Okay, so you want to hit up some UK summer festivals? Been there, done that, got the muddy boots to prove it. It’s not just about rocking up, there’s a bit of a process I went through to make sure I actually had a decent time and didn’t just end up miserable in a field.
Figuring Out Which One To Go To
First off, I had to actually pick one. There are loads! Big famous ones, smaller niche ones. I spent a fair bit of time just scrolling through websites, checking out who was playing where. Talked to mates who’d been to a few, see what they recommended based on the kind of music I like and the general vibe. Some are super intense, others more chilled. I looked at lineups, sure, but also considered stuff like location – how easy is it gonna be for me to actually get there?
Eventually, I narrowed it down. Didn’t go for the absolute biggest the first time, picked one that looked like a good mix of bands I knew and stuff I wanted to discover. Felt like a good starting point.
The Ticket Scramble
Right, decision made. Next step: getting the actual ticket. This part can be proper stressful, especially for the popular ones. You gotta be ready the second they go on sale. I had the website loaded up, details ready to copy and paste. It felt like a lottery, constantly refreshing the page. It took a couple of tries, got kicked out once, but eventually managed to bag one. Felt like a massive win already!
Getting Prepped – The Boring But Important Bit
Ticket secured, woohoo! But the job wasn’t done. Now I had to actually plan the logistics.
- Travel: How was I getting there? Driving? Train? Coach? I checked the festival’s info page – they usually have travel advice. I ended up booking a coach ticket quite early, they often sell out and it’s less hassle than driving and parking in a massive muddy field.
- Somewhere to Sleep: It was a camping festival, so I needed gear. Dug out my old tent from the shed, made sure it wasn’t mouldy and still had all the poles. Bought a new sleeping bag because my old one was rubbish. Checked the festival rules – things like how big your tent can be, what you can and can’t bring onto the campsite.
- Packing the Essentials: This is key. I learned pretty quick you absolutely need wellies. Don’t even think about trainers unless you want trench foot. Waterproof jacket and trousers – essential. Even if the forecast is sunny, UK weather does what it wants. Layers of clothes are good too, gets cold at night. Sun cream and a hat for the day. Portable phone charger – lifesaver. Basic toiletries, loo roll (don’t rely on the festival ones!), bin bags for rubbish and wet clothes. And maybe some glitter, just for fun.
Actually Being There – The Fun Part!
Got there, found a spot for my tent (took ages, trying to find somewhere not too close to the toilets but not miles away either). Putting the tent up with thousands of other people doing the same thing is an experience in itself.
Then it was just about exploring. Wandering between stages, grabbing food from the stalls (expensive, but necessary fuel!), figuring out where everything was. The scale of it was pretty mad. Seeing the bands was awesome, the sound systems are huge. Discovered some new music just by drifting into random tents. The atmosphere is buzzing, everyone’s there for a good time. Yeah, there was mud. Yeah, there were queues for the loos. Sometimes lost my mates in the crowd for a bit. But honestly, that’s all part of it. You just gotta embrace the chaos.
Heading Home
Packing up a muddy tent while feeling tired and slightly broken is never the highlight, let’s be real. The journey home on the coach felt like forever. But even with the mud and the lack of sleep, I was buzzing from the whole thing. Totally worth it.
So yeah, that was my process. Bit of planning upfront makes the whole thing way smoother. Do the research, get your ticket sorted, pack the right stuff (especially wellies!), and then just dive in and enjoy the madness when you get there. You’ll figure the rest out.
