Looking for a unique concert setting? A show with a difference? Then look no further than the Eden Sessions at Cornwall’s Eden Project. Musical greats performing in one of the world’s most spectacular venues make this one concert series not to miss.
What is the Eden Sessions?
The Eden Sessions is a series of summer concerts held at Cornwall’s Eden Project. Featuring some of the worlds best-known bands and artists, shows are held in the site’s natural amphitheatre in front of spectacular biomes, providing a unique backdrop for a concert.
Most major tours never quite reach the south west of the UK. My friends are always trekking up to London for a show so Eden Project concerts are a great way for locals to see some big names. For the rest of us it is a great excuse for a holiday in Cornwall.
Eden Sessions 2024 lineup
The line up for 2024 has started to be announced.
Saturday 15 June 2024 – Fatboy Slim
Saturday 29 June – Suede and Manic Street Preachers
Tuesday 2 July – The National (on general sale Thursday 16 November)
Saturday 15 July – JLS
In 2023, nine concerts were held as part of the Eden Sessions.
How to get Eden Sessions tickets
Tickets are only sold via the Eden Project themselves. Don’t be tempted to buy from any third parties or you could end up disappointed. There are a couple of ways to get tickets.
Eden Sessions Inside Track Pass – Guaranteed tickets for each show
(Inside Track Passes for 2024 are now sold out)
Take the stress out of ticket on sale day with an Eden Inside Track pass. These passes guarantee the holder two tickets to every Eden Session. A limited number of passes are made available each year.
When concerts are announced you have a period of time to purchase a pair of tickets before the general sale.
At only £24 this is an absolute steal. With a deal as good as this it’s unsurprisingly getting more and more difficult to pick up one of these converted passes.
If you are a planning a trip to Cornwall and are happy to take a chance on who might be appearing then it is well worth trying to grab one.
General Ticket Sales
Eden Session shows are usually announced between autumn and spring. For the latest announcements follow The Eden Sessions on Twitter or Facebook. It’s worth setting your notifications so you are alerted when they post.
The sessions are very very popular and tickets sell out quickly so don’t hang around when tickets go on sale. You need to be online and refreshing your screen as soon as they go on sale.
Venue Information and Seating Plan
The Eden sessions capacity is around 6,500 so as well as being a spectacular setting it’s a pretty intimate show. Most acts that appear here usually play at huge stadiums or arenas.
In keeping with the site’s ethos, the Eden Project stage is designed to blend into the surrounding landscape.
Being a natural amphitheatre, concerts here are standing only. There are no seats. Something to bear in mind when planning your day. If you explore the gardens before the gig it will be a long day on your feet!
There is a relaxed viewing area, which is a slightly less crowded section just outside the main arena, for those with physical or mental needs. A great idea that more venues should consider. It is operated on a first come first served basis and you can take a plus one, however space is limited.
There is also an accessible viewing platform for people with disabilities. Select an accessible viewing platform ticket when purchasing tickets if you need to access this area. Once purchased you can request a free space for a personal assistant.
You can enter the Eden Project at any time on the day of the show. The site closes at 6pm but if you have a concert wristband you can stay on site until the arena opens.
What time do the Eden Sessions Start?
The running order for each session are shared in the run up to the concert, usually a few days before.
However, the arena usually opens at 6pm and you can expect the support act (if there is one) to start around 7-7.45pm with the main act on stage around 8.30pm – 9.00pm
Last entry to the site is 9.30pm.
What time do the Eden Sessions finish?
Details of the exact timings will be shared a few days before the concert.
Concerts usually finish around 10.30pm.
With all 6,000 gig-goers leaving the arena at the same time, it will be very busy when leaving and may take some time to leave the site
Explore the Eden Project
One of the best things about the Eden Project Sessions is that your ticket gets you into the site for two days – the day of the show and the day after. You just keep your gig wristband on for access the next day. So there is plenty of time to look around the gardens.
Read more | How I managed to explore the the Eden Project in just a few hours before the the concert.
If you’d like to visit the day before it is worth pre booking a ticket to make sure you can access the site. You can book Eden Project tickets directly on their website.
How to get to the Eden Project, Cornwall
Eden Project, Bodelva, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG
Getting to the Eden Project is bit of a trek for most of us but there are plenty of ways to get there. Located down in beautiful Cornwall near St Austell it is well worth considering making a holiday or short break of it.
By Air
Flying is the quickest way to reach the Eden Project.
Newquay is the nearest airport, but it’s a relatively small airport and flight options can be limited.
I usually use Skyscanner to check flights and see what options are available.
The Eden Project is about half an hour away from Newquay. You can get a taxi or hire a car at the airport.
By Train
You can reach the Eden Project by train so if you prefer a slower pace, then why not let the train take the strain? The nearest station is St Austell which is the on the London to Penzance mainline. There are regular departures from London Paddington and the journey is just over seven hours.
For the best fares book in advance. The cheapest ticket are usually released around 12 weeks beforehand. You can set up alerts to remind you on the trainline site.
From St Austell, the D5 bus will take you the rest of the way to the Eden site.
By Coach
There are regular coach departures from London Victoria. The journey takes between seven to eight hours. National Express and Megabus both operate routes to St Austell or Newquay.
By Road
Take the A30 from Exeter or A391/390 from Plymouth.
Where to stay
YHA Eden Project
If you would like to stay at the Eden Project, The YHA is the official on-site accommodation provider.
Staying on site takes away the post show hassle of being stuck in traffic to get out or in a long queue for public transport. It also has the added bonus of meaning you can be there bright and early the next day to take advantage of your two-day access to the site.
The only downside I found was that for the event I attended the on-site shop/bar wasn’t open after the show so make sure you stock up on some post gig snacks.
There are couple of accommodation options available…
Airstream
You can have up to three people in these American Airstreams. They come with a double bed and single bed.
You also have a fire pit with one free pack of wood provided for each stay (more can be purchased from reception)
Landpods
Landpods sleep up to four people are a bit like camping but with a few comforts. They come with bedding, duvets and a seating area. Not there is no heating so you might want to bring some warm clothing.
A unique feature on these is that you can open the roof. So if you have a clear night you’ll be able to do a bit of stargazing.
Camping
A campsite is available on-site, priced at £10 per person (note it is sold per person rather than per pitch). Toilets, showers and washing up facilities are available. You also have access to the communal areas of the hostel.
The site is on a slope (my friend found this out the hard way having spent half the night slipping down the slope) so take care when pitching your tent.
Bell tents
If glamping is more your thing then a bell tent will be up your street. The tipi-like tents can comfortably accommodate four people and come with a double futon bed and two single beds. Bedding is provided. These are available May-October so cover the Eden Session period. .
Nearby hotels
As you can imagine, on site accommodation is booked up pretty quickly. If you miss out fear not, there are plenty more options around.
Nearby hotels include
- The Carlyon Bay
- The Cornwall Hotel, Spa & Estate
- Travelodge, St Austell
- Premier Inn, St Austell
The Last Word
Hosting concerts at the Eden Project is such a great idea. I’ve read that many acts say their gig at the Eden Sessions was one of their best shows. I can well believe that.
The Eden Session I attended was one of the most enjoyable shows I have been too. The setting was stunning, the sound great and the build-up to the show relaxed and friendly. I’m keeping a close eye on future line-ups in the hope I can visit again one day.
If you are looking for a venue that’s a little different from the usual arena or stadium show or just want to see your favourite band in a unique setting then The Eden Sessions are for you.
There are also many other Eden Project events you can attend, if concerts are not your thing, including workshops, art exhibitions, ice skating over winter and even a marathon! All allow you to engage with the project’s mission in an interactive way and have a bit of fun at the same time.
If you’ve been to an Eden Project gig let me know what you thought in the comments below. Or who are you hoping will appear in future? I’d love to hear.
You may also like…
- A day and night at the Eden Project
- British Summer Time Festival
- Capital Summertime Ball
- Lucca Summer Festival
- Gibraltar Calling
I have a disability badge ,what’s the best car park to park in without walking too far, please I will be bringing my carer and what time does the concert start roughly, please
Hi Heather, if you pop over to the Eden Sessions site, they have an FAQ which should answer your questions. Enjoy the show. Emma
Some very useful tips here, well worth a read.
We are staying at the Premier inn and trying to guess a finish time for the Ann Marie concert, so we can book a taxi, any ideas ?
Hi Stephen, thanks, should finish around 10.30pm. Though given the size of the crowd and where you end up, it might take a little while to get out. Enjoy the show.