Wondering what to pack for Glastonbury Festival? You are not alone! I always get asked ‘What do I need to take to Glastonbury? What are the items I simply ‘must have’? Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. Check out my Glastonbury Festival Packing List and tips below so you know what you need to take with you and what you can confidently leave at home.

Glastonbury Festival Packing List

Glastonbury Essentials

These are the items you will no doubt carry in a bum bag or want easy access to BEFORE arriving.

  • Festival Ticket – Even after getting your wristband, make sure you keep this on you at all times! I made this mistake at Glastonbury 2019. You need to show your ticket to re-enter after going to the car, going off-site to most glamping campsites or campervan pitches!
  • ID – Must be a valid form of ID (in date) Passport, UK Driver’s License, or Pass ID.
  • Money & Bank Card
  • Mobile Phone

For Camping at Glastonbury

If you are fully embracing the Glastonbury Festival experience and camping in the general campsites around Glastonbury, then these are the items you should bring.

  • Tent – Take a decent tent! Avoid pop-ups, get a good one! Make sure your tent is bigger than you think you need. The rule of thumb I go by is; a 2-man tent for 1 person, 3/4-man tent for 2 adults, 6-man tent for a family or group of 4 adults.
  • Extra Tent Pegs – They bend, you lose some, it’s always worth having a couple of extras.
  • Rubber Mallet – Seems like overkill, but honestly, it’s far better than trying to stamp them in with your boots!
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Sleeping Mat – I never bother will an air mattress, they are heavy to carry. I opt for a smaller, ‘self-inflating’ option which is about 3 inches thick so it’s far smaller and lighter to carry when deflated.
  • Pillow – I actually take a mini pillow from an aeroplane. Inflatable pillows are a space-saving option but are not that comfortable!
  • Pillowcase – If you don’t want to take a proper pillow, a pillowcase works well with clothes stuffed inside.
  • Duct Tape – Great for any mishaps; rip in a tent, hole in an air mattress.
  • Bin Bags – Perfect for dirty, muddy boots or as an emergency bag cover when queuing to get in.
  • Reusable Water Bottle / Cup
  • Towel – I always take a micro-fibre towel. They are thin, lightweight and dry quickly.
  • Bucket or large foldable water carrier – Great for a makeshift shower or storing water for cooking/drinking.
  • Chair – This personally is essential. You will be walking a lot at Glastonbury (I think I racked up about 40-50,000 steps a day!) plus if it’s wet and muddy, a chair is a welcome relief for your back and means you can avoid sitting on the floor!

Camping ( Non-Essentials )

  • Mini Gas Cooker – Great if you know you’re on a tight budget at the festival and want to make your own tea/coffee and food. Personally, I always take one as it’s a great way to save money at Glastonbury and have cups of tea on tap!
  • Mess Tins or small camping pot – for Boiling water in
  • Lighter / Matches
  • Extra Groundsheet – Great for sitting on outside your tent, in the music areas or even saving a camping spot for friends that are coming later on in the day!
  • Picnic Rug
  • Trolly
  • Flag / Bunting / Fairy Lights
  • Coloured Ribbon – Something which I feel is a great festival camping hack is to tie coloured ribbons around your tent’s Guy Ropes. It makes them easier to spot & stops people from tripping over them.

Electronics & Handy Little Extras

  • Battery Pack
  • Torch
  • Mirror (Not made from Glass)
  • Eye mask
  • Ear Plugs
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Bum bag / day bag

Toiletries

  • Deodorant
  • Suncream
  • Hand Sanitiser
  • Toothbrush & Toothpaste
  • Toilet Roll
  • Wet Wipes or Washcloth
  • Facewash
  • Glitter
  • Contraceptives
  • Peebols – AMAZING for a midnight wee to avoid the Glastonbury Toilets!
  • Sanitary Items
  • Shampoo / Bodywash – There are showers in the Green Peace Area or just use a bucket ( I DO! )
  • Hair Ties
  • Makeup
  • Medications.
  • Plasters

Clothes for Glastonbury

Pre-planning your Glastonbury Festival outfits is the best way to ensure you don’t overpack. I like to put each day’s outfit into a packing cube or plastic bag so it’s ready to go when I arrive. Mix and match your tops with your bulkier items like denim shorts or funky jackets + make sure you have a ‘tent-only outfit’. This way you always have something dry to sleep in / travel home in!

  • Underwear + plenty of socks. Always take more socks than you think you need. Sweaty feet or wet weather will mean you want fresh ones more often!
  • 2x Shorts / Skirts – I take a couple of pairs of shorts or 1 x skirt and 1x shorts then mix and match my tops.
  • 1x Leggings / Trousers. I wouldn’t wear jeans personally. They are too hot and take ages to dry when wet. Thin trousers or leggings are great.
  • 1x Dress – I like to take a dress or glittery playsuit to wear for the ‘Sunday Legend Slot’
  • 1x Pajamas – I always take something warm to sleep in.
  • 5x Tops – I would take 1x vest, 3x funky tops and 1x long-sleeve top or shirt as an extra layer for the evenings.
  • 1x Swimsuit – I always take a swimsuit so I can have something to shower in + it doubles as a bodysuit to wear with shorts!
  • 1x Jumper – Evenings can get chilly at Glasto so be sure to take a jumper.
  • 1x Funky Jacket – I always take a funky jacket of some kind to Glastonbury.
  • 1x Waterproof Jacket – Take a waterproof jacket that’s actually waterproof!
  • Flip Flops / Crocs / Slides – Great for sitting around the campsite or in the showers.
  • Wellies / Walking Boots – Prepare for all weather at Glastonbury. Take sturdy wellies or walking boots. You will WALK ALOT!
  • Trainers or Boots – If the weather is nice, wellies/walking boots get very hot, so I always take (old) trainers or fashiony boots.
  • 1x TENT ONLY OUTFIT. I always take an outfit which is kept in a plastic bag in the tent, this way I have something dry to wear for the journey home or as a backup if everything else got wet! = 1x shorts, 1x comfy t-shirt + 1x thin jumper.

Food & Drink

One of the great things about Glastonbury is that you can take your own food and alcohol into the entire festival (not just the campsites). Even if you don’t intend on cooking your own food at the festival, having some handy snacks and alcohol is a must.

  • Alcohol – You can take as much alcohol as you like (within reason and must appear to be for personal consumption) as long as it is not in glass containers. Decant spirits into plastic bottles or take bags of Wine, cans of beer/cider or RTD’s.
  • Snacks – Always good to have some snacks. I tend to take: Cereal bars, crisps, nuts, granola, sweets, protein bliss balls and dried fruit.

If you are taking a little gas cooker – below are some easy-to-make options which I always take with me:

  • Tea Bags
  • Coffee
  • Milk Powder – longer life than normal milk, lighter to carry and doesn’t need to be kept cold once open!
  • Cup-Noodles – Pot noodles are a festival staple.
  • Porridge Pots – Simply add boiling water and cover for a yummy, filling breakfast.
  • Pasta pots and Ramen

Packing Tips for Glastonbury Festival

Pack light – you will have to carry your stuff a long way from the car to your final camp spot so don’t overpack.

Use a comfortable bag – You will be carrying your bag over rough grass, in the rain, or in the sunshine so make sure it is comfortable to carry. A decent rucksack is my personal preference which offers good weight distribution and comfortable straps. I use an Osprey 65L backpack for all my festivals. Comfortable, decent size and has a built-in rain cover!

Pack items into packing cubes or plastic bags – This will save you from unpacking your entire bag every time you are looking for clean underwear.

Use external pockets wisely – Don’t put valuable items in external pockets. Put items you know you will want to find quickly; toilet roll, tissues, hand sanitiser, torch, plasters etc…

Pack items in a logical order – Don’t pack the items you need when you first arrive at the bottom of the bag. If you are taking a trolly, put your tent on the top so you can easily get that out and set up first without unloading your whole trolly.

Don’t re-pack your dirty clothes back into your bag – Keep your fresh clothes fresh and dry. Put all dirty clothes or muddy items into a plastic bag and pack it last. That way it can go from your bag into the laundry straight away when you get home.

Decant all items from glass into plastic containers – There is a NO GLASS policy at Glastonbury. This includes makeup in glass bottles, alcohol, and jars of baby food. If you have medication which is in glass bottles – I would contact Glastonbury customer service for advice.

Be prepared to have bags searched – In saying this, I have never had my bags extensively checked at Glastonbury, but it can happen so be prepared!

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY – If you suddenly find you have forgotten something, don’t worry, you can buy lots of stuff at Glastonbury. There is usually an on-site co-op which sells everything you may want ( apart from Alcohol) and even a camping shop. The volunteers at Glastonbury are fabulous, helpful and super supportive – don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Have fun, leave no trace and have a fabulous time on the farm!

X

Sophie

Want more Glastonbury advice? Check these out:

>> Where to Camp at Glastonbury Festival <<

>> Tips for Glastonbury Festival First-Timers <<

>> Camping at Glastonbury Festival: Tips & Hacks <<

>> 10 Things To Know For Glastonbury Festival <<

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