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Glastonbury questions - first timer

38 replies

Elektra1 · 24/05/2025 14:01

I’m going this year for the first time. I have questions about “can’t do without” items to take. Also, I know you can’t take glass in. What do you do about a mirror (to do your make up)? And drinks - do you decant into plastic bottles? If you take tinned drinks, can you get ice anywhere?

Please share your top tips. I’m a bit nervous about it.

OP posts:
CissOff · 24/05/2025 14:13

It’s been a while since I’ve been but the glass thing was mostly around glass bottles and the like. I definitely had a compact mirror for my make up. They didn’t check that much anyway.

I’m a wine drinker and took the boxes of wine instead of bottles, but I saw some plastic bottled wine in Tesco yesterday. You’ll struggle to get ice unless you’re buying drinks from a vendor - it’s a place where you need to get used to warm drinks and unsanitary conditions 😂

We didn’t take much/any food the first time but subsequent times took a one burner stove and had some pasta etc. mostly because the food is expensive but I was also hungover or drunk 95% of the time and it was good to have access to noodles and a cup of tea! Also take plenty of snacks, so you’re not always having to have meals.

We couldn’t ever shower and the taps are obviously cold so you need to get those big body wet wipes they use for bed bound people, plenty of dry shampoo, pocket tissues in spades (to double up as toilet roll), hand sanitiser.

Try and make your tent as comfy as possible - proper pillows etc. don’t bother with a blow up bed, they are rubbish in my experience. Take ear plugs and eye masks. Chuck in some battery powered fairy lights for ambience!

Also don’t buy a tent from Tesco, Argos, or any supermarket/popular retailers - everybody else will have the same and it’s hard to find them in the dark - also some identifying flag/bunting etc. helps.

Take extra batteries or similar for your torches - have a mag light in your bag to help you get back to your tent. A couple of lighters for camping stove.

You’ll have a great time! Just embrace being a scuzzy hippy for a few days.

edited to add that we were only a couple of years from having a 3310 when we went so charging phones wasn’t much of a thing and they’d have charging tents. Assuming people take solar power banks these days?

CissOff · 24/05/2025 14:14

Because the loos are so awful, we would take Imodium to make sure we didn’t have to 💩 - the smell could gag a maggot so a wee was just enough.

PoopingAllTheWay · 24/05/2025 14:17

Hand sanitiser and hand wipes
Big body wipes

A Tent that is VERY UNUSUAL so you find it
Good - Luck

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Elektra1 · 24/05/2025 14:22

I have a decent tent and one of those self-inflating beds (the thin kind). Will get sleep mask. Fairy lights great idea. Have a couple of power banks.

OP posts:
GoodQueenBess · 24/05/2025 14:23

Shaving mirror. One you can hang up and use for doing your hair and make-up and for putting your contact lenses in.
Wet wipes and hand sanitiser. Tissues.
Crocs

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 24/05/2025 14:28

Definitely decorate the outside of your tent to make it noticeable. Take food and drink or it’ll really cost.

abnerbrownsdressinggown · 24/05/2025 14:41

Last time I went I took a small washing up bowl so I could have a (cold) strip wash in the tent with a flannel. I felt a million times better than just using wipes.

We took frozen beers down in a cool box for the first afternoon/ evening. Then we picked up some ice (but we were in one of the pre-erected tent areas which had a little shop, so not sure if other places have ice).

The cleanest long drops are up by Strummerville ime.

It is a massive site so take shoes you are happy to walk in for hours.

kumamon · 24/05/2025 14:43

Take a wheelbarrow to get your stuff from your car to where you pitch your tent. And a pump for the tyre.

AgathaMystery · 24/05/2025 14:45

Just sending thoughts and prayers. Plan to be away from your tent 16-18 hrs a day

ScabbyHorse · 24/05/2025 14:47

Take some fun items of clothing and lots of hats

TheDandyLion · 24/05/2025 14:49

You can buy ice from the co-op.

TheDandyLion · 24/05/2025 14:50

Ps. Use the lock ups for all your valubles especially on the first night. They're free and open 24hrs.

Puffykins · 24/05/2025 14:59

Re food, I actually found barely eating anything was a really good strategy as then I didn't need to go to the loo....

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 24/05/2025 15:58

Dd is going, I’d bought a set of Wype bum cleaning stuff that is advertised everywhere on fb etc. I got a big bottle, refill and 2 travel bottles, which she’s got. It’s basically aloe and coconut, so realistically she can use it for general purpose “freshening up”. I think one of them is taking a solar shower bag. That’s optimism.

TerrifiedandWorried · 24/05/2025 16:01

Use what3words to find tent

Mudlickets · 24/05/2025 16:06

As little as possible- you will walk miles from the entrance to wherever you decide to pitch ( definitely have a plan for what area do some reasearch). Solar fairy lights are good. It can turn into a bit of an endurance fest.

PuppyMonkey · 24/05/2025 16:10

She pee.

Elektra1 · 24/05/2025 17:21

Puffykins · 24/05/2025 14:59

Re food, I actually found barely eating anything was a really good strategy as then I didn't need to go to the loo....

Oh God… I am dreading the toilets.

OP posts:
westcott · 24/05/2025 17:35

Sleep with your valuables in your sleeping bag. Don’t leave anything in jeans if you take them off to sleep. Thieves will go into tents when you are asleep and take jeans. We had this happen and I was the lucky one who didn’t lose my money.

LoveofAvalon · 24/05/2025 17:47

Avoid the long drops near the railway line by Avalon. If you want some clean toilets during the day, head over to the South East corner. They are pretty clean during the day as no one is there.

Mudlickets · 24/05/2025 18:11

I find the long drops much better than portaloos

Elektra1 · 24/05/2025 18:27

westcott · 24/05/2025 17:35

Sleep with your valuables in your sleeping bag. Don’t leave anything in jeans if you take them off to sleep. Thieves will go into tents when you are asleep and take jeans. We had this happen and I was the lucky one who didn’t lose my money.

God this is starting to sound grimmer than even I expected. We’ll be in the family field

OP posts:
LoveofAvalon · 24/05/2025 18:47

Elektra1 · 24/05/2025 18:27

God this is starting to sound grimmer than even I expected. We’ll be in the family field

Elektra you will have an amazing time. I first went at age 39 and had a ball and went for another 8 times. The food is amazing you will not want to miss out on that. If it does feel a bit overwhelming head up to the healing fields, sit on the grass and chill out.

westcott · 24/05/2025 19:12

You don’t need to worry. Just take sensible precautions. And you will have a great time!!

Straightomyhead · 24/05/2025 19:26

Can I just say the toilets really aren’t that bad and in recent years have been getting better and better at Glasto due to improved drainage. Don’t do anything silly like make yourself constipated or not eat. If you are that worried, the toilets away from the action, in the campsites are generally cleaner and have less queues during the day.

I second the sleeping with your valuables in your sleeping bag. And definitely get a tent with a porch so you can leave wet clothes in the porch and keep your inner tent dry. This is a life saver in wet years.

lastly go to Glasto with an open mind. You won’t see everything you want to see but you’ll then find something better. Also don’t be afraid to see something on your own, just have a plan of where to meet your friends later. I’ve see some great stuff on my own and chatted to some great people.

Writing as an avid festival goer (50+) and 7 times Glasto goer.

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