When To Arrive Weds & Not Queue

[McCor]

I'm arriving Wednesday morning, just wondered what time is best not to queue? After 9am / 10am?

Looking to camp West, Pylon and the like.

Edited April 8, 2016 by McCor

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Not sure. In recent years I've arrived about 1pm - 2pm and been able to walk straight in. Not sure about earlier than that.

[Beerqueen]

Yep the one time I've been in 2014 (so obviously is 100% solid advice) I got there about 1 and drove straight in. 

[Tyonks]

Literally luck of the draw in my experience. I've driven overnight all three times on the Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. First two times worked a treat and hardly queued. Last year was a nightmare and took 6/7 hours to get onto site! Quickly forgotten about though once the tent was up and beer was in hand. 

[musky]

Like Tyonks says, it's luck of the draw. A couple of years ago when comparing notes on the festival someone mentioned they'd pretty much walked straight in Gate A, but I'd arrived within 20 minutes of him and queued for around 30-40 minutes.

Be aware if arriving at Gate A that those arriving from the coach station have priority and it'll take you longer if arriving from the car parks. 

[paulmuchmore]

Yeah I don't think you can really predict what's going to happen at each gate.

Last year (our first) we arrived just after 7am, parked in Blue 9 and got in the queue for Gate C. Opened at 8am and we were in Kidney Mead some time between half 9 and 10.

Our neighbours in Kidney Mead weren't so lucky. They were in the queue for Gate B, having arrived at a similar time, and didn't get in until gone midday. 

So from that I'd recommend avoiding Gate B. But please stay away from Gate C so my queue is shorter!   

[Gnomicide]

Something went wrong at gate B last year resulting in no-one moving for over an hour. You'd suspect it will be rectified this year and the same won't happen again.

[Hugh Jass]

To echo what been said above we usually turn up around lunchtime and have no issues with queueing. 

I think the only time I've ever queued for any length of time was when getting the coach and that was because about 20 all arrived at the same time.

[Hugh Jass]

31 minutes ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

Which side do you turn up at? How far away are you normally parked?

Gate D. We drive from London but don't just go in the first car park. We drive around the car park (think it's orange). It's usually pretty busy so it's a good 10-15 mins walk to the gate but we camp on that side so it's still a good a deal better than doing the walk of death across the site.

[McCor]

Gate A is NW gate isn't it? At the coach stop? Hopefully we'll get to park that side and have a shorter walk to quieter camping. I guess we'll aim for 10am arrival....

[kingbadger]

6 hours ago, musky said:

Like Tyonks says, it's luck of the draw. A couple of years ago when comparing notes on the festival someone mentioned they'd pretty much walked straight in Gate A, but I'd arrived within 20 minutes of him and queued for around 30-40 minutes.

Be aware if arriving at Gate A that those arriving from the coach station have priority and it'll take you longer if arriving from the car parks. 

Is that bit about the coaches correct? Purely as I'm on the first NE coach out of London, so would be pretty decent if so.

[musky]

4 hours ago, kingbadger said:

Is that bit about the coaches correct? Purely as I'm on the first NE coach out of London, so would be pretty decent if so.

Yep. Anyone arriving by public transport (or bike) gets priority at Gate A. 

[razoid]

Im leaving at tuesday midnight from the northeast and planning on arriving around 7am wednesday

Edited April 9, 2016 by razoid

[Spindles]

Be prepared to queue, that is pretty much peak arrival time these days.

[maclauk]

Around about 10am to 11am the queues seem to dissipate on the west side based on the experience of the last two years...

[bexj]

Complete luck of the draw.  However, under normal circumstances,  with no bad weather, no technical difficulties etc etc then it seems the overnight queues have pretty much gone by 10am.  

[Memory Man]

I think it has been around 12 mid day for the car park queue to disappear at gate A

i wouldnt recommend arriving at 8-9am in a car on the west side if you can help it. we did that in 2014 and queued for a good 2/3 hours at gate A. made sure to arrive later in 2015 and worked a charm got parked up nice and near the gate and walked almost straight in around 12 mid day.

unless you are desperate to camp in pennards or kidney mead (or family?) I would not recommend arriving overnight or early morning if you are the type who doesnt like to queue. these days we go for the quieter campsites west side like bushy. nice and close to the gate so not a massive slog with your stuff and fills up gradually so you can pitch with your mates arriving at different times with no fuss.

 

Edited April 10, 2016 by Memory Man

[Alan_C]

If I arrived around 4pm on the Wednesday, I would probably be fine getting a spot around Lower Mead wouldn't I? The John Peel has moved this year as well, so that should help. Nothing special about there at all, I'm just used to camping there now.

[shuttlep]

i've never queued arriving Wednesday

 

 

been really flukey , arrived last year at 11 am gate d straight in as they closed it when the barriers fell and moved everyone. as i walked up they had just re opened

[Dr Glasto]

Someone collapsed in the queue to Gate D last year which resulted in everyone being diverted to Gate A. That lengthened the queuing time a fair bit!