The UK festival season has well and truly kicked off with Glastonbury only around the corner, but are you prepared? We've put together a festival survival guide of the best tips and tricks to make your way through the festival season, from how to choose a tent to what to wear.
Camping
As painful as an early start is, make sure to arrive early and bag a good spot! The same applies to the last day of the festival, get up and pack up as early as you can manage to beat the queues and traffic jams.
When choosing a tent, always go for a larger one than you think you need, a two-man tent means that it’s big enough for two people to sleep in, so when you include your luggage and muddy wellies, you’ll be in need of a little extra space!
If you’re camping with a group of friends, arrange your tents in a circle so you have a communal area. Also, make sure it’s next to something memorable like a tree, but maybe not right next to the toilets… Alternatively, bring a flag or bunting with you to help you to identify which tent is yours, a campsite looks very different after dark.
Camping doesn’t need to be uncomfortable, make your tent worthy of the VIP camping area with extras like an inflatable mattress, foldable chair and hanging LED lanterns. Opt for foldable or inflatable pieces so you don’t end up having to go back and forth between the campsite and the car multiple times.
Avoid locking your tent, keep your valuables to a minimum and keep them with you when possible. Adding a lock to your tent will only draw attention to it.
As boring as it sounds if you want to get a bit of sleep at a festival, take an eye mask and ear plugs with you to help you drown out your fellow festival-goers who don’t quite share your view.
Essential Checklist:
- Tent
- Sleeping Bag
- Blanket
- Sleeping mat/blow-up mattress
- Multi-tool or knife
- Duck Tape
- Torch
- Extra batteries
- Flag
Technology
Maximise your phone battery by taking a portable charger, avoid missing the next band and save time queuing to charge yours at the festival, stay self-sufficient with a portable mobile phone charger. Preserve your battery by turning all the settings (light, sound etc) down and vibrate off, try to avoid going on the internet too.
Keep the festival going after the headliners have finished with a portable speaker, go for a wireless, Bluetooth option so you and your friends can share music. Plus, it means you can drown out the guy next to you who has decided to bring a guitar to the festival.
Essential Checklist
- Portable charger/battery pack
- Small battery fan
- Portable speaker
- Cordless hair appliances - perfect if you're worried about the showering situation.
Festival Fashion
Choose your outfits before you get to the festival, this way you’ll minimise the number of clothes you bring. Make sure you have layers, a waterproof jacket and wellies, festivals can be a miserable places in the rain without a waterproof.
Wellies are a must for the majority of UK festivals, even if the weather is gorgeous, there will be a treacherous muddy section of the festival site. Make sure to wear your wellies in before heading to the festival or wear boot socks to avoid any nasty blisters.
Don’t suddenly decide to try out a new look for a festival, if you soon realise that cut-off denim shorts and bucket hats aren’t your things, you’ll be stuck at the festival with only band tees and vintage stalls to come to your rescue.
Shop the Festival Edit to keep stylish all festival long.
Essential Checklist
- Warm weather clothes
- Warm clothing
- Wet weather gear
- Comfortable footwear
- Swimwear
- Bandana or Hat to cover your face
- Sunglasses
- Face mask
- Earplugs
Festival Beauty Tips
Despite the changeable British weather, sun care is an absolute essential. Whatever the weather, the sun will still be shining through so it’s important to make sure you’re covered. Stock up on sun care with our selection.
Face wipes and dry shampoo are vital to keeping you looking presentable for 4 days in a field.
Baby wipes and hand sanitiser are an absolute must for festivals to keep hygiene levels up. If you’re a contact lens wearer, make sure to have a supply of clean water and hand sanitiser at your tent to make sure no nasties get anywhere near your eyes, also make sure to have a back-up pair of glasses just in case.
Always take loo roll and tissues with you too, you never know when the portaloos may run out.
Essential Checklist
- Makeup
- Glitter
- Hand Sanitizer
- Dry Shampoo
- Towel
- Deodorant
- Mini Emergency Kit
- Painkillers
- Personal Medication - think about factors such as Hayfever
- Sunscreen
- Wet wipes
Embrace it! Festivals are so much fun and they are even more fun if you embrace everything it has to offer, that means getting muddy and trying out neon face paint! Don’t let bad weather get you down, just have fun and embrace the festival spirit.
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