Glastonbury among the wettest UK festivals over the past decade, research reveals

As lucky ticket holders prepare for the wonders of Glastonbury festival this week, they might want to pack both their wellies and suncream if history is anything to go by.

According to research from William Hill Vegas, Glastonbury ranks as the second wettest UK music festival over the past decade among selected major festivals, but also comfortably averages the hottest temperatures across its four-day stretch.

The research, which collected historical weather data from the past 10 editions of eight selected leading UK music festivals, reveals that Glastonbury, held in Somerset, has experienced a hefty 110.4mm of rain over 19 days in the last 10 years. Only Boardmasters, with 140.1mm of rain over 27 days on the coast of Cornwall, has been wetter in that time, while Creamfields in Cheshire was also notably high on the list.

Despite the wet conditions, Glastonbury also claims the highest average maximum temperature over its past 10 editions at 30.6°C, suggesting there is usually extreme weather in some capacity when festival goers flock to Worthy Farm on an annual basis. Glastonbury’s notorious weather has arguably become part of its charm, with memorable performances from artists like The Who in 2007 and U2 in 2011 taking place under stormy skies and on muddy ground.

On the flip side, if you’re seeking a dry and summery festival experience, Reading Festival tops the chart. With just 18.6mm of rain over 13 days across 10 years, Reading offers festival-goers the best chance of staying dry, while a warm average maximum temperature of 26°C makes it the ideal spot for those who prefer their festivals without the mud.

Boomtown was third in the average maximum temperature list with 23.5°C – a comfortable seven degrees cooler than Glastonbury out in front.

Lee Phelps, spokesperson for William Hill, said: “Glastonbury is not just about the music; it’s about the experience and adventure across five days of immersive exploration. We know how much the weather can affect music festivals, particularly in the UK, so those attending Worthy Farm this week may want to know that the festival has seen both the wettest and hottest conditions of selected festivals over the past decade, according to our research.

“Whether you’re rocking a poncho or catching rays between showers, Glastonbury’s unpredictable weather adds to the experience. Having attracted over 110mm of rainfall over the past 10 years and pulling in scorching average temperatures of over 30 degrees, it’s clear that rain or shine, the festival remains a fan favourite.

“Out in front in the total rainfall category is Boardmasters, which has soaked its attendees on the Cornwall coastline with 140mm of rainfall over its past 10 editions, while Creamfields also seems to attract stormy conditions up in Daresbury during Bank Holiday August weekends.

“Of the selected festivals, other notable mentions include Download Festival with 65.4mm of rain over 17 days, Leeds with 48.9mm over 15 days, and Boomtown with 36.5mm over 16 days, showing that no matter where you try to escape to for a fix of music and partying, a splash of traditional British rain is always lurking close behind!”