10 Life Changing Tips For Glastonbury Festival

Our London cousin James has only missed Glastonbury twice since 2007, so this festival veteran knows a thing or two (or ten) about the do’s and don’ts over there. While you’re getting excited about watching your favorite musicians live – here are some tips you’re gonna be very grateful for:

1. Wellies

The most obvious one. Don Covay sang a song called ‘Better To Have And Not Need, Than Need And Not Have’. I’m 87% sure when Don sang this it was about having wellies at Glasto. Take them, then boast to all your friends if you didn’t need them.

2. Don’t have a rigid timetable

If you go into Glasto with a minute by minute plan of who to see, you’re doing it wrong. Wander about, go visit places other than the main stages, talk about your hopes and dreams with an old hippie in the Healing Fields. These can be better memories than musical ones.

3. Avoid the food by the main stages

There’s actually some great food if you go out and look for it. Don’t settle for a cardboard burger by the pyramid stage, go find amazing veggie and vegan food in the Healing Fields and Avalon area. Your body will thank you for it.

4. Pennard Hill

Unless you’re a super mega VIP, you’ll probably be camping somewhere in the main festival site. Pennard Hill is the best spot to pitch your tent, as high up the hill as you can. Bear in mind to do this you’ll probably have to be there very early on Weds.

5. Have a boogie at the Beat Hotel

One of my favourite stages, which is designed to look like a 70s hotel room. They have some amazing DJs on the line up this year, and serve brilliant cocktails which are a welcome change from warm pints of lager/cider.

6. Always carry the following with you for toilet stop purposes:

toilet paper, wet wipes, torch, hand sanitizer. I once went to Glasto with someone who used to take eucalyptus oil with them to sniff just before using the loos – though that might be a step too far. The toilets aren’t luxurious, but when you gotta go (even in the dark) you gotta go.

7. Avoid going to the late night areas of Glastonbury just after the main stages all shut

You’ll get held in a queue, which can be a major buzz kill when you just want to explore some of Glastonbury’s weird and wonderful after-hours delights. Either wait until an hour or after Thom/Dave/Ed have finished warbling, or go before they finish.

8. Don’t leave anything valuable in your tent

Nothing says ‘rob me’ more than putting a padlock on your (thin plastic) tent door. Take as few valuables with you and carry them on you all the time.

9. Do leave water in your tent

If the sun’s out the temperature inside your plastic tent will be almost unbearable by about 7 or 8 in the morning. The last thing you want to do then is traipse for 10 minutes to the nearest water source.

10.Leave your jeans at home

They are heavy, take ages to dry and when the sun comes out you’ll be boiling. Shorts all the way at Glasto.