Located just 10 minutes from Glastonbury, the Avalon Marshes Centre is a gateway to the Avalon Marshes, a captivating wetland landscape at the heart of the Somerset Levels and Moors. Here, visitors can enjoy an array of amenities, including a car park, visitor information point, accessible toilets, café, craft gallery, open-air archaeology museum, bookable meeting rooms, and picnic area with wildlife pond.

The refurbished Centre is an important focus, not just for visitors, but also for local community events, volunteering and the central hub for the management of the Avalon Marshes nature reserves, providing a base for the RSPB, Somerset Wildlife Trust, the Hawk & Owl Trust and Natural England.

A short walk (about 400m) along the road is Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve; about 2 miles away are Ham Wall NNR, Shapwick Moor, Catcott Complex and Westhay Moor NNR. All are within easy cycling distance and have car parking. To find out more go to our Nature Reserve pages.

The Avalon Marshes Centre provides a good starting point to explore the immediate area and is linked to Glastonbury by the Bittern Trail.  This almost entirely traffic-free cycle route through Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall NNRs links into National Cycle Route 3.

More information here about getting to the Avalon Marshes.

Opening Times

Avalon Marshes Centre

The car park is open 9am to 5pm seven days a week.

Avalon Archaeology

Open Sundays all year round, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm. We are open as usual on Sunday 21 and 28 December 2025.

Open every Saturday in the school holidays in 2026 including: 14 Feb, 21 Feb, 4 April, 11 April, 18 April, 23 May, 30 May, 25 July, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 24 October, 31 October, 19 December.

For full details including accessibility, please refer to their website.

Somerset Crafts Gallery/Visitor Information Point

10am to 5pm seven days a week.

10am – 3pm on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Closed Christmas Day.

Marshes Hub Tea Stop

10am to 5pm seven days a week.

10am – 3pm on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Closed Christmas Day.

Offices/Work Base

Generally open 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Closed at weekends and over Christmas period.

Meeting Rooms

These rooms are available Monday to Friday, with flexible arrangements for evening and weekend bookings upon request.

Find out more

Location

Interactive Map of the area

Address: Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9TT

Sat Nav: The post code BA6 9TT  takes you to within half a mile of the Centre.

Grid ref: ST 425 414

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Parking

The car park is open 9am to 5pm seven days a week (except at Christmas – see above). Parking is free, but visitors are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to help support its upkeep. Suggested donation for 1 hour is £1.50 and £3 for all day. There are several ways to pay:

• Cash donations can be made via the donation boxes in the Craft Gallery, Info Point, Café, Avalon Archaeology or Meeting Rooms.
• Payments can be made via the RingGo app quoting location number 19072 or by ringing 020 3046 0169.

Two 22kW electrical vehicle charging points are available on site catering to the growing demand for eco-friendly transportation options. To use these chargers, you will need to download the ProjectEV app and scan the QR code on the machine.

There is no height barrier, but please note we do not currently have spaces for motorhomes, or designated parking for coaches – please email us well in advance if you are planning a coach trip to the Avalon Marshes Centre.

Transport to the Reserves

By Bike

The Avalon Marshes are linked by quiet lanes and off-road cycle paths, including routes from Glastonbury, Street, and Wedmore. Secure bike parking is available at the Avalon Marshes Centre. Visit our Cycling page for more information.

On Foot

Walking routes to the Avalon Marshes follow scenic lanes and droves through this unique wetland landscape. Visit our Walking page for downloadable walking guides and route maps to help you explore safely and confidently.

Accessibility

We strive to ensure that all visitors have a comfortable and inclusive experience at the Avalon Marshes Centre. If you have any specific accessibility requirements or enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Centre is fully wheelchair-friendly, accessible from the car park via flat paved paths and wooden boardwalks (see the video below). The meeting rooms are accessed by a permanent wooden ramp and the Craft Gallery has automatic doors.

Our on-site car park includes 4 dedicated disabled parking bays, conveniently located next to the main entrances to the Centre and the Craft Gallery.

Dogs

Dogs and assistance animals are welcome at the Centre but please keep them on a short lead at all times, and take your dog waste home.

Please note that dogs (except accredited assistance dogs) are not allowed at Avalon Archaeology, or in the main area of Shapwick Heath NNR, which is the closest nature reserve to the Centre.  For more info, our leaflet is here.

Assistance animals are welcome inside the meeting rooms, identifiable by wearing a jacket, harness, or brightly coloured collar and lead. However, no other animals are permitted.

How to get to Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve

In case you are struggling to find your way from the Avalon Marshes Centre to the reserve at Shapwick Heath, which is about 400m away, this short video will show you the way…

Avalon Marshes Video

Things to do

Avalon Archaeology: The Past Reconstructed

For opening times and admission prices visit the Avalon Archaeology website.  Please note Avalon Archaeology is only open on Sundays and special event days.

Avalon Archaeology is a place to discover local heritage alongside the natural environment in a beautiful rural location. History is brought to life through archaeological reconstructions of buildings from different time periods, which are complemented by an array of furniture and art that allows rich insight into the past.

On your visit you can explore:

• Saxon longhall with open fire based on the palace excavated at nearby Cheddar decorated with carved woodwork and murals
• The dining room of a typical Roman villa in Somerset with a magnificent mosaic floor and murals, heated by a hypocaust
• Viking trading ship with mast and rigging based on the Skuldelev 3 wreck
• An Iron Age roundhouse based on those in the Glastonbury Lake Village (currently under construction)
• The world’s oldest excavation hut and a cinema showing short films on local archaeology

The Avalon Archaeology site has been created as a labour of love by a team of volunteers working one day a week since 2015. It began as a small part of the (Award Winning) Heritage Lottery-funded Avalon Marshes Landscape Partnership Project and was intended to give volunteers practical hands-on experience of traditional building techniques by building archaeological reconstructions. Over 110 volunteers have contributed their time and expertise to create this amazing space.

Find Out More: Avalon Archaeology

Somerset Craft Gallery

Somerset Crafts is an exciting and unique arts and crafts centre in the heart of Somerset, celebrating the work of some of Somerset’s most talented artist makers. The attractive gallery and shop is operated by Somerset Crafts, a group of local artists and craftsmen.

Open seven days a week, it sells a wide range of original hand-crafted items, many drawing their inspiration from the wildlife and landscape of the Avalon Marshes.

To find out more go to www.somersetcrafts.com or follow them on Instagram.

Artwork: George Foweraker / Viv White / Val & Al

Marshes Hub Tea Stop

The Centre has an on-site café, with outdoor and indoor seating, open 9.30am – 5pm seven days/week. The Marshes Hub Tea Stop serves hot and cold drinks, a range of breakfast options, a varied light lunch menu including freshly made soups, quiches, toasties, cream teas, a selection of home made cakes and specials of the day. A warm welcome can always be assured by Sally and her team.

Visitor Information Point

Located in the Craft Gallery, our Visitor Information Point has maps and leaflets about the nature reserves, a mural showcasing some of our wildlife and heritage, and a digital touchscreen providing in-depth related information, including latest wildlife sightings.

The desk is manned at weekends and some weekdays by staff and volunteers who will endeavour to answer your questions and help you to get the best out of your visit.  You can also download some of our maps here.

Meeting Rooms

Nestled within the Avalon Marshes Centre are our private meeting rooms, providing a unique setting for  meetings, workshops, events and parties. These rooms are available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, with flexible arrangements for evening and weekend bookings upon request.

We have two rooms available for hire; the large meeting room can seat up to 30 people, and the small meeting room can seat up to 15. Both rooms have a kitchenette with kettle, sink and fridge, as well as crockery. Find out more about the facilities in our AMC Room Hire Guide and download a Room Hire Booking Form.

To enquire about availability and book a room, contact us at somersetnnrs@naturalengland.org.uk or call 01458 860120. Please note that a signed booking form, accepting the terms and conditions, is required to confirm a booking.

History of the Centre

In 1963 a local family, the Rogers, bought a small cottage called “The Willows” and its adjoining peat-rich land. Trading as “the Willows Peat Company” the peat was dug, bagged and sold. In 1976 the Rogers opened a garden centre which complemented the growing demand for horticultural peat – the “The Willows Garden Centre”.  You can read more about the peat industry here.

Nearby peat was being excavated in huge quantities by peat companies such as Eclipse, Fisons, and Godwins, unearthing a remarkable archaeological record in the process, including the famous Sweet Track. These finds were recorded and rescued where possible by the Somerset Levels Project led by John and Bryony Coles. Seeking somewhere local to tell the archaeological story and display some of the finds, the project worked with Roger Rogers to establish the Peat Moors Centre. In 1992 it was expanded to tell some of the story of the Lake Villages. Two Iron Age round-houses were constructed, and the Bulleid and Gray hut used during the excavation of the Lake Villages was moved to the site. This work was funded by Somerset County Council who took over the running of the heritage part of the site.

In 2006 the site was purchased by English Nature (now Natural England) as an office and work base for the growing Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve and other Somerset reserves. Further developments provided a work space for the RSPB, Somerset Wildlife Trust and others; the Avalon Marshes Centre was born. Sadly, the Peat Moors Centre shut its doors to the public in 2009 but it continued to be used as an educational resource and provided a work base for the South West Heritage Trust’s “Hands on Heritage” team until 2014, when the last of the roundhouses (pictured above) collapsed.

Recent Improvements

Since 2017 there has been significant investment at the Centre by Natural England/Defra. The life expired portacabins have been replaced by a modern new office building for staff and volunteers. The Craft Centre has been refurbished and upgraded.

The Centre’s carbon footprint is now much reduced: the buildings having insulation to modern standards; LED lighting has been fitted; a large array of solar panels providing free power; and electric car re-charging points. The underground services have been modernised, including a mains sewer which required a new pipe to be laid for almost a mile up the road.

Another “hidden” addition is a high-speed fibre link which also gives free wi-fi for visitors. A replacement classroom and meeting room have been built funded by the EU’s Leader+ initiative, and further works to upgrade the car park, café/courtyard area with more covered seating, install new toilets, improve landscaping and the wildlife pond were all completed in April 2023.

The Future

Plans to provide more parking at the old Peat Moors Centre site are under consideration for 2025, and an off-road link to Shapwick Heath NNR remains an aspiration.

If you have any questions, please contact Natural England on 01458 860120 or e-mail somersetnnrs@naturalengland.org.uk