Glastonbury has been named one of the best places in the UK to experience the summer solstice, with new research putting the town fifth in the country for conditions on the longest day of the year.

The ranking comes as thousands of people prepare to mark midsummer on Sunday, 21 June 2026. In Glastonbury, the summer solstice is already one of the most important dates in the town's calendar, with the Tor drawing walkers, spiritual visitors, pagans, druids, photographers and early risers hoping to watch the sunrise from one of Somerset's most famous landmarks.

Walking holiday specialists Inghams Walking analysed historical weather and daylight data for popular solstice destinations. The company looked at six factors: cloud cover, rainfall, daylight hours, temperature, humidity and visibility.

Each destination was then given a "Summer Solstice Score" out of 100. Glastonbury scored 54.3, placing it fifth in the UK and 13th across the Northern Hemisphere.

Amesbury, home to Stonehenge, topped the UK list with a score of 58.7 and also ranked third globally. Portree on the Isle of Skye was second in the UK, followed by Betws-y-Coed in Wales and Fort William in Scotland.

The result puts Glastonbury ahead of several internationally known destinations in the wider ranking, including Tromsø in Norway, Reykjavik in Iceland and St Moritz in Switzerland. For a town already closely linked with midsummer, myth and landscape, the research gives a more practical reason for its pull: decent visibility, manageable conditions and long daylight hours.

The UK top ten was Amesbury, Portree, Betws-y-Coed, Fort William, Glastonbury, Kirkwall, Lowestoft, Brighton, Keswick and Whitby. Scotland took three places in the list, with its long June daylight helping Portree, Fort William and Kirkwall rank strongly despite the country's reputation for unpredictable weather.

Globally, Bergen in Norway was ranked the best destination for summer solstice conditions, followed by Yosemite in the United States and Amesbury in Wiltshire. Funchal in Portugal and Ortisei in Italy completed the global top five.

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Laura Mason, head of destinations at Inghams, said: "The summer solstice isn't just about traditional or spiritual celebrations, it also offers a rare window where travellers can explore destinations for longer, in clearer and more comfortable conditions than almost any other time of year.

"While the research found that some popular summer solstice locations are high in the rankings, it also highlights some lesser-known hidden gems for travellers on the search for a low-key summer solstice trip.

"These locations give travellers the chance to explore the destinations well into the evening, whether that's hiking, sightseeing, or simply just enjoying the scenery without feeling rushed or limited by the clock."

For Glastonbury, the ranking lands in a week when the town is already leaning into midsummer. The Tor remains the obvious draw, but the wider area also has solstice events, walks and gatherings tied to the season.

The research will not surprise many locals, who are used to seeing the town fill with visitors around key points in the calendar. Still, for anyone planning to climb the Tor this weekend, the advice remains simple: check the forecast, wear sensible shoes, and do not assume the Somerset weather has read the press release.

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