Arrival question - 2 sets of friends, different times arriving...

[lukeyboy]

Hey all

First time at Reading and been checking out the boards for info on car parking and stuff. Myself and 3 friends are coming down on the train on Thursday morning with our train due to arrive at Reading station at 11.40. We'll obv go straight to the site and, as soon as we're in (any idea how long queues are by the by?), will pitch up.

However, 2 other friends are coming down separately in a car and will aim to be at the site around the same time. Never being though, I have no clue about the state of the roads on the Thursday especially with a lot of people failing to get early entry or making travel plans before early entry tickets became available. We're from Birmingham way so I assume they will park in White car park. Once they are parked, how long is the walk from this car park to the campsites? They'll have some of our stuff, beer included (the most important thing surely), and so was wondering if it'll be a good trek to get to and fro - if it's gonna take ages, I might try and carry tent, bag AND booze on the train and to the site.

If it helps, we're planning on camping on green, red or purple - one of the less crazy ones. I have no idea of the layout, with the official site not putting out the map yet.

Any answers, no matter how vague, will be much appreciated.

[Becoming a veteran]

Hey all

First time at Reading and been checking out the boards for info on car parking and stuff. Myself and 3 friends are coming down on the train on Thursday morning with our train due to arrive at Reading station at 11.40. We'll obv go straight to the site and, as soon as we're in (any idea how long queues are by the by?), will pitch up.

However, 2 other friends are coming down separately in a car and will aim to be at the site around the same time. Never being though, I have no clue about the state of the roads on the Thursday especially with a lot of people failing to get early entry or making travel plans before early entry tickets became available. We're from Birmingham way so I assume they will park in White car park. Once they are parked, how long is the walk from this car park to the campsites? They'll have some of our stuff, beer included (the most important thing surely), and so was wondering if it'll be a good trek to get to and fro - if it's gonna take ages, I might try and carry tent, bag AND booze on the train and to the site.

If it helps, we're planning on camping on green, red or purple - one of the less crazy ones. I have no idea of the layout, with the official site not putting out the map yet.

Any answers, no matter how vague, will be much appreciated.

Edited August 19, 2009 by Becoming a veteran

[lukeyboy]

Here's last years map, it going to change slightly but will give you an idea. Think main changes are indigo is changing (back to brown i think) and arena space is changing a bit.

So you will enter on the far right and if your mates are parking in white it will be the far left.

Queues to get in were fairly long at that time last year but they are meant to be quickening it up this year. Depening on whether you walk normally with all you bags or you struggle once in you could probably meet half way between your entrance and white entrance in about 15-20mins.

My advice would be decide about where your going to go, keep in touch, who ever is first find a space, try and save enough space then direct the others to where you are. From my experience its a bit random of which areas are 'crazy' with white being the quietest. If you camped in red, you'll be there as soon as your on site but it will be a mission to get to your mates car to get your stuff.

[gooner1990]

I was hoping they'd move the wristband exchange back to where the old main entrance was. Certinly didn't help last year when I was walking round the site having been 9 times previously and not knowing where I was going! (Esp when drunk!)

Any ideas as to what the movements within the arena are - or will we just have to wait till we walk in on Friday to find out?