What is your arrival strategy ?

[mufcok]

Tuesday evening arrival for us this year, I imagine (east quiet camper). Picking the van up Tuesday morning.

 

Must admit, I am looking forward to that view from the hill on the Tuesday night.

 

I was last in the campervan fields in 2022 and that view really got the juices flowing. Beautiful

[Someoni]

7am, 7 weeks from now, will be eating a premier inn breakfast and deciding what time to leave and do the last hour or so. Very exciting!

[gooner1990]

On 03/05/2025 at 09:09, Metal Monkey said:

I arrived at about 1pm last year and there was plenty of room in Rigs, Back house and South Park 1. There was some in Dairy by the pedestrian gate, maybe some in the middle too if you took time to look. 
 

I left after the school run, didn’t queue but was right at the back of the pink car park. My friends arrived at 2am, queued loads. I pitched my tent about an hour after them! 

 

Cheers mate.

 

We were in the queue at 6.30am and got through at 12.30pm last year, tried to get in our usual spot in Paines, couldn't and ended up in South Park 1 was around 1.30pm-2pm by the time we were set up.

 

Looks like I'll be heading to the same spot at a similar time but hopefully without a 6 hour queue behind me!

[tickleyt]

Feel like I can finally contribute to this now I'm into my 4th year and know what to expect!

Pack the car the evening before, 2am depart on Tues night/Wed Morning, get to Ped Gate D around 6-7am. Usually set up camp by around 9.30-10.30am in Dairy Grounds, with just a brief wander back to the car to pick up a few last beers at some point on the Wednesday. 

[Someoni]

21 minutes ago, gooner1990 said:

 

Cheers mate.

 

We were in the queue at 6.30am and got through at 12.30pm last year, tried to get in our usual spot in Paines, couldn't and ended up in South Park 1 was around 1.30pm-2pm by the time we were set up.

 

Looks like I'll be heading to the same spot at a similar time but hopefully without a 6 hour queue behind me!

That's an intense 8 hour mission that. Definitely earning the beers!

[gooner1990]

4 minutes ago, Someoni said:

That's an intense 8 hour mission that. Definitely earning the beers!

 

It didn't set the festival off on the right foot tbh.  We arrived to get in PGD at around 6.30am, but the queue was going back to the road, so we got put in PGA and that took an eternity as they prioritised public transport arrivals over us.

 

So different tact is needed this time, especially if where I'm heading for will still be empty anyway!

[nikkic]

28 minutes ago, gooner1990 said:

 

Cheers mate.

 

We were in the queue at 6.30am and got through at 12.30pm last year, tried to get in our usual spot in Paines, couldn't and ended up in South Park 1 was around 1.30pm-2pm by the time we were set up.

 

Looks like I'll be heading to the same spot at a similar time but hopefully without a 6 hour queue behind me!

 

13 minutes ago, tickleyt said:

Feel like I can finally contribute to this now I'm into my 4th year and know what to expect!

Pack the car the evening before, 2am depart on Tues night/Wed Morning, get to Ped Gate D around 6-7am. Usually set up camp by around 9.30-10.30am in Dairy Grounds, with just a brief wander back to the car to pick up a few last beers at some point on the Wednesday. 

Seems like you were both in the queue at similar times, but had very different experiences with getting into the festival. 

[gooner1990]

1 minute ago, nikkic said:

 

Seems like you were both in the queue at similar times, but had very different experiences with getting into the festival. 

 

We tried to get in PGD queue but were told it was too long and got put in the PGA queue (for cars)

[Sundance]

Does anyone have any experience with Worthy View arrivals? We're staying in WV for the first time this year and are hoping to arrive mid-morning Wednesday to be set up and unpacked by lunchtime. What are the queues like for WV on Wednesday generally? 

 

Presumably you are pre-allocated a tent and it's not a first-come first-served situation but let me know if I'm wrong about that!

 

Also possibly a stupid question but do you get your festival wristband from WV, or do you have to go out and back through the main wristband gates like you do with normal arrivals?

[buddiepaul]

Did VW in the past.  We got there around early afternoon on Wednesday and there was a bit of a queue, but nothing to worry about. From time to time a coach brought people up from the main entrance, so it added to the queue at those times.  You do get your festival wristband there on entry, so once you have checked in, you are good to go.  The help and assistance from the staff is very good (and they may even help you carry stuff to your tent).  Just need to show your wristband at the bottom of the hill at the Pennard Hill gate (where I was stewarding last year).

[tickleyt]

4 hours ago, nikkic said:

 

Seems like you were both in the queue at similar times, but had very different experiences with getting into the festival. 

Hahaha seems to be the case! First couple of years we were in the car park around 6am, last year we got the coach and got into the carpark around 9am, but each year we were set up in Dairy Ground really quickly, around 10-10.30am. Those queues are brutal so am hoping we can do the same this year!

[dotdash79]

Last year I came out of Gate A for the second trip to the car and spotted that Gate D had no queue but A was still near the back of the snake so I told people. A couple of people did leave the A queue and went to D. 

[gooner1990]

4 minutes ago, dotdash79 said:

Last year I came out of Gate A for the second trip to the car and spotted that Gate D had no queue but A was still near the back of the snake so I told people. A couple of people did leave the A queue and went to D. 

 

Yep.

 

We were stuck in it and couldn't get out.

 

One of my mates turned up 1 hour after me and got in 2 hours before!

[Sundance]

58 minutes ago, buddiepaul said:

Did VW in the past.  We got there around early afternoon on Wednesday and there was a bit of a queue, but nothing to worry about. From time to time a coach brought people up from the main entrance, so it added to the queue at those times.  You do get your festival wristband there on entry, so once you have checked in, you are good to go.  The help and assistance from the staff is very good (and they may even help you carry stuff to your tent).  Just need to show your wristband at the bottom of the hill at the Pennard Hill gate (where I was stewarding last year).

Super helpful, thanks! Are you stewarding again this year?

[Fishman]

23 hours ago, fraybentos1 said:

Did they keep a field reserved for Thursday arrivals in 2024 or is that a thing of the past ?

Back House used to be kept free for Thursdays, but hasn't for the last couple of years. However, it is so hidden away that it still has plenty of space on Day 2.

[MMMarc1720]

Drive down from Scotland Tuesday and stay at a hotel near Weston-Super Mare. Swim, Sauna and Steam room - Dinner and a few pints!

Set off from hotel 0630am and get in the queue. 

Cannot wait. 

[mario man]

Last time I came was with my daughter so it was a late arrival after school on the Thursday

No such 'constraints' this year, so a lunchtime arrival on the Wednesday - hope to be pitched up and with cider in hand by the bus by late afternoon 

[TheDayman]

6 hours ago, nikkic said:

 

Seems like you were both in the queue at similar times, but had very different experiences with getting into the festival. 

Funny this came up today, I was just watching a vlog last night and noticed the same with us.
 

We arrived around 4:30am and were sent to the back of Pink Parking, then diverted to PGA because PGD was already too busy.
 

It was around 12pm by the time we made it to Paines, which was already pretty full.
 

Then in the vlog, the guy and his gang arrived around 6:00am, was directed straight into Orange 40, then straight into the PGD queue, and they were in Paines by around 10:30am.
 

It looked like he was already back from his second run to the car by the time we even got to Paines!

Edited May 6, 2025 by TheDayman

[nikkic]

8 minutes ago, TheDayman said:

Funny this came up today, I was just watching a vlog last night and noticed the same with us.
 

We arrived around 4:30am and were sent to the back of Pink Parking, then diverted to PGA because PGD was already too busy.
 

It was around 12pm by the time we made it to Paines, which was already pretty full.
 

Then in the vlog, the guy and his gang arrived around 6:00am, was directed straight into Orange 40, then straight into the PGD queue, and they were in Paines by around 10:30am.
 

It looked like he was already back from his second run to the car by the time we even got to Paines!

Bad times, mate. 
 

Seems like it’s really luck of the draw! 

Think we’re going to leave ours at 4.30am, which should mean we’re parked up by 7.30/8am, then the queuing gods can decide our fate! 

[Lucy92]

First year in a camper so never done a Tuesday arrival before! But hoping to be Tuesday morning sometime

[fraybentos1]

1 hour ago, Fishman said:

Back House used to be kept free for Thursdays, but hasn't for the last couple of years. However, it is so hidden away that it still has plenty of space on Day 2.

Brilliant cheers! we are getting a coach from Bristol @ 8.30 on the thursday morning so my only concern is getting somewhere to camp and not being too stressed!

[Worky_gla]

Current plan is to drive down from Scotland on Tuesday evening, aiming to get in and parked up in the west car parks around 2/3am and then likely opt to try have a couple of hours sleep in the car before heading for the queue at PGD 6/7am. Although weather dependant might be able to persuade the driver to just join the queue when we arrive (noticed it does say to stay in your car til the gates open on the website but joining the queue at 2am was never an issue in my previous years & i assume that hasn't really changed)

[Levitz]

5 hours ago, Lucy92 said:

First year in a camper so never done a Tuesday arrival before! But hoping to be Tuesday morning sometime

Me too, normally coming from London head for Orange car parks for about 10ish and usually pitched up in Bailey's by 12/1pm. 

 

CV East Quiet this year, with the (hopefully) converted van. I'm at my Mum's in Devon so only just over an hours drive. Prob leave after morning work rush hour.  No real idea what to expect East side as only ever camped in Baileys. 

Edited May 6, 2025 by Levitz

[gfa]

On 02/05/2025 at 15:17, nikkic said:

Did it rain last year? I could have sworn it was dry!

Nope - but even without rain it was a swamp (mostly as it was next to the taps but with rain would be even worse)

[The_Fish]

It's my first Glasto since 2009 and I'm going with my Dad who is 67 and going for the final time so we are glamping in Festivue. He's very grateful to avoid the long walk from the car and having to sort tents out etc, booking it has taken a weight off his shoulders both figuratively and literally.

 

Our Wednesday afternoon plan is to head to the Brothers Bar (this time without the 2 litre bottles) and then explore the site a bit, see how the day and night develop