the M5 - we ended up heading to Cardiff. Then he had to stop at a M6 services because he was over hours and they had to send another driver. I mean I get you can get confused around the festival but Bristol -> M5->M6 is pretty staple stuff. 

Miserable f****r

[cheesey_toastie]

Just now, cheesey_toastie said:

Last year's return driver had a cob on about the length of time he was expected to do alone to get to Manchester. Pretty sure he deliberately "got lost" finding the M5 - we ended up heading to Cardiff. Then he had to stop at a M6 services because he was over hours and they had to send another driver. I mean I get you can get confused around the festival but Bristol -> M5->M6 is pretty staple stuff. 

Miserable f****r

 

I feel the need to also add we've had some good drivers too over the years. Good journeys, comfortable coaches, air con that worked! Just a bit pot luck. But you get to go and that's the main thing

[MilkyJoe]

This is a little more up to date but still a couple of years old I think.

 

Bath

Wednesday 06:15 / 9:15 / 12:15

Thursday 11:00

 

Birmingham

Wednesday 05:15 / 05:45 / 06:30 / 07:00 / 10:45

Thursday 05:45 / 06:45 / 10:45

 

Brighton

Wednesday 06:45 / 07:45 / 09:30

Thursday 09:00

 

Cambridge

Wednesday 06:00

Thursday 07:00

 

Cardiff

Wednesday 05:45 / 07:00

Thursday 07:30

 

Edinburgh

Tuesday 21:00 / 22:30

 

Glasgow

Tuesday 23:00

 

Leicester

Wednesday 05:00 / 11:00 / 12:00

Thursday 05:30 / 08:00 / 11:00

 

Leeds

Wednesday 00:30 / 07:00

Thursday 07:00 / 12:00

 

Lincoln

Wednesday 07:30 / 08:00

Thursday

 

Liverpool

Wednesday 06:00 / 08:00 / 09:00 / 10:00 / 12:00 / 13:00

Thursday 08:00

 

Manchester

Wednesday 06:00 / 08:00 / 08:30 / 11:00, 14:00

Thursday 06:00 / 10:00

 

Newcastle

 Wednesday 10:00

Thursday 08:00

 

Nottingham

Wednesday 09:00 / 13:30

Thursday

 

Oxford

Wednesday 06:15

Thursday 06:15

 

Plymouth

Wednesday 05:30

Thursday 05:30

 

Reading

Wednesday 06:00 / 10:30 / 12:30 / 15:00

Thursday 06:00 / 08:30

 

Sheffield

Wednesday 07:00

Thursday 09:00

 

Stoke

Wednesday 06:00 / 08:00

 

Southampton

Wednesday 05:30 / 13:30

Thursday 06:00

 

Swansea

Wednesday 15:00

Thursday 06:00

 

Swindon

Wednesday 06:00 / 13:00

Thursday

 

Taunton

Wednesday 06:15 / 14:45

Thursday 15:45

 

Truro

Wednesday 07:00

 

York

Wednesday 07:00

Thursday 07:00 / 08:45

[Euphoricape]

3 hours ago, gooner1990 said:

 

Would agree with that.  I'm now 43 (44 this summer)

 

The last two I've been to I've been spent once I wake up on the Sunday morning.  Could easily do with turning up Thursday afternoon, but I know I would miss out on too much if I did that.  

 

TBH if the festival turned round and said no more Wednesday, its only Thursday onwards it wouldn't bother me, and would ensure more people on site Sunday rather than the streams of people leaving you now see from late afternoon onwards. 

I'm happy to be going Thursday this year for the same reason. Pointless losing sleep and energy on the Wednesday evening when there's nothing going on. 

[Crazyfool01]

2 minutes ago, Euphoricape said:

I'm happy to be going Thursday this year for the same reason. Pointless losing sleep and energy on the Wednesday evening when there's nothing going on. 

The Efest meet . I love we’d it’s a great little appetiser for the main course 

[doogie]

2 hours ago, cheesey_toastie said:

Last year's return driver had a cob on about the length of time he was expected to do alone to get to Manchester. Pretty sure he deliberately "got lost" finding the M5 - we ended up heading to Cardiff. Then he had to stop at a M6 services because he was over hours and they had to send another driver. I mean I get you can get confused around the festival but Bristol -> M5->M6 is pretty staple stuff. 

Miserable f****r

 

National Express isn't any better as they subcontract a lot of the London departures, and it's normal to queue for hours past the scheduled departure time at Victoria Coach station.

 

Last year I arrived at 10.30am for my 11am departure.  We ended up leaving at 1pm and arrived at 6pm as the driver got stuck in a horrendous jam near Shepton Mallet as he followed the satnav instead of the road signs.

[Crazyfool01]

I guess there are a finite number of available coaches / drivers 

[giantkatestacks]

51 minutes ago, doogie said:

 

National Express isn't any better as they subcontract a lot of the London departures, and it's normal to queue for hours past the scheduled departure time at Victoria Coach station.

 

Last year I arrived at 10.30am for my 11am departure.  We ended up leaving at 1pm and arrived at 6pm as the driver got stuck in a horrendous jam near Shepton Mallet as he followed the satnav instead of the road signs.

Tbf victoria has always been just turn up and join the queue and you get on whichever coach and they just leave when full.

[stuie]

8 hours ago, gooner1990 said:

 

TBH if the festival turned round and said no more Wednesday, its only Thursday onwards it wouldn't bother me, and would ensure more people on site Sunday rather than the streams of people leaving you now see from late afternoon onwards. 

I’ve only ever known that to happen last year. If there’s reasons to stay, people don’t leave en mass - see Elton for example! 

[clarkete]

12 hours ago, incident said:

 

Yeah definitely. I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of people who end up on Thursday coaches would prefer Wednesday but feel pushed into accepting the guaranteed second choice option rather than take the risk of rolling over into general where they may not get a sniff.

 

Seems unfair that they're effectively penalised for being substantially more flexible than I would be.

 

I disagree to quite a degree with those who put Wednesday on too much of a pedestal -  tbh there are plenty of the old years where I think folks didn't even turn up until acts were playing, which at that time was from Friday.  Maybe I'd feel different if I was one of those still turning up with scores of pals?  

Back in one of the last secret resales I was lucky enough to get a Thursday ticket from London, even though I lived two hours away.    So on the day in question we got train down, tube across and then onto a coach from the O2.

Arriving at the farm felt as fabulous as all the others years and we had a cracking year, whereas I'd have been devastated to have missed out.

[efcfanwirral]

14 minutes ago, clarkete said:

 

I disagree to quite a degree with those who put Wednesday on too much of a pedestal -  tbh there are plenty of the old years where I think folks didn't even turn up until acts were playing, which at that time was from Friday.  Maybe I'd feel different if I was one of those still turning up with scores of pals?  .

Just the two of us usually and the Wednesday is amazing for us. I love having zero agenda or even potential plan. Just getting lost there...perfect.

 

Taking it further, last year we volunteered for the first time and Tuesday was our favourite day. We got to explore without all the people, but not as dead as it was on the Monday. Empty campsites was a sight to behold! A completely different perspective.

 

Personally, I hope we get to experience Wednesday in the normal non-working way (praying for Sunday's resale) but if not, empty campsites and quiet but still buzzing Park hill on the Tuesday await us

Edited April 25, 2025 by efcfanwirral

[StoneCircle]

2 hours ago, clarkete said:

 

I disagree to quite a degree with those who put Wednesday on too much of a pedestal -  tbh there are plenty of the old years where I think folks didn't even turn up until acts were playing, which at that time was from Friday.  Maybe I'd feel different if I was one of those still turning up with scores of pals?  

Back in one of the last secret resales I was lucky enough to get a Thursday ticket from London, even though I lived two hours away.    So on the day in question we got train down, tube across and then onto a coach from the O2.

Arriving at the farm felt as fabulous as all the others years and we had a cracking year, whereas I'd have been devastated to have missed out.

 

My first year was 2005 with my now husband. He has been coming since the 70's or 80's. We arrived mid afternoon on Wednesday and it was empty. Pitched in Oxlyers and I had a baptism of rain not fire! Google it if you don't know.

 

Returned in 2007 after a fallow year (we got married so we could celebrate our anniversary at Glastonbury most years) and after much research I opted we camped in Williams Field. Again it was very quiet on Wednesday. In 2008 we noticed it was slightly busier on Wednesday, but nowhere like it is these days.

 

By 2009 we had bought a caravan and it was as I remember another very easy Wednesday entry.

 

In 2010 it was a nightmare, it appeared that everyone wanted to be in early, we sat at traffic lights in Shepton Mallet for hour after hour without moving. A campervan had broken down on Pylle Road we later discovered.

 

The following year the campervan fields opened at midday on Tuesday. Everyone who can work permitting, (ourselves included) now rock up on Tuesday!

 

What changed the arrival day for most people? Obviously better access to the internet these days. Back in 2005 you were lucky to have internet at work never mind at home. Sending or receiving a text message at the festival took a day or so! Life in many ways was far more simple back then, and we looked with our eyes not our phones!  

 

Live in the moment! 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2025 by StoneCircle

[t0paz]

5 hours ago, StoneCircle said:

What changed the arrival day for most people? 

The England World Cup game on the Wednesday in 2010 was what caused it. And that broke the seal and it’s never gone back to people drip feeding in over Weds & Thurs.

[clarkete]

10 hours ago, efcfanwirral said:

Just the two of us usually and the Wednesday is amazing for us. I love having zero agenda or even potential plan. Just getting lost there...perfect.

 

Taking it further, last year we volunteered for the first time and Tuesday was our favourite day. We got to explore without all the people, but not as dead as it was on the Monday. Empty campsites was a sight to behold! A completely different perspective.

 

Personally, I hope we get to experience Wednesday in the normal non-working way (praying for Sunday's resale) but if not, empty campsites and quiet but still buzzing Park hill on the Tuesday await us

 

I did stay in the cv field last year, as I have for many of the last twenty years and for the first time came down Tuesday.  It was lovely to meet up with other members of this parish, however end last year with the new system in play I had zero hesitation in chucking my hat in for coach on any day - having not missed any for 40 years but I never know which might be the last and I value just getting there at all a very high  achievement. 

 

8 hours ago, StoneCircle said:

 

My first year was 2005 with my now husband. He has been coming since the 70's or 80's. We arrived mid afternoon on Wednesday and it was empty. Pitched in Oxlyers and I had a baptism of rain not fire! Google it if you don't know.

 

Returned in 2007 after a fallow year (we got married so we could celebrate our anniversary at Glastonbury most years) and after much research I opted we camped in Williams Field. Again it was very quiet on Wednesday. In 2008 we noticed it was slightly busier on Wednesday, but nowhere like it is these days.

 

By 2009 we had bought a caravan and it was as I remember another very easy Wednesday entry.

 

In 2010 it was a nightmare, it appeared that everyone wanted to be in early, we sat at traffic lights in Shepton Mallet for hour after hour without moving. A campervan had broken down on Pylle Road we later discovered.

 

The following year the campervan fields opened at midday on Tuesday. Everyone who can work permitting, (ourselves included) now rock up on Tuesday!

 

What changed the arrival day for most people? Obviously better access to the internet these days. Back in 2005 you were lucky to have internet at work never mind at home. Sending or receiving a text message at the festival took a day or so! Life in many ways was far more simple back then, and we looked with our eyes not our phones!  

 

Live in the moment! 

 

 

You've got a fabulous recollection! tbh I spent so many years partying beyond my body's capacity that they're a bit blurry - distinct weather in 85 (my first) or 2007 (pic below), of course masses of specific acts, but genuinely I've got other bits and pieces I've put together from photos of us or acts at stages plus clashfinder - of course much harder back in the day as we didn't take many pics and the timestamps aren't so simple for film. 

 

When you refer to texts of old, I still remember the massive quantity of messages on the couple of meeting points - many of which not very time specific so surely could have resulted in waiting for ages, but it was very sweet that they tried so much. 

 

Edited April 26, 2025 by clarkete

[StoneCircle]

27 minutes ago, clarkete said:

 

You've got a fabulous recollection! tbh I spent so many years partying beyond my body's capacity that they're a bit blurry - distinct weather in 85 (my first) or 2007 (pic below), of course masses of specific acts, but genuinely I've got other bits and pieces I've put together from photos of us or acts at stages plus clashfinder - of course much harder back in the day as we didn't take many pics and the timestamps aren't so simple for film. 

 

When you refer to texts of old, I still remember the massive quantity of messages on the couple of meeting points - many of which not very time specific so surely could have resulted in waiting for ages, but it was very sweet that they tried so much. 

 

 

 

You have a further 20 years to remember than me! Acts I have seen are slightly hazy apart from really stand out ones that I won't bore you with! A visit to the line up on the GFL website usually helps as a reminder about who we saw.

 

I remember the messages at the the meeting point, I used to wonder if anyone ever found theirs!  Great times! 

[gooner1990]

16 hours ago, StoneCircle said:

 

My first year was 2005 with my now husband. He has been coming since the 70's or 80's. We arrived mid afternoon on Wednesday and it was empty. Pitched in Oxlyers and I had a baptism of rain not fire! Google it if you don't know.

 

Returned in 2007 after a fallow year (we got married so we could celebrate our anniversary at Glastonbury most years) and after much research I opted we camped in Williams Field. Again it was very quiet on Wednesday. In 2008 we noticed it was slightly busier on Wednesday, but nowhere like it is these days.

 

By 2009 we had bought a caravan and it was as I remember another very easy Wednesday entry.

 

In 2010 it was a nightmare, it appeared that everyone wanted to be in early, we sat at traffic lights in Shepton Mallet for hour after hour without moving. A campervan had broken down on Pylle Road we later discovered.

 

The following year the campervan fields opened at midday on Tuesday. Everyone who can work permitting, (ourselves included) now rock up on Tuesday!

 

What changed the arrival day for most people? Obviously better access to the internet these days. Back in 2005 you were lucky to have internet at work never mind at home. Sending or receiving a text message at the festival took a day or so! Life in many ways was far more simple back then, and we looked with our eyes not our phones!  

 

Live in the moment! 

 

 

 

 

 

My first year was 2004, we arrived on the Wednesday at around 6pm and pitched in Top Webbs Ash (near Mandela bar) with relative ease and got about 6 tents in.  

 

2005 we arrived mid-afternoon on the Wednesday, and pitched in Kidney Mead and virtually had the pick of the entire field, was quite quiet around the site until Thursday evening. (and that mental storm!)

 

2007 we arrived at a similar time to 2005 and noticed it was busier than normal at that time, but still got in Big Ground ok, 2008 was similar, camped in Kidney Mead.

 

2009 however when we turned up at the same time again (1-2pm) we really struggled and only just got in Kidney Mead, so in 2010 we turned up at 8am and struggled even at that time to get in but I think a lot of it was due to the England game in the World Cup being shown that afternoon.

 

Then since 2011 our departure/and arrival time has steadily got earlier and earlier, last year I left home at 4am!

 

I do somewhat miss the earlier years I did when the site was relatively quiet and was a breeze to get in on the Wednesday, but it is what it is I guess!

[incident]

7 minutes ago, gooner1990 said:

 

My first year was 2004, we arrived on the Wednesday at around 6pm and pitched in Top Webbs Ash (near Mandela bar) with relative ease and got about 6 tents in.  

 

2005 we arrived mid-afternoon on the Wednesday, and pitched in Kidney Mead and virtually had the pick of the entire field, was quite quiet around the site until Thursday evening. (and that mental storm!)

 

2007 we arrived at a similar time to 2005 and noticed it was busier than normal at that time, but still got in Big Ground ok, 2008 was similar, camped in Kidney Mead.

 

2009 however when we turned up at the same time again (1-2pm) we really struggled and only just got in Kidney Mead, so in 2010 we turned up at 8am and struggled even at that time to get in but I think a lot of it was due to the England game in the World Cup being shown that afternoon.

 

Then since 2011 our departure/and arrival time has steadily got earlier and earlier, last year I left home at 4am!

 

I do somewhat miss the earlier years I did when the site was relatively quiet and was a breeze to get in on the Wednesday, but it is what it is I guess!

 

Yeah - I'm pretty sure that 2010 is the first year that they opened the Car Parks significantly before the gates, and that they made that change because 2009 had an unprecedented and unexpected number of people all trying to arrive Wednesday Morning, causing chaos on the local roads.

 

I got caught in that traffic, whereas in 2008 I'd been able to drive up bang on 8am, park up easily and was nearly spitting distance from (the old) Gate D and one of the first in the queue.

Edited April 26, 2025 by incident