Regretting saying yes to Reading festival

[PoweredByLove]

My 14yo was desperate to go to Reading this year as her fave bands are headlining. I said we’d take her and her 11yo sister and we bought the tickets. However.... I just read some terrible reviews on the festival’s Facebook page regarding last years festival and now I’m totally regretting it. I’m worried it won’t be safe enough for children - even though I’ll be there with them. We’ve done Latitude and they absolutely love it there but from what I just read it seems Reading is a whole different ball game. Maybe I’m just over reacting but the reviews have turned my excitement to pure apprehensive about going. My dd will be devastated if I change my mind about this although I am considering all our options including getting a hotel rather than camping. Can anyone share their experiences of Reading festival to help with my decision making? Or any tips to make it as safe as poss? Tia

From what I've read, it's the Sunday night that's really dangerous - it's a tradition that they set fire to tents etc on the Sunday night. Goodness knows why.

I don't understand why thats allowed to happen!

Do they not have a family camping bit? I know Leeds fest has a field specifically for families which is more low key.
Is reading like Leeds in that the arena is fenced off from the campsites?

I went to Reading with a friend at 16 and it’s really nothing like the horror stories you can find online, just camp a bit further away from the arena and everyone is very friendly and relaxed. We camped in the brown area and it was fine, not intimidating at all. There’s also a family area which is a bit further away as well.
Basically the closer to the arena you camp the more crazy it is, I had some friends in the closest camp to it and it did sound pretty bad there, fires/tent slashing etc but you’ll be fine if you stay away.

The arena is fenced off from the campsites. Brown camp is usually the furthest away before the river crossing and then white is over the river. White is where campervans/caravans go and all the posh glamping bits are. Brown is usually quite quiet compared to the others.

It's been a few years since I went due to kids but we always camped in brown, we could make a big circle of our tents and there was much more space. Never got caught in any fire starting or anything.

No they don't unfortunately. There is the white campsite which is a 2 mile walk from the arena which is meant to be quieter though. They have a glamping site too which is next to white but that would be not much less money than a hotel.

Both my son's go regularly to Reading. The tent burning does go on (over excited teens) and there are rowdy groups but they both tell me there are lots of families in different areas. My eldest son is in a much quieter group and he happily avoids all the shenanigans and gets a good nights sleep.

Thanks glitterfart and trashpanda. That's good to know you think it will be fine. They must have done away with the family camping area because they don't have one this year it seems x

Thank you piglet. That's reassuring x

I think you'll be ok, but I'd avoid camping and try and get an Airbnb place in Reading. Teens like to party all night and I really struggle with lack of sleep and a shower. And the toilets are something else! Reading is traditionally a festival for post gcse/ A-level students, so does attract a younger crowd than festivals like Latitude and Bestival, from what I've heard there's a lot of drugs, and I'm pretty sure there's no family camping or quiet zone.

I took my DS in 2012 when he was 12, but just for the day, we had a fantastic time, but there were very few youngsters there.

I have camped at Reading with zero issues. I’ve also been to Reading but stayed in the local Travelodge-type place, and that was better for me (love music, hate camping!). It’s walkable, tiring after a long day but the comfy bed and shower make it worthwhile Don’t change your mind - my teenage festival memories are great, your DD will have an amazing time.

Is it really 2 miles to white camp, it never felt that long and I am a committed exercise dodger We always booked white parking and then walked through to brown with our stuff which meant it wasn't too far with all our stuff. When you're walking to the arena and back you don't have stuff to carry really. I remember red camp being the busiest and I think the silent disco was there too.

It's just as long walk out the rivermead way into town I would say if you book a hotel or similar. We used to go out in the morning and get a breakfast to use the toilets too.

I do sometimes miss it but I can't do the late nights anymore. We did TRNSMT last year but the line up is rubbish this year, not overly impressed with Reading either really.

Thanks all.

I'm looking into hotels atm. I've decided we're deffo going. Is it easy to get taxis at the end of the night? Or is it feasible parking there then driving back to hotel each night?

Trashpanda - I read somewhere it's 2 miles although I can't say if it's definitely true or not.
Yeah so many people are complaining about the line up at Reading this year but my daughter couldn't be happier with it and I'm pretty happy with a fair few of the acts too. Would have been better to have more rock bands but there are more to be announced I believe. I guess they're just trying to be more diverse.

@PoweredByLove I would imagine that parking and trying to drive to a hotel in Reading every night would be a nightmare. From what I remember white parking is off the Woodcote road by the pubs with wagon in the name. Not sure about other parking options. I would imagine there will be lots of taxis at the end but huge amounts of day ticket holders trying to get them. If you are doing that I would maybe look at prebooking for a specific time and place a walk away to avoid the scrum, not sure if Uber has made is to Reading yet, that's what we used at TRNSMT. How far away are you coming from?

Loads of people are thrilled with it and lots of the people who are used to it being quite 'rock'y are disappointed. I've not seen a line up this year yet that would get me to part with the amount of money they are asking, not just Reading.

@poweredbylove I would imagine getting out of the festival in a car every night would be a nightmare. See if you can book somewhere within walking distance. The site's easily walkable from the town centre so you should be able to find somewhere easily enough. Have a look at AirBNB as well as hotels.