So there you have it - our experience of Glastonbury 2009. We were only able to cover a fraction of what was on offer this year and the whole event was more about what was missed rather than the wonder of what we saw and experienced, although it has to be said that what we did see and experience was other worldly from start to finish.

You'll read pages and pages about Glastonbury 2009. Some will tell you it's the middle class festival, don't believe all that you read but do believe this; Glastonbury is the mother of all festivals, there's been nothing to touch it over the decades but this year as it somehow managed to leap to yet another level, it became even more clear that nothing ever will. And yeah - for those who carp on about it being a middle class festival, well, yes it can be, in fact it can be anything you want it to be. If you have money to burn you can have the whole hospitality experience, get yourself helicoptered into the site, have a 5 star 'hotel camping' experience - the sky's the limit.

The truth is that everyone is catered for here, and they are catered for well, as long as you can scrape together that ticket price you can do Glastonbury in any style that takes your fancy and whilst money can certainly buy you luxury if that’s your bag it won’t buy you the “proper” Glastonbury experience – whatever that is. The real Glastonbury experience is to be found out and about on that site, amid the thronging heaving crowd, stumbling upon hidden treasures that are around every corner and trying to decide what you’re going to do or see next. The real Glastonbury experience is a hidden gem waiting for you to get out there and find it.

Be prepared, you will come away from this festival disappointed: you’ll be disappointed that you couldn’t split yourself into pieces and see and do more of what was on offer, and that’s the only downside of this mega festival, you simply can’t do it all and you so want to.

Mention has to be made of the thousands of staff involved in organising Glastonbury, from the people who pick up the litter to the production teams, traffic management, police, security, stewards and thousands of others who work tirelessly before, throughout and after we’ve all had our fun. This was a superbly organised event with care and attention to detail; it was a safe and well run festival. And as always Glastonbury will be contributing to the causes it supports, Michael Eavis announced that he had made enough money this time to donate extra to the festival charities, Water Aid, Greenpeace and Oxfam.

We love Glastonbury because whilst the machine behind the festival is a finely tuned piece of commercial engineering, bringing the best acts in the world to a field in Somerset, it is still the most free festival in the world. Sure, you’ve paid £180 for a ticket, but you can still bring in your own food and alcohol (no bottles) any camera you have, and you are immediately presented with your programme and lanyard that becomes your bible for the duration for free, while other festivals will charge you for finding out when the acts you have already paid to see are performing. The welfare, medical and advice facilities are second to none, and children are welcomed and catered for. There are no beer tokens, no over inflated prices, no lack of places to eat and drink but there’s also no trouble, with the friendliest crowd going. Undoubtedly this atmosphere is driven by the festival, and shows how small things add up to create the best experience you can get bar none.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – if you only ever go to one festival in your lifetime – make sure it’s Glastonbury.

Glastonbury Crowd Galleries

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Oi! You at the barrier @ Glastonbury 2009 (1)

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Oi! You at the barrier @ Glastonbury 2009 (2)

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Oi! You in the crowd @ Glastonbury 2009 (2)

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Oi! You in the crowd @ Glastonbury 2009 (1)

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