Glastonbury 2023: What to do and not to do

If you’re off to the biggest festival of the year, then you should be well into the planning stage now.

Glastonbury is a pilgrimage for Scouse music fans. It’s a time of year that everyone goes mad for whether you’re in front of the Pyramid Stage or watching at home.

Here’s our guide to everything Glastonbury, from directions, to travel tips, packing essentials and what to see and do when you get there.

See you in the fields!

The packing

You’ve probably already started planning and even packing for the festival. It’s still a bit early to know exactly what the weather will be like, but it’s a good idea to plan for all possibilities.

Here is our essentials list:

Good footwear – walking boots, Doc Martins for heavy weather and trainers if it’s dry. You will be walking a long way most days. Don’t even think about open toe sandals or flip flops, except for the showers. The floor is stony and dusty, and you might get your toes trodden on in a crowd. If it’s raining wellies are a must. The site gets very muddy.

A warm jumper, jacket and a raincoat – Worthy Farm gets really cold at night, even if there’s a heatwave. So don’t be fooled by a sunny forecast. Come 10pm, it can be freezing cold. And when it rains, it rains – so make sure you’ve got a good waterproof if the forecast is wet. A cotton scarf is a great way to fend off the evening chill.

Your best festival wardrobe – anything goes at Glasto! Experiment and have fun with your clothes. Shorts and sun dresses are great if it’s warm, and practical when visiting the long drop toilets. Go for jeans and leggings if it’s chilly. Don’t even think about a jumpsuit. You’ll thank us later. A hat is a great idea for keeping off the sun on nice days and keeping you dry if it rains.

The practical stuff – toilet rolls and tissues. Lots and lots. Hand sanitiser, eco friendly wet wipes, dry shampoo, a water bottle to refill at the fountains and a head torch for getting back to your tent at night. A small rucksack or bag for taking a jumper, blanket, and drinks out with you for the day. A small towel and toiletries if you want to get a shower. An eye mask and ear plugs if you struggle sleeping. It’s noisy and gets light early.

ID and your tickets – it goes without saying! If you’re staying in the camper van fields or at an off-site camping area, or somewhere like a B n’ B, you will need ID to get in and out every day. If this is you, we recommend taking two types of ID and leaving one in your accommodation for emergencies. Also take a photo of yourself with your ticket, ID and the pass out ticket you receive on the first night when you leave the site. It will make life easier if you lose anything.

A tent and a trolley to take your gear from the car – also remember a warm sleeping bag, and an air bed is a great idea for comfort. Big plastic boxes are a good idea for putting your food and drinks in to load up on the trolley.

Mobile phone charging packs – you can charge on site but again, think queues.

Camping chairs – Great for having a seat to relax outside your tent. If you insist on taking them to a tent or stage, please stick to the edges and don’t get annoyed if someone stands in front of you or your children if space is at a premium.

Painkillers, antihistamine and diarrhoea tablets, sunscreen, after sun and any essential medication you need – there is onsite first aid but better to be prepared.

Drinks and food – there are loads of onsite bars and food outlets, but the drinks are quite pricey so if you want alcohol take it yourself. Invest in a cool rucksack for cans of beer and cider and stock up with ice from the onsite Co-op. Some of the food on sale is gorgeous, depending on your budget, but snacks for the tent are a good idea. Breakfast bars are perfect to keep you going.

Cash – lots of the bars and food outlets are cashless (some aren’t) but last year a lot were struggling with a signal for their card machines.

A small groundsheet or blanket to take out in the day. Seating is at a premium and you might need a sit down.

The journey

The journey to Glasto is great fun, all the excitement of the days ahead and the culmination of a year of planning.

If you’re travelling by official bus, make sure you’ve read the rules in advance about what you can and can’t take onboard. If you’ve got friends going by car, we’d highly recommend you give them any bulky items like trolleys.

Remember, if you’re a coach passenger you won’t get your tickets until the driver gives them to you!

If you’re going to Glastonbury by car, head south on the M6, then the M5 to the A39, then the A361. Once you get close to the site follow the signs for your chosen car park area and you’ll get directed in. Make sure you buy a car park ticket in advance; it will save you time when you arrive.

We’d highly recommend a stop off at Gloucester Services on the M5 on the way there. It will break up the last bit of the journey for you before you get close to the potential car park queues, and it’s your final chance of a flushing toilet for a few days.

The 55 car parks will open from 9pm on the Tuesday you can arrive through the night and join the queue to get your preferred camping spot on Wednesday. But there aren’t any facilities apart from toilets, so be prepared.

The east car parks have been quieter in the past, so worth considering that option for less queuing on the route in. But make sure you consider where you want to camp and the walk ahead with all your stuff.

Do…

Pick your preferred camping spot in advance but have alternatives if it’s full.
Arrange a meeting point with friends. Your phone might run out of charge or the network busy. Go old school and arrange somewhere to meet, especially at the big stages for headline acts.
Wander! Especially on Wednesday and Thursday. Get the feel of the site, visit the Theatre and Circus area and Healing Fields.
Catch the Baggy Mondays DJ set on Thursday afternoon in Stonebridge Bar. Your first big singalong moment.
Walk up the Glastonbury sign behind The Park. Don’t look back until you get there. It’s worth it.
Take a trip to the top of the ribbon tower. It’s open round the clock so it’s possible to find a quieter time.
Follow Secret Glasto on Twitter for hints about secret sets. It’s worth it.
Leave some clean clothes in the car for the journey home to change when you stop at the first service station. It will feel so good.
Send a wooden postcard to friends and family or to yourself for when you get home.
Take warm clothes for the evening and night.
Be patient. When queuing for car parks, finding a spot to camp and leaving the busy areas after a headline act.
Visit the late night southeast corner. Even if you’re not a dance music fan, it’s great fun. Same goes for Arcadia.
Go and see something you haven’t planned. You might find your next favourite act.
Use a lock up service for valuables and put your postcode on things you don’t’ want to lose
Change your phone screen saver to one showing the phone number of one of your friends in case you lose your phone.
Bring a refillable water bottle.
Download the app now or check out the line up and start planning your festival. Then be prepared to miss half the things you plan to see because you’re having too much fun.
Seek out the Secret Rabbit Hole and Piano Bar for unique experiences. Join Facebook groups for hints on where they are and how to get in. Be prepared for riddles, crawling on your knees through tunnels and a lot of searching! If you spot a queue in the evening seemingly for nothing, you’re probably in the right place.
Have an open mind, treat people with kindness and be respectful. Make friends with your fellow campers and build a community.
Go and see The Bootleg Beatles on Sunday afternoon in the Acoustic tent. A singalong to Hey Jude is just what you’ll need at this point.
Remember – you won’t see it all. That’s fine, there’s always next year.

Don’t…

Take glass bottles with you. Decant spirits into plastic or reusable bottles before you go.
Sit on a chair in the middle of a tent or main stage audience area. You’re taking up valuable space and people will stand in front of you.
Go crazy on the first few days and ruin the rest of your festival experience. Drink water, sleep when you can and pace yourself. It will be worth it.
Talk all the way through the bits of the headline sets you’re not keen on. Remember, you might be standing next to someone who has waited their whole life to see Elton John or Guns and Roses. Don’t spoil it for them.
Forget to leave time to get between stages, especially when it’s busy.
Take anything valuable with you. This isn’t the place for expensive watches and jewellery.
Leave a mess behind. Take your rubbish – and your tent – home. Take bin bags with you for clearing up. Love the Farm, leave no trace.