Chalice Well
Gardens
Chalice Well in Glastonbury is a four-acre spring garden at the foot of the Tor, run by a trust, with a daily Silent Minute and assistance dogs only.
A garden built around a spring
Chalice Well describes itself as Britain’s oldest holy well, set in a four-acre garden at the foot of Glastonbury Tor. The Chalice Well Trust was founded in 1959 by Wellesley Tudor Pole to keep the well available to the public, and it still looks after the spring today. The address is Chilkwell Street, in Glastonbury.
The Vesica Piscis, two overlapping circles, is the symbol that recurs through the garden and on the wellhead lid. The water also feeds a healing pool in King Arthur’s Court.
The Silent Minute
The garden observes a Silent Minute every day, at 12pm and 3pm. If you are there at those times, expect people to stop talking and stand still for a moment.
Visitors often bring picnics to the meadow in warmer months. As well as day entry, the trust runs a retreat house, Little St Michael’s, for longer stays, and takes garden group visits, which should be arranged with the office in advance.
What differs from the Tor and the Abbey
Chalice Well is a garden and a spring, not a hill walk or a ruin. The climb to the summit is a separate visit, covered on the Glastonbury Tor page, and the monastic ruins are at Glastonbury Abbey.
Access, dogs and parking
Only highly trained assistance dogs are allowed, because the garden is an ecologically sensitive area. The visitor information on the garden’s website warns of uneven terrain, cobbled paths and steps, and says a motorised buggy is available on request. Bikes can be pushed through the garden but not ridden.
Opening hours change between the summer and winter halves of the year, and the garden closes to non-Companions on one Saturday each June for Companions Day. Check the garden’s website for current times and last entry before you go.
Where to stay near Chalice Well
Sample dates: 16 October 2026 - 18 October 2026. Adjust below to see live prices for Somerset.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Can I take my dog to Chalice Well?
- No. Only highly trained assistance dogs that accompany their partner are allowed, and no other dogs or pets can enter the garden.
- Is Chalice Well suitable for wheelchairs?
- Most areas are accessible by wheelchair, but the garden has uneven terrain, cobbled paths and steps, and the gatehouse is up a steep cobbled path. Ask at the office for a level route. There is an accessible toilet, and a powered mobility vehicle can be booked by phone or email, so contact the office before you visit.
- Where do I park for Chalice Well?
- The garden has Blue Badge parking and cycle parking on site, and Blue Badge spaces are booked through the office. Other visitors are pointed to nearby parking at Drapers Factory.
- How long do I need at Chalice Well?
- There is no set visit length. Allow time to walk the garden, sit in the meadow and join the Silent Minute at 12pm or 3pm if you are there.