Festival Camping Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Festival camping is a unique experience — part adventure, part endurance test. Get it right and your campsite becomes a comfortable home base. Get it wrong and you'll spend the weekend soggy, sleep-deprived, and miserable. Here's how to get it right.

Choosing Your Campsite Location

Where you pitch your tent matters more than what tent you bring.

Arrive early. The best spots go within the first hour. If gates open at 10am, be in the queue at 9am.
Near (but not too near) toilets. Close enough for a 2-minute midnight walk, far enough that you can't smell them. Aim for 50-100 metres.
On high ground. If it rains, water flows downhill. Camping in a dip means waking up in a puddle. Even a slight slope makes a difference.
Away from paths. People walking past your tent at all hours means zero sleep. Tuck yourself away from the main thoroughfares.
Near a landmark. A distinctive tree, a fence corner, or a lighting tower. You need something recognisable to find your way back at 3am.

Tent Setup: Do It Once, Do It Right

Practice pitching your tent at home before the festival. Seriously.

Lay a groundsheet or tarp underneath. This prevents moisture seeping through the tent floor. Tuck the edges under the tent so rain doesn't pool on top of the tarp.
Peg every guy rope. Wind at festivals can be brutal, especially on exposed sites. A tent without pegs is a tent that ends up in someone else's campsite.
Face the door away from prevailing wind. Check which direction the wind is coming from and orient accordingly.
Leave space between tents. Condensation, privacy, and fire safety all require breathing room. Don't pack in right next to your neighbours.

Sleeping Comfortably

Sleep is the most underrated festival survival tool. You need at least 5-6 hours per night to function.

Invest in a proper sleeping mat. An air mattress or self-inflating mat is the single biggest upgrade you can make. Sleeping on bare ground is cold and uncomfortable.
Bring earplugs and an eye mask. Your neighbours will be loud. The sun rises at 5am in summer. These two items are essential.
Layer your sleeping setup. A sleeping bag with a blanket on top gives you flexibility. Nights can range from 5°C to 15°C even in summer.
Ventilate your tent. Keep vents open to reduce condensation. A tent with all vents closed traps moisture and feels damp by morning.

Food and Drink

Festival food is expensive and the queues are long. Bring supplies for the meals you can manage yourself.

Breakfast: Granola bars, bananas, bread rolls, and instant coffee don't need cooking. A simple breakfast saves you £10-15 per day and avoids the morning food queue.
Snacks: Nuts, dried fruit, and crisps keep your energy up between stages. Keep them sealed — festivals attract wildlife.
Water: Bring a large water container (5-10L) for your campsite and a refillable bottle for the arena. Most festivals have free water points.
Cooler box: If you're bringing perishables, a rigid cooler with ice blocks keeps things fresh for 2-3 days. Freeze water bottles to use as ice packs that become drinking water later.

Hygiene in the Field

You won't stay perfectly clean, but you can stay comfortable.

Baby wipes are your shower replacement. A full-body wipe-down takes 3 minutes and makes you feel human again.
Dry shampoo keeps hair manageable without water.
Hand sanitiser after every toilet visit. Festival hygiene standards vary dramatically.
Flip flops for the showers. If the festival has showers, never go barefoot. Trust us.
Biodegradable soap if you're washing in outdoor areas — it's better for the environment and often required by the festival.

Security and Safety

Festival camping areas are generally safe, but take basic precautions.

Don't leave valuables in your tent. Carry your phone, wallet, and keys on you at all times. A bum bag or running belt is ideal.
Lock your tent with a small padlock. It won't stop a determined thief but deters opportunists.
Keep medication with you. If you take prescription medication, carry it on your person, not in your tent.
Know where the medical tent is. Locate it on your first day so you know where to go if needed.

Leaving No Trace

The best festival campers leave their pitch cleaner than they found it.

Take all your rubbish with you — including your tent. Abandoned tents are a massive environmental problem.
Use the recycling points provided.
Don't pour liquids onto the ground — use the grey water disposal points.

Festival camping is uncomfortable by normal standards but extraordinary by every other measure. Waking up in a field surrounded by thousands of people who share your love of music is something that no hotel experience can replicate.