If you have never camped at a festival before, the prospect can feel overwhelming. You are going to sleep in a field for several days with thousands of strangers, limited washing facilities, and whatever the British weather decides to throw at you. It sounds chaotic, and honestly, parts of it are. But with the right preparation, festival camping is genuinely enjoyable. Millions of people do it every summer and come back for more. Here is what you need to know.
Choosing a tent
You do not need an expensive tent for festival camping. You need one that is waterproof, easy to pitch, and big enough to sleep in comfortably. A basic two or three-person dome tent from a brand like Vango, Coleman, or Regatta will cost between £40 and £80 and will handle a weekend in a field perfectly well.
Go one size up from the number of people actually sleeping in it. A "two-person" tent fits two people with zero space for bags, boots, or any sense of personal space. A three-person tent for two people gives you room to store your stuff inside and sit up without elbowing each other.
Practice pitching the tent at home before the festival. This sounds obvious, but thousands of people arrive at festivals every year with a brand-new tent they have never opened. At 10pm in the dark after a long journey is not the time to figure out which pole goes where. Set it up in the garden, check it is complete, and make sure you know the process. Ten minutes of practice at home saves an hour of frustration on site.
Sleeping gear
British summer nights can be cold, especially by the early hours. Do not assume that June or July means warm nights. A sleeping bag rated to at least 5 degrees Celsius is the minimum for a UK summer festival. If you feel the cold easily, go for a bag rated to zero degrees. You will be glad of the extra warmth at 4am.
A self-inflating sleeping mat or air bed makes a huge difference to comfort and warmth. Sleeping directly on the groundsheet means sleeping on cold, hard earth, and you will feel every bump and stone. An air bed adds weight to carry but transforms your sleep quality. A foam roll mat is a lighter compromise.
Bring a pillow. A rolled-up jumper works in theory but is miserable in practice. An inflatable camping pillow costs a few pounds and packs down to the size of a fist.
Where to pitch
Arrive as early as you can. The best camping spots go first, and by Saturday afternoon the remaining spaces are cramped corners next to the toilets or on a slope. Most festivals open camping from midday on the first day, and some offer early-entry passes for an additional fee.
Look for relatively flat ground that is not at the bottom of a slope. Water runs downhill, and if it rains, the low spots become puddles. Avoid pitching directly next to footpaths, which become noisy thoroughfares at all hours. Similarly, camping near the main stages means constant bass noise until the early hours, which is fun for the first night and exhausting by the third.
Note landmarks near your tent. Festival campsites are vast and uniform, and finding your tent in the dark among thousands of identical ones is a genuine challenge. Tie a distinctive flag, banner, or light to your tent pole so you can spot it from a distance.
Food and drink
Festival food stalls are part of the experience, but buying every meal on site gets expensive quickly. Budget for one or two hot meals per day from the vendors and supplement with food you bring yourself. Cereal bars, bread, peanut butter, fruit, crisps, and biscuits all travel well and do not need cooking or refrigeration.
A small camping stove lets you make hot drinks and simple meals. A cup of tea on a cold morning is worth its weight in gold. Make sure your stove uses the type of gas canisters that is permitted on site, as some festivals have restrictions. Check the festival's terms and conditions before packing one.
Bring more water than you think you need. Most festivals have free water refill points, but they can be a long walk from your campsite. A large refillable water bottle, ideally two litres or more, saves you multiple trips.
Dealing with weather
Pack for every scenario. The UK can deliver blazing sunshine, torrential rain, and biting wind within the same 24 hours at a summer festival. Your kit list should include waterproof jacket, wellies or waterproof boots, sun cream, a hat for sun and a hat for rain, layers for the evening, and at least one completely dry outfit sealed in a plastic bag as a backup.
If it rains heavily, a footprint or additional tarp under your tent provides extra waterproofing for the groundsheet. Inside the tent, keep everything off the floor in bags to protect it from any water that seeps in. Wet gear stays in the porch area, not inside the sleeping area.
Toilets and washing
Festival toilets are the part that puts most people off. They range from reasonable on the first morning to grim by the last day. Bring your own toilet roll, hand sanitiser, and wet wipes. Use the toilets furthest from the main arena, as they get less traffic and stay cleaner for longer. Early morning is the best time to visit, before the queues build up.
Showers are available at most larger festivals, either free or for a small charge. Expect queues, especially in the morning. Dry shampoo, baby wipes, and a flannel are useful for quick freshening up between proper showers. Nobody at a festival expects you to look pristine, but basic hygiene keeps you feeling human.
Safety and campsite etiquette
Lock your valuables in your car if you have one, or carry them with you. Do not leave phones, wallets, or anything valuable in your tent. Festival campsites are generally friendly places, but opportunistic theft does happen. A small cross-body bag that you wear at all times is the simplest solution.
Respect your neighbours. Keep noise reasonable at your tent, especially in the early hours when people are trying to sleep. Pick up your rubbish. Do not guy-rope your tent across a walkway. These basic courtesies make the campsite experience better for everyone.
If the idea of camping still feels like too much, consider glamping options that take the hassle out of the experience. And if you are still figuring out how to get to the festival in the first place, our festival travel guide covers every transport option. For a full breakdown of all the costs involved, check our guide to budgeting for event travel and accommodation.
