Part 2: What do I need to take with me?
What type of tent should I buy?
The tent you choose for a music festival can make or break your experience, and with festival season fast approaching, it's time to get prepared. When choosing a tent, remember that it’s not just a place to sleep; it's your home base, your oasis amidst the chaos of the festival.
The ideal tent for a music festival is lightweight, easy to set up, and durable. A two or three-person tent like the Quechua 3 Person Fresh and Black (external link to Decathlon) provides ample space for one person with festival gear, or a cosy fit for a couple. These tents are robust, weather-resistant, and offer excellent ventilation, a critical factor during those hot summer festival days. Bilal takes this tent to festivals when he is travelling light.
If you need more space try one of the Vango tents like the Vango Icarus 500 (external link to Blacks)
Look for tents with a small porch area for muddy boots and extra storage. A feature to consider is the colour of your tent. Lighter colours reflect heat, keeping the interior cool, while unique patterns or colours make it easier to spot in a sea of similar tents. This is what makes Decathlons Fresh and Black tents are so popular.
Remember, a music festival is a temporary commune with nature and fellow music lovers. Leave no trace, respect your surroundings, and ensure your festival home is as responsible as it is comfortable. Choose wisely, and your tent will be the perfect retreat after a day of unforgettable performances.
Don’t buy a cheap supermarket tent. You’ll be surprised how much of a battering a tent takes with people brushing past it at all hours for five straight days.
What about sleeping bags etc.?
When it comes to bedding down at a music festival, your choice of sleeping bag can significantly impact your comfort, rest, and overall festival experience. In the middle of the English countryside it's crucial to have a warm, cozy cocoon to retreat to for restorative sleep. You won’t get much sleep. So the sleep you get should be a good as possible.
Given that most music festivals occur in the summer, a sleeping bag rated for 3-season use, such as the Quechua Arpenaz 0 degree bag is a good choice. These sleeping bags are designed to keep you comfortable in temperatures close to zero degree. It’s probably overkill but I like to be cosy. Some people will take a lighter bag and just add a few layers in the night.
Look for a sleeping bag that is lightweight and compact for easy transportation, but also spacious enough to allow for comfortable sleep. A sleeping bag with synthetic insulation is often a good choice as it maintains its heat retention properties even when damp.
Comfort and practicality are key considerations when choosing a sleeping bag for a festival. Remember, your sleeping bag is your portable bed for the duration of the festival – a restful sleep can make all the difference to your festival experience. Choose wisely, and you'll be primed for enjoying every moment of the music and atmosphere.
What other camping gear should I take?
A camping chair is a must, you’ll appreciate it when you crawl out of your tent in the morning or when you get back from a night raving. A camping stove isn't necessary at most festivals due to ample food vendors, but do bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.
A headlamp is useful for navigating the campsite after dark, but you’ll be fine without one. Don't forget a portable phone charger to keep you connected, and a good-quality rain poncho - because even in summer, you never know when a downpour might hit.
Equipped with the right gear, your festival experience will be totally different IF bad weather rolls in.
Visit our festival packing list page for more details
What is the most suitable footwear?
For a UK music festival, your choice of footwear can have a significant impact on your comfort and enjoyment. The unpredictable British weather calls for footwear that's both waterproof and can handle uneven ground.
If you are a welly person, brands like Hunter and Joules are known for their durable, stylish options that will keep your feet dry during those inevitable bouts of rain and muddy moments.
If you are a walking boot person go for a gore-tex boot so you know it will keep your feet dry. Merrell Ascentor 3 (external link) will work fine. Bilal has been wearing similar boots to festivals for years, Lastly, consider packing a pair of lightweight trainers for downtime around the campsite or during exceptionally sunny days when you know the ground is dry. With the right footwear in tow, you'll be ready to dance the night away in style and comfort, regardless of what the British weather has in store.
How do I get my gear into the campsites?
Essentially you have two choices, on your back or on a trolley. If it is on your back you need to think carefully about the size of your tent and how much booze you plan to talk. Alternatively accept that you will have to make a trip back to your car to pick up what you couldn’t carry. The car parks are huge and you could find yourself walking close to two miles depending on where you want to camp.
If you take a trolley make sure it is sturdy enough to handle rocky ground and, if heading towards Pedestrian Gate C, make sure it doesn’t end up with the other abandoned trolleys on the hill of death. You should rule out poorly made and weak framed shopping type trolleys. Suitcases with wheels rarely survive the rough ground, and if it’s slightly muddy, you’ll end up carrying it anyway. Your best bet is a sturdy rucksack like this one.
Are there camping shops on site?
In previous years you could pre order and tent and sleeping bag to collect on site. This is no longer offered by any of the traders but you can purchase camping supplies from a handful of shops around the site.
What is it like for solo campers?
There are lots of forums and Facebook groups for solo festival goers to meet people to camp with. Many also arrange pre-festival meets in cities such as Manchester and London.
Many people just enjoy the festival alone, meet people along the way or enjoy the escape from everyday reality. There is no one way to ‘do’ Glastonbury so you should miss out because you are heading there solo.
Am I too old for Glastonbury?
We recorded a podcast on the subject
When should I arrive?
As early as you can. The festival starts to fill up quickly on the Wednesday morning and by lunch, popular fields such as Pennards Hill will be close to capacity.
Is it worth arriving on the Wednesday or Thursday?
The main stages don’t have any music but lots of the smaller stages have smaller acts and acoustic sets going on. From 2024 the Woodsies stage poster promised late night entertainment from Wednesday which was not the case in previous years when it was known as the John Peel Stage.
Can I stay offsite?
The Worthy View pre-erected campsite, positioned on a hill overlooking the festival, offers a range of furnished and unfurnished bell tents and scout tents. In recent years the festival replaced “Campervan West” with Sticklinch, a campsite similar to Worthy View.
Officially the Festival says tickets only come via SeeTickets, however, there are lots of hospitality campsites around the end of the festival. I can’t vouch for any of these, think about how you pay, if you put it on the credit card or PayPal you might get some protection from scams.
Some claim to offer a ticket as part of the package. Others offer camping without a ticket. These options come with cozy bedding and access to private toilets, showers, and a dedicated car park. The sites are normally a short walk from the festival grounds, making it a convenient choice for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle at the end of the day.
Camp Kerala (external link), a luxurious option, provides spacious, beautifully furnished Shikar tents, each with its en-suite facilities, plush bedding, and electricity. Guests can also enjoy fine dining, a spa, a 24-hour concierge service, and shuttle transportation to the festival site.
Another option is Love Fields (external link) just outside of Pedestrian Gate C and people here tend to be a mix of regular festival goers who just want to be in a slightly nicer environment..
Windinglake (external link) is close to Gate B but from my experience, this is where you are most likely to be surrounded by pretentious pricks.
Holt Farm (external link), close to Gate D, is another popular option.
There's also the Pop-Up Hotel (external link). This option offers a range of lavish accommodations, from bell tents to Airstream trailers, complete with private bathrooms, luxury linens, and access to a restaurant, bar, spa, and swimming pool.
Every year the festival claims that people lose thousands of pounds to scams linked to hospitality tickets. I don’t vouch for any of these providers. Buy at your own risk.
Part 3 How do I get there?
