Glast0baby

Safest to buy on the day. I recall headliner merch being available longer in the past, but not sure if that is always the case or applies to bands lower on the order. Better safe than sorry if you really want it. If you don't want to carry it around the fest with you, just leave it at a lockup and pick it up later.

To the best of my recollection this only applies to the coach queue, which has to keep moving for obvious reasons. I believe the car park queue at A is separate and therefore just as prone to large queues as D. Honestly, I'd just go for whichever is closest to the car. Don't overthink it! And remember to only take the tent in your first load, so you aren't carrying heavy weight in the long queue. Then go back for the heavier load on a second trip when you'll be able to bypass the first entry queues and by then you will better know how to get from your tent to the car park quickest. This is my advice for car arrivals year after year. Do not b*gger your back in the ticket queue by trying to carry too much on your first trip. You can ruin your festival, if hot get headstroke, if muddy exhaust yourself and fall over. Also, with a only bare necessities and tent you can get to a field quicker without collapsing and needing breaks. Common sense.

If none of the headliners appealed to you on one night, where would you go to take advantage of smaller crowds and get a bit of that Glasto experience? Rather than bemoaning that I'm not loving one of the night's 9-11am listings, I am looking at it as an opportunity to beat queues and crowds!

All I'd say is it's likely not worth the risk or stress of getting an advance fare ticket. That might not be what you are intending, but just thought I'd put common sense out there.

That was the last time I camped in Pennards. I never again want the anxiety of not knowing if your tent is going to be there when you get back because the river washed it away. I was fine, but boy that was a new concern to keep you company all day! Also the only time I've ever been woken up by people yelling that they'd found some pants (washed out of a tent) and trying (successfully believe it or not) to reunite them with their owner!

I've always been put off by using that much single use plastic. I do use bungee cords and they work fine. You just need to use a lot and be careful to fully stretch them out when you are securing them, so they are already at reasonable tension. It takes ages to secure and then to undo the trolley, but it works fine!

Da dah daaahhh!! Ooh, the drama!

Bristol?

Bristol Airport Flyer to Bristol Temple Meads or Bristol Bus Station. Then shuttle to fest or train to Castle Cary from BTM, or National Express from bus station. Up to you. Look at website for transport options from Bristol.

Given the general left wing leanings of Glasto, it'd be interesting to see how a strike which disrupts Glasto would go down. If I were the TU I would avoid annoying their potential supporters.

I always appreciated the flags to help you find your mates and understand why large groups of friends have them for that reason. But I'm going to be very interested this year to see to what extent What Three Words works as a substitute and eliminates the need for flags. I imagine I might be less tolerant of flags if their main purpose is no longer as valid and they are simply there for the sake of it.

You may want to look at this recent thread on the same topic:

Just remember that there is no thermal protection from an Air bed, so you'd need to bring fleece blankets to insulate yourself between the bed and your sleeping bag. If you can afford it, self inflating mattresses are far better than inflatable beds and they can come really thick nowadays 10-15cm.

Also worth noting that unlike some other festivals, you don't tend to spend that much time in your camp at Glasto. Why stay put when there is so much to see and do and you can take your bevys with you? For this reason, your bro can just as easily meet you out and about as opposed to at your tent. I spend most of the day meeting up with different people to see different bands.

As far as I am aware, yes, you have booked a physical seat on a coach. Normally there is a large crowd of ppl waiting for the NE coaches and you are only allowed forward to queue for a coach once your timed coach is announced. It's normally very busy and coaches are full. Might you be able to blag your way on if ticket holders haven't turned up? I dunno. Haven't tried, so sorry, I can't help. Given how busy the coaches are this would strike me as a risky strategy, but who knows! If you desperately need to get home earlier, consider the shuttles to Castle Cary or BTM train stations. If this is just inclination as opposed to necessity, I'd only note that a 12pm coach sounds much less stressful then trying to catch the 4am! Gives you a good amount of time to get some kip, strike camp, get brekkie and attempt the slog across the site with all your gear.

Always the best plan!

Most people arrive on Wednesday and that's where all tales of queues come from. Unless there has been a biblical flood in the car parks, I wouldn't expect any large queues on a Thursday, either for the car park or wristbands. You're likely to be in one of the more far flung car fields (and possibly camping field too... where there is space), so do think carefully about how you are going to transport your stuff. Trolleys are a god send. Especially if you are hoping to do only one load in order to maximise your time in the festival in Thursday.

I'll second that. Lost my socks very quickly (as they were knocked off!) I have a very fond place in my heart for the Sunday openers too. Generally a brass band or orchestra. It's such a unique vibe and you're able to experience the pyramid without crowds, right at the front. I appreciate not many choose it, but I love it! Black Dyke Band this year... going to be great! Ground Force theme tune anyone?

There's been a recent thread on this topic which you should take a look at:

I'm not sure you are giving a fair picture of the comparable facilities at Glasto. Dont want virgin CVers to think they are missing out on stuff! CV fields are essentially the same as basic camping which the majority of people use. Although, you have the extra luxury of your campervan in CV fields of course with possibility of bringing lots of stuff with you as well as (depending on van) kitchens, comfy beds, own toilet, own shower (or ability to bring solar shower). The only thing basic camping gets is some form of toilet and a water tap. I'm not sure it's a fair to compare to any of the Glamping options where you get showers. People are paying through the nose for those Glamping luxuries. If comparing to other festivals, the sheer size of Glasto makes showers for all a logistical impossibility. If you want to use a shower in CV at Glasto, aside from easily bringing a solar with you, CVer have the same access to the Greenpeace, etc, showers as all other attendees.

Delighted to hear I may not be a hopeless as I'd feared!

I've never managed to make it as always put off by huge queues, but I understand NYC Downlow is a venue that does a lot of drag and drag adjacent stuff.

I'm loving all these band names I've never heard of... I thought this was going to be a thread about fancy dress! 🤣 I'm so out of touch...

Never once managed to do makeup in the burning inferno of a tent (going F&B this year though, so who knows!). I normally find an eyeshadow pallet with mirror or a small mirror compact whilst seated on a camp chair with a breakfast cider to be the best bet. Plus then you can discuss "the look" with your friends and get in on some good glitter (biodegradable) action, or similar. Just don't want you to regret taking something you may not use!

I live in Bristol. A taxi from airport to Glasto is going to be very expensive, especially considering the risk in previous years of hour long queues. That might not be an issue for you, I don't know. I believe taxis drop off is a Bath&West so you'd still be getting a shuttle from their to PGA. As you'll have to get a shuttle anyway, you might want to consider the following alternatives... What I'd advise is getting the bristol airport bus (the Flyer)which is relatively quick way into Bristol and can drop you at either Bristol Temple Meads, to go the shuttle, or Bristol coach station if you book a National Express coach. https://flyer.bristolairport.co.uk/stops-and-maps You can then repeat the trip on the way back. From experience National Express is more reliable on timings then the shuttle, as the shuttle is a queue up and wait gig, whereas National Express you are booked on specific coaches. NB.National Express from Bristol is already very limited availability, so I'd get a wriggle on if you want this option.