Glastonbury’s £200,000 playground to get castle and dragons

By Laura Linham 15th Oct 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

Castle towers, dragons and a Sword in the Stone will form part of Glastonbury's new Abbey Park playground after councillors selected the winning design. Wicksteed's proposal was chosen from nine submissions for the redevelopment, towards which the town council has allocated £200,000.

Presented as Design 9 during the public consultation, the Arthurian-themed scheme includes equipment for younger children alongside more challenging climbing and balancing activities. Installation is planned for March and April 2027, with completion, certification and opening scheduled for April.

At its centre will be Camelot Castle, with towers, bridges, slides and climbing challenges. A smaller fortress will cater for younger children, while a larger stronghold will offer more demanding activities.

A wheelchair-accessible ramp will lead to a shared platform with interactive features. The proposal also includes a wheelchair-accessible Crown Carousel, an inclusive in-ground trampoline, swings, sensory and musical equipment, and a communication panel.

The Sword in the Stone climbing rock, dragon-themed equipment and a Knight's Agility Trail will extend the theme across the play area. Quieter seating spaces and inclusive picnic facilities are also planned, while the existing football and basketball facilities will remain.

Residents were invited to compare all nine proposals online and at an exhibition at Glastonbury Town Hall on 30 September. Public feedback accounted for 30 per cent of the overall evaluation, alongside assessments of design quality, accessibility, play value and value for money.

Wicksteed received the highest score for design quality and understanding of the brief, earning 23 out of 25 points in that category. Assessors awarded maximum marks for reflecting Glastonbury's identity, bringing the equipment and supporting features together, and meeting specifications for materials, surfaces and colours.

The design also received maximum marks for accessible routes and meaningful participation for children with mobility difficulties. Its provision for children of different ages and physical abilities to play together was awarded full marks, while its sensory features were rated positively.

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The proposal will now undergo final design refinements, due to be completed by 30 October. The council's timetable lists the contract award for 2 November, ahead of installation next spring.

Residents can view the winning design and other proposals on the town council's website. The plans remain subject to the final design refinement process.