Glastonbury, looking towards the historic Glastonbury Tor(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Town where global giants have stomped is England's 'quirkiest'

It's steeped in history and legend

by · DevonLive

When most people think of Glastonbury, the world-famous music festival is usually what springs to mind, drawing in tens of thousands of revellers every year. But the place has plenty to see and do, even when the music dies down.

Brimming with history, it's thought that the Somerset town, just over an hour from Devon, is the final resting place of King Arthur. Legend has it that the monarch and his wife Guinevere were laid to rest in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey. It's even been suggested that Jesus may have visited Glastonbury, a story inspired by the well-known hymn Jerusalem.

In addition to its centuries-long history, the quaint village is considered ideal for shoppers. The retail scene has a quirky feel to it, with shops offering crystals, pagan artefacts and arts and crafts, as well as a healthy supply of charity shops.

The Mirror has deemed the White Spring an "unmissable" sight for tourists. It's home to two natural springs, one that is tinged white by calcium and the other red from iron. Among the springs at the entrance to the town is a temple that you can visit.

⚠️ Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice⚠️

One tourist on Tripadvisor said: "This is a lovely little temple, it's very peaceful lit by candle light. No phones allowed in this spot as it's known to be a religious site and there's also sometimes people bathing without clothes on so be aware of that if taking children.

"It's such a relaxing spot and I could sit in here all day if I could, highly recommend for couples as it feels to be quite a romantic spot".

Another iconic sight in the town is Glastonbury Tor, with both Christian and Pagan history. Some believe that there is secret cave underneath which leads to the fairy kingdom of Annwn, which is home to Gwyn ab Nudd, the ruler of the Celtic underworld, and the Cauldron of Rebirth.

For those that reach the top of the Tor, they are welcomed by a the remains of a 14th century church and breath-taking views over the Somerset countryside.

And when you're wanting to take a breather from the great outdoors, there's plenty of pubs to retreat to, including The George and Pilgrims on the High Street. The historic pub dates back to the 15th century and there are tales that an underground tunnel links to an ancient abbey, while ghost stories say a monk and elegant lady haunt its halls.

Pubgoers shower the place with praise, with one Tripadvisor review saying: "This is the first place I head to whenever I am in Glastonbury. It's a fascinating building with a unique atmosphere. There are little decorative details throughout including a cobbled stone floor, little nooks and seating areas, a beautiful stained glass window frontage and brilliant wall paintings.

"Serving great value tasty food and local traditional farmhouse Somerset cider (beef and other drinks too of course.)".