Any advice for Glastonbury newcomers?

[Pr0paneNightm4re]

Just managed to bag 5 tickets for me and my mates to go to our very first Glasto. Camped Leeds and Download before so obvs have festival experience but wanted to know if there was any useful information (I.e. which campsites are best etc.) or anything you’d have wished you’d known before you’d been the first time?

cheers!

[CaledonianGonzo]

This should be useful:

https://www.glastoearth.com/?m=1

[bexj]

^^^  That pretty much covers it but I'd add, don't overthink it.  Its huge, its off the scale, you will miss lots, you will see lots you didn't plan to.  Don't underestimate how physically tough it can be, so get your fitness up over the winter!

[Suprefan]

Come back alive?

[Justcalledtosay]

My first time last year. Arrived Thursday morning, by Sunday afternoon I had nothing left. So my advice is just accept you’re not going to see everything and everyone you want to see and make a bit of time to chill. I’ll be nipping into the healing fields for a spell this year for sure.

[Tranquility of Solitude]

Get there as fresh as possible, and leave as knackered as you can manage. You’ll never be able to see it all or do everything, so limit your expectations. And take lip balm.

[Ayrshire Chris]

Don’t plan to see an unrealistic amount of bands, the walk between stages can take a lot longer than you might think. After settling in just stroll about getting your bearings, discovering the hidden gems that the festival has. @CaledonianGonzo has posted a tremendous link for glastoearth. It’s a perfect guide to almost everything about the festival. Well worth a read. 

[Cleoclaptrap]

Pace yourself. I know it'll sound daft but the scale of it is huge and you're there for many nights 

You're never going to see everything so don't try.

Don't stay with your mates all the time. Solo wanderings will give you some of your best memories.

[GeezLouise]

55 minutes ago, Pr0paneNightm4re said:

Just managed to bag 5 tickets for me and my mates to go to our very first Glasto. Camped Leeds and Download before so obvs have festival experience but wanted to know if there was any useful information (I.e. which campsites are best etc.) or anything you’d have wished you’d known before you’d been the first time?

cheers!

Welcome and well done getting tickets.  I remember your username from the reading/Leeds forum. 
my advice would be - throw out everything you know about festivals, glasto is a different beast.
Oh, and  accept that you will cry at some point during Sunday. Your body and mind will be broken though exhaustion and those tears will be coming 

[FrancisH]

56 minutes ago, Pr0paneNightm4re said:

Just managed to bag 5 tickets for me and my mates to go to our very first Glasto. Camped Leeds and Download before so obvs have festival experience but wanted to know if there was any useful information (I.e. which campsites are best etc.) or anything you’d have wished you’d known before you’d been the first time?

cheers!

Best campsite really depends on what you're after, in the action or a good nights sleep - I've been in all the sites to the western and sourthern sides. Bushy I found the worst for walking and felt pretty cut off but it was also a rainy year, Pennards doesn't deserve the reputation it has, and popping into the tent for some cans between West Holts and Park was a dream.

As a very specific bit of advice that I wish I had known my first time, don't just follow the crowds to SE corner after headliners as you'll end up just shuffling in a loop to the exit. If you desperately want to see something specific there or get into a venue consider going before the end of headliners, or go much later on after exploring the rest of site! Don't get hung up on queuing for stuff, there's always something incredible round the corner.

[CiaranMc]

This is all in the Tort FAQs and GlastoEarth but it’s good to emphasise… look after your feet well. Invest in really good hiking socks and make sure whatever footwear you bring- boots etc are well broken in. I cannot tell you how horrible it is to have to navigate the Sunday when your feet are fucked!

Edited November 7, 2022 by CiaranMc
Autocorrect

[SheffJeff]

Avoid the 'Banned' thread!

[parsonjack]

1 minute ago, CiaranMc said:

Incest in really good hiking socks

Not sure you're in the right forum here.....

[CiaranMc]

4 minutes ago, parsonjack said:

Not sure you're in the right forum here.....

I thought I got it changed quickly enough! Clearly not!

[p.pete]

Echoing lots of the stuff above.  The GlastoEarth link is great to have a read through to get an idea about the place.  Have a think about what you've liked about the other festivals you've been to, and what you might like to see / do at glastonbury, there's way too much to see & do.  That makes a difference with regards to camping, do you want to arrive early wednesday or late Thursday (places fill up), or be some quieter (nowhere is quiet) or louder (probably the places that fill up).

Pace yourselves - it's a big place with hills - you can't be everywhere and see everything.  But do explore, wed / thursday are great for less pressure of bands not (fully) having started yet.  Someone will start putting together a spotify playlist, of the rumours at first, but when each stage starts getting announced that expands so dramatically that it's pretty much overwhelming how much is on there - so a nice opportunity to hear some new stuff but sometimes just having 2/3 things you really want to see in a day is better than running round like a headless chicken.

Seems obvious but...  Don't bring glass, but otherwise you can bring your own booze.  There is no arena, so you can have your own booze with you all the time 🙂 

[eddie_corrigan]

don't forget to ride the monorail.

[MEGATRONICMEATWAGON]

Don't plan too much, you'll tire yourself out and miss stuff by walking around all the time.

Best to choose a few must-sees each day and amble around at a leisurely pace taking it all in.

Chat and smile to randoms. "How's your fest going?" is a key opening gambit.

[gfa]

Tort FAQs has a great camping guide, used it ahead of my first trip to the farm this year.

Make sure to do a big SE corner night - its just incredible!

A lot of people say don't plan your entire day, if you want don't but if you do then do - i planned what i wanted to see quite well (especially earlier on in the day) and had a blast seeing tons of my favourite artists.

[shuttlep]

stray off the beaten path.

 

spend the day in the Circus and caberet fields,  watch some comedy .

 

 

[CaledonianGonzo]

My big three rules are:

Walking boots not wellies

Shorts not jeans

Dont queue for anything

Edited November 7, 2022 by CaledonianGonzo

[maelzoid]

When you get your wristband, make sure you get it on the other wrist.

[balti-pie]

take more socks than you think youll need - its amazing how clean socks feel on knackered feet.

Leave a set of warm fluffy clothes in the car in case its a mudbath and you need to drive home in something comfy. i leave my driving trainers in the car so i dont have to worry about mud etc on my boots as well. Future me appreciates thoughtful me from the past! 

[Pinhead]

41 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

Dont queue for anything

This cannot be emphasised enough. Return later when the queue is lower, e.g. food stalls at non-typical meal times. Glasto is too special to be infliced with that British queuing disease...

[GeezLouise]

38 minutes ago, maelzoid said:

When you get your wristband, make sure you get it on the other wrist.

I cannot believe I’ve never thought of this. 

[Padgey]

2 hours ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Dont queue for anything

Is that possible when arriving Wednesday morning?!