Monday 23 June 2025
At least 300,000 or two in five fans travelling to Glastonbury and Wimbledon this summer will travel by car, The AA expects. All will get assistance at the venues if their vehicles threaten to spoil the occasion. In most cases, festival goers and sports fans alike will share the journey by travelling with friends rather than drive separately and meet at their chosen event.
Organising parking and keeping fans’ cars mobile will be just part of the role played by the UK’s biggest motoring organisation over the next three weeks.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury kicks off on 25 June with around 225,000 festival-goers attending the five day event, of which two-thirds (64%)* will be travelling by car or motorhome according to a recent AA survey.
For those arriving early, official car parks will be open from 9:00pm on Tuesday 24 June, but attendees should remain with their vehicles until the festival gates open at 8.00am on Wednesday 25 June. Drivers will need to display their car parking pass upon entry.
Routes around the South West including the M4, M5 and A39 will be busy on Wednesday 25 June as people descend on Worthy Farm and again on Sunday 29 June and Monday 30 June as revellers head home.
“The AA, an iconic organisation in its own right, has supported Wimbledon for almost 100 years and Glastonbury for around 25 years.”
Like Supergrass, you can keep ‘Movin’ by downloading the AA app to stay updated with traffic news. However, if you feel like The Script’s ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’, keep yourself entertained by ‘Pumping on Your Stereo’. Once you’re on the move again, you can reflect on CHIC’s ‘Good Times’ but when changing gear, don’t put ‘Too Much Pressure’ on The Selecter, or it could result in a call to the AA team.
The AA has supported Glastonbury for around 25 years, with dedicated on-site teams providing support to people who experience problems with their vehicles, including lost keys. The AA team also help festival-goers to find their cars at the end of the festival.
Those needing assistance during the event are advised to head to The AA’s dedicated compound by the Bronze Gate – Immediate service is available to non-members wishing to join The AA whilst attending the festival.
Last year, AA patrols were called out to 154 festival-goers over four days, with 104 drivers opting to join The AA during the festival. Due to the strategic planning, including tried-and-tested radio comms covering the huge site, those requiring assistance only had an average waiting time of 11 minutes.
Anyone for tennis?
Meanwhile, Wimbledon fortnight starts on Monday 30 June with the final day’s action on Sunday 13th July. Last year a record 526,455 people attended across the period with more expected to visit SW19 this year. Of those attending, three in ten (30%)* spectators say they will travel to the All England Club by car.
Each year The AA supports the Championships in the organisation and supervision of the car parks and the park-and-ride facility. Courtesy roadside assistance is provided to drivers in the immediate vicinity of the event, irrespective of whether or not they are AA members. The AA is proud to have supported Wimbledon for almost 100 years. Information on car parking for Wimbledon can be found here.
Rob Trevethick, AA Head of Signs, said: We’re immensely proud to be a part of these flagship summer events. The AA, an iconic organisation in its own right, has supported Wimbledon for almost 100 years and Glastonbury for around 25 years. Our teams relish the opportunity to play their part and thrive in the knowledge that they’ve helped to make these spectacular summer events memorable for the all right reasons.”
Matt Thomas, AA Patrol Performance Leader and event stalwart, said: “Whether you’re a music or a sports fan, it’s vital that your car is event-ready. Taking extra time to carry out a few basic vehicle checks can save you a lot of hassle later on – substituting a live event for radio could lead to disappointment all-round.
“The UK’s biggest breakdown organisation will have patrols on duty at many live events across the UK but is urging drivers to carry out essential car checks before setting off to their chosen venue. Following the AA’s simple acronym for vehicle checks before a trip can help to save stress later on;"
- Fuel
- Lights
- Oil
- Water
- Electrics
- Rubber
The AA App’s ‘Compare fuel prices’ smart phone function will not only help fans to locate fuel stops in unfamiliar parts of the country but direct them to those that will save them money, allowing more of their money to be spent at the events. This in tandem with the app’s route planning and traffic news updates should help ease journeys too.
Other events The AA will be supporting this year include:
Hampton Court Garden Festival; The British Grand Prix at Silverstone; Latitude Festival; Leeds Festival and the British Moto GP.
* Yonder received 12,727 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 10th and 18th June 2025. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
Traffic news | Live reports from AA Roadwatch | AA
Car key replacement with our Key Assist service | The AA
Breakdown Cover | Roadside Assistance from £5.99 p/m | The AA