Has anyone done Leeds fest with teens

[Gobbledygoo]

My daughter wants to go to Leeds fest, primarily for Billie eilish on the Friday night. I’ve been looking into the weekend tickets, so we would be staying in the campsite, is there a family friendly one. Also I’ve read 12 and under are free, how strict are they on this (she will have turned 13 8 days before the event) so I don’t know whether to just blag it or just stump up the £260ish pound for her to go.

I'm a bit of a Leeds Festival veteran although haven't been for the last couple of years.

The campsites are pretty wild.... Have just looked and there is a 'camping plus" option for an extra £245 (on top of your ticket price!) With nice loo's and security etc. Not sure it would be worth it! Wouldn't have a family vibe I wouldn't have thought, and probably no sleep would be had.

I think it depends on your and your daughter's experience with festivals to be honest, I went to my first Leeds festival just for the day when I was just turned 13 with my friend and her parents and had an absolute blast! Then camped every year (no parents) after that.

If it's her first big festival experience I would recommend just going for the day, save yourself some money and see what it's like - it's fun but it's intense and the campsites are NOT kid friendly!

The actual arena is fine though and you shouldn't have any problems in there! If she loves Billie eilish then I'm sure she will have a great time, I imagine she will put on a great show! It's always better outside than in an arena (IMO)!

I'm not sure it is the sort of festival it's acceptable for adults to attend with teenagers. Seems to have a VERY young vibe and even 20 year olds can feel a bit too old there, let alone anyone over 30!

Kendal Calling is a lovely festival for families, on the other hand. I took DS there when he was 15 and he even spent some time with me, watching some bands, instead of cringing at my presence 24/7!

Leeds fest is quite wild, definitely do not stay on the sunday night, 😬when the traditional tent stomping and burning happens. They will check age id, and search you both. I would strong suggest a day ticket and teh premier inn - not a weekend at the festival. It is NOT Glastonbury or Womad!

I'm a festival veteran, I went to Leeds once and never again. Full of idiot 16 year olds determined to burn the whole thing to the ground. I hear the same kind of stories every year, I'm shocked it's allowed to continue. I've never seen behaviour like that at any other festival.

I'd say if you're determined to go, get day tickets and book a hotel. But any other festival is better than that one.

I wouldn't want my child ANYWHERE NEAR the place. Even at 17! The drugs for a start..... The binge drinking, the filth! Awful place, yuck

@SchoolTripDrama
You've the right name, calm down ffs

It gets very lairy overnight, at her age I'd do day only tickets and book a hotel.

It's a weird festival - mostly 16 and 17 year olds kicking off having collected their GCSE results. Adults are very much in the minority and Sunday nights are just awful.

Buy day tickets. They can ask for proof of age for your daughter. It's in no way family friendly. After the arena shuts there's DJs in the campsite, that go on till late, much to my DD's delight. And Sunday night is total carnage.

My 17 year old and all his mates are going 🙈🙈🙈

Having been a regular at Reading festival back in the day I'm somewhat nervous!

I wouldn’t stay overnight at Leeds festival if I was over 18. It’s not like Glastonbury etc, it really skews young. Day tickets only if your DD is determined to go.

It's definitely not a child friendly festival. The campsites (& their toilets!) are especially horrendous.

I've been 3x and stopped going because I was sick of people in the crowd pissing into bottles and throwing it into the crowd.

Honestly it's an awful place, I would avoid

Leeds is absolute carnage, especially as the weekend goes on.

I'd book and then get myself swiftly to a hotel before the witching hour.

Thanks for all your helpful replies, definitely lots to think about and weigh up before I decide whether or not we go for it. Day ticket and hotel sounds like the best option I think 🤔

My sons both went to Leeds. I’m sure I only got the edited highlights, but they made my hair stand on end!

Is she playing at any other festivals? I took mine to loads when they were younger, and had a brilliant time (just not Leeds 😂).

Calm down?!?! 😆 What on earth are you on about, I just responded to the OP with my genuine opinion?! It's not up to you to police threads!

I agree that a day ticket is the way to go. I went with DD on the Sunday when she was 15. There were loads of families with teens when we went, and I didn't stick out like a sore thumb. We saw a few drunks/drugged people when we were on our way back to the bus at the end of the evening, but managed to avoid trouble quite easily.

DD worked at the festival when she was 19. Parts of the red campsite were no go areas and the volunteers were advised to avoid it.

If you go I would recommend parking in Leeds and getting the festival bus. It saves trying to find your car in the dark at the end of the evening.

I most definitely would not camp there.

DD went when she was 17 and said never again- it felt dangerous in the campsites rather than fun and that was before the tent stamping/setting fires started

Yes, I’d go for the day with your DD and get a hotel. There are buses running from the site to the city centre at night but you do have to queue.
There were lots of unaccompanied teens when I was there, I was concerned about a few drunk girls who were asking people to buy them alcohol.

We have done both Reading and Leeds Festival. I would never return to Leeds Festival.

Go down to Reading and get day tickets and stay in town.

Much better than Leeds.

I remember idiots doing this at reading festival when I was younger

why do people have to be such twats? 😔

I'm all for people having fun and having a drink etc but why the violent / dangerous behaviour?