Glastonbury is open year-round, but the rhythm of the place is set by pilgrim and festival traffic.
Late spring and early summer (May to early June) is the prettiest time. The hedgerows are in flower, the meadows on the Levels turn yellow with buttercups, and tour groups have not yet arrived. The Beltane fires on 1 May draw druids and pagans to the Tor for a dawn ritual; visitors are welcome to watch.
Late June is dominated by the Glastonbury Festival a few miles east at Pilton. The town fills with festival-goers in fancy dress, prices rise, and accommodation must be booked many months ahead. Even without a festival ticket, the atmosphere is electric.
Summer holidays through August are the busiest weeks for ordinary visitors. The Tor gets crowded; book Abbey tickets in advance.
Autumn is wet and quieter, the Levels often flooded. The 21 September equinox is another druid date worth watching for, with morning ceremonies on the Tor.
Winter is the most atmospheric season. Mist clings to the Levels and rolls around the base of the Tor, the Holy Thorn flowers in time for Christmas, and a small Christmas market sets up on the High Street.