Glastonbury

Music's most famous field lies dormant for 50 weeks of the year, leaving behind muddy memories and a surprisingly mystical market town that's been drawing pilgrims for over a millennium. Glastonbury might be synonymous with wellies and festival-goers, but strip away the summer madness and you'll find one of England's most spiritually charged places.

The town centre hums with alternative energy year-round. New Age shops line the high street between proper Somerset pubs, while the iconic Glastonbury Tor rises like a green pyramid from the surrounding levels. That climb up to St Michael's Tower is a proper workout, but the 360-degree views across the Somerset countryside make every wheeze worthwhile.

Glastonbury Abbey's ruins tell a different story - this was once England's richest monastery before Henry VIII got his hands on it. Legend has it King Arthur and Guinevere were buried here, though the monks were rather conveniently 'guided' to their graves during a fundraising crisis. Make of that what you will.

Beyond the obvious attractions, the surrounding countryside offers gentle walking through ancient woodlands like Pippler Lane Wood and Old Wood. The mystical Strummer Stone and various ancient crosses scattered across the landscape add to that otherworldly atmosphere that draws seekers from around the globe.

Access couldn't be easier - Glastonbury sits just off the A39, with Wells a mere 6 miles northeast for rail connections to London and Bristol. Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Wells Touring Park or Long Hazel Park puts you perfectly placed for both the town's spiritual side and the broader Somerset Levels exploration, without the festival crowds.