End of the Road Festival

The End of the Road Festival is a British music festival held in the picturesque Larmer Tree Gardens on the border between Dorset and Wiltshire. It is renowned for its intimate atmosphere, carefully curated programme and focus on independent music. Its line-up features a mix of indie rock, folk, alternative music and other genres, and alongside the concerts, there are literary and comedy events, film screenings and various other activities.

In this article, we’ll explore the history of the End of the Road Festival, explain exactly where it takes place, how long it lasts, how the site is laid out, and what you need to know about tickets, parking and accommodation. We’ll also take a closer look at the festival map and the layout of its main areas.

What is the End of the Road Festival?

The End of the Road Festival is an independent music festival in England, focusing primarily on the indie, rock, folk and alternative scenes. Unlike major British festivals attracting tens of thousands of visitors, End of the Road remains relatively compact in scale: its layout allows for quick movement between stages, and the programme is built around carefully selected acts.

The first End of the Road Festival took place in 2006. It was founded by Simon Taffe and Sofia Hagberg; Taffe continues to run the festival, whilst Hagberg stepped down from the board of directors in 2015.

The abbreviation ‘eotr’ is often used to stand for End of the Road. In English-language materials, you may also come across the term ‘Dorset Festival’, but this is not the event’s official name. This description stems from the fact that the festival takes place in the Dorset area, although the venue itself, Larmer Tree Gardens, is situated directly on the border between Dorset and Wiltshire.

Where does the End of the Road Festival take place?

The End of the Road Festival is held at Larmer Tree Gardens, near the village of Tollard Royal, on the border between Dorset and Wiltshire in England. Larmer Tree Gardens is a historic garden complex that Augustus Pitt Rivers began creating in 1880. The gardens opened to the public in 1885. The complex is situated in the Cranborne Chase area and is characterised by a combination of parks, woodland, open lawns and historic buildings. It is the site’s natural landscape that largely defines the character of the festival.

The venue’s postcode is SP5 5PY.

Address: Larmer Tree Gardens, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5PY.

End of the Road Festival map

The End of the Road Festival map helps you find your way around the layout of the stages, campsites, car parks, entrances, toilet facilities and other amenities. The festival site is situated within Larmer Tree Gardens, so the route between the main venues takes you through the lawns, woodland areas and paths of the historic garden itself.

The main music stages include the Woods Stage, Garden Stage, Big Top, Folly and The Boat; the separate Talking Heads stage is dedicated to talks, literary events and comedy performances. The map also shows the camping areas.

It is important to bear in mind that the site is not a flat field: Larmer Tree Gardens are situated on a slope, and some areas have uneven terrain. The organisers highlight the presence of grassy, gravel, tarmac and wooden paths, and provide special routes and parking for visitors with reduced mobility.

End of the Road Festival 2026 line-up

The headliners for the End of the Road Festival 2026 will be:

1. Geese
2. Pulp
3. CMAT
4. Mac DeMarco

In addition to these, the festival line-up includes performances by the following artists:

The programme isn’t limited to concerts. The site features stages dedicated to music, literature and discussions, as well as comedy performances, film screenings, masterclasses and other events. The festival is also renowned for the unique natural atmosphere of Larmer Tree Gardens: peacocks roam freely amongst the venues and woodland paths.

The band Lambrini Girls performed at the 2024 edition of the festival. The Reytons also delighted the audience at the End of the Road Festival. The previous year, Wet Leg were among the announced acts. Overmono also took to the stage at that same edition.

In earlier years, Public Service Broadcasting stood out amongst the headliners. Their performance took place on 1 September 2013.

Fans are also hoping to see Sea Girls at upcoming editions. Every year, the organisers update the line-up.

Information for visitors

The End of the Road Festival 2026 will take place from 3 to 6 September 2026 at Larmer Tree Gardens, near Blandford Forum in Dorset. The festival lasts several days, so most visitors bring their own tents or choose one of the on-site accommodation options.

Tickets

Tickets for the End of the Road Festival are sold for the entire festival weekend, including camping. There are no single-day tickets, and the different price categories differ only in cost – the more expensive options do not include a separate VIP area or special access privileges.

• Adult Weekend – £337.68
• Teenagers aged 13–17 – £225.12
• Children aged 6–12 – £96.48
• Children aged 3–5 – £75.04
• Children aged 0–2 – free, but a ticket must still be booked.

Dates and start times

The End of the Road Festival 2026 will take place from Thursday 3 September to Sunday 6 September. However, camping and visitor departures continue until Monday 7 September. The official transport provider, National Express, states that the first buses arrive at the festival from 11:00 on 3 September, and return journeys begin on the morning of 7 September. The start times of individual concerts depend on the stage and the specific artist.

Camping

Camping is an integral part of the End of the Road Festival experience. A standard weekend ticket includes General Camping, so there is no need to book a separate pitch in the standard camping area. There are six camping zones on site:

1. General Camping is suitable for most visitors.
2. Family Camping is designed for families and is located closer to the car parks and the ticket collection area.
3. Quiet Camping is chosen by those who want a more peaceful experience.
4. Accessible Camping is equipped to meet the needs of visitors with reduced mobility.

Boutique Camping offers ready-made accommodation options, including Vintents tents and other equipped pitches. A separate field is provided for campervans and caravans.

Shower facilities and toilets are available on site. Most toilet blocks use composting toilets, whilst the main shower blocks are located next to General Camping and Family Camping.

How to get there?

You can get to the End of the Road Festival by car, train, bus, festival shuttle bus or by carpooling.

• By train. One of the most convenient options is to travel to Salisbury Station and then change to the festival shuttle bus, which takes visitors directly to the festival site. In 2026, shuttles from Salisbury Station will run on 3 September from 10:00 to 17:00, on 4 September from 11:00 to 18:00, with return journeys scheduled for 6 and 7 September.
• By coach. National Express is the festival’s official transport provider. In 2026, coaches will depart from 11 major locations across England, including Bath, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Chichester, Heathrow Airport, London, Portsmouth, Southampton and Stratford. The coaches will take passengers directly to the festival site.
• By car. You can drive to Larmer Tree Gardens in your own car, but you must purchase a Parking Pass in advance. Separate parking permits are available for cars.
• Carpooling. The organisers recommend Liftshare – a service for finding travel companions. This transport option allows you to share the cost of the journey whilst reducing the number of cars travelling to the festival.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Frequently Asked Questions