Glastonbury with kids

Any advice for getting the most out of Glastonbury Festival with young kids (6&8) please?

Been going for years. Don't have kids of my own so the following is based on observation rather than experience. There is loads of things aimed at kids. The Kidz Field is specifically aimed at kids - don't know what, though. There is also the Greenpeace Kid's Area. Spend an afternoon lazing in the Circus and Cabaret fields - loads of random street theatre stuff to gawp at while lying about in the sun (which will be shining). Watch out for walking distances - the site is huge, and it can take quite a while to get between things, especially if it is raining / muddy (which it won't be, because the sun will be shining). Don't venture into the Naughty Corner at night with kids - it is always just too crammed, with huge crowds. Lots of craft activities that you can sign up for in the Craft Field. If going to headliners, stay towards the back / sides - again huge crowds and crushes. Hang about until the crowds have died down a bit after the headliners - again big crowds, crushes, easy to get separated. Lots of people take buggies / carts decked out for kids to nap in.
Main thing though - enjoy it! It is the best festival out there.
I take it you got your tickets today?
And I assume you'll be taking your Cali. Be aware campervan tickets go on sale in a couple of weeks time (different system this year) and they normally sell out quickly (within 24 hours).
East campervan field best if you've got kids (near Kidz Firld, Circus & Cabaret) but the hill down from the campervan fields to the gate is a bit steep - worse so at on the return in the wee small hours - but just think of your comfy bed in you Cali!

Cheers Swigle. I've been before in my old van a few years ago with friends. So expecting a different experience next year. Cheers for the advice and tip about the campervan tickets going on sale in a few weeks. I hadn't realised that. Was expecting to pay the balance and buy the van ticket next year.

Was thinking of taking a small loo for the kids. Could this be emptied there?
Never bothered before.

Oh I do hope the sun is shining.

Taking a loo makes sense - although there are lots of portaloos in the CV fields, they can get queued out at peak times.

They do have points to empty loo cartridges - big stillages. Not always obvious, usually near the blocks of portaloos (but not one at every block of loos).

Another suggest for the young 'uns is ear defenders; they can offer a bit of relief from the music.

swigle said:

Taking a loo makes sense - although there are lots of portaloos in the CV fields, they can get queued out at peak times.

They do have points to empty loo cartridges - big stillages. Not always obvious, usually near the blocks of portaloos (but not one at every block of loos).

Another suggest for the young 'uns is ear defenders; they can offer a bit of relief from the music.

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Thanks. I'd better start researching porta potties. Nice!!
We have the ear defenders from a local festival that we went to. Very good tip.
Are you going next year?

managed to get tickets on sunday for my 1st glastonbury, can't wait will be gutted if i don't get a campervan ticket though. will keep an eye on this thread for any cali/van related tips...

Are you going next year?

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Yup. Lucky enough to get tickets again. Lost count, but think this will be 15th time, 4th time in the Cali (assuming CV ticket can be got)

surfer-rich said:

managed to get tickets on sunday for my 1st glastonbury, can't wait will be gutted if i don't get a campervan ticket though. will keep an eye on this thread for any cali/van related tips...

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It's a great festival. You taking kids?

swigle said:

Yup. Lucky enough to get tickets again. Lost count, but think this will be 15th time, 4th time in the Cali (assuming CV ticket can be got)

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Assuming mine arrives I'm looking forward to being in my new Cali. My bay was fun but I'm looking forward to getting to Somerset quicker and have a bit more comfort. Had to be pushed out of the mud the last time. This will be my 3rd time.

Aidy P said:

It's a great festival. You taking kids?

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no kids, only had the cali 3 months, our 1st festival of this year we were in tents & it rained all weekend! will be nice to have a bit of luxury

Never been to the festival but we do like a site in Glastonbury called Paddington Farm. Pretty basic, no hookups but a nice place and quiet.

Hi,

We've taken our daughter to every Glastonbury since she was 4 so, now aged 11, she's a bit of a Glastonbury veteran. We usually camp in the East site as it is nearer the kids field (great for craft, hair braiding, face painting etc) as well as acoustic tent, cinema tent and generally a slightly less crowded area. However we're finding that people are getting there earlier and earlier in the week. When we arrived last year on the Wednesday evening we were put at the back of a big field on the edge of the site a long way from the festival entrance, a trek through several fields of campers so we might try for West Site this time. It's only 2 fields so getting there early won't matter so much. Not sure our daughter will approve though.

We take our awning. If it's muddy and wet it's good to have somewhere to put your clothes and boots out of the van. We do have a porti potti (the Thetford one) as the loos in the campervan fields may be quite a distance away and, as Swigle says, long queues in the morning.

We find our fridge manages to last out the whole festival (there's no hook up of course). We tend to only eat breakfast in the camper and then stay out in the festival all day. When our daughter was much younger we did come back to the van for a break late afternoon and one of us would come back in the evening with her for her bedtime but she's got as much stamina as us now!

SusanT said:

Hi,

We've taken our daughter to every Glastonbury since she was 4 so, now aged 11, she's a bit of a Glastonbury veteran. We usually camp in the East site as it is nearer the kids field (great for craft, hair braiding, face painting etc) as well as acoustic tent, cinema tent and generally a slightly less crowded area. However we're finding that people are getting there earlier and earlier in the week. When we arrived last year on the Wednesday evening we were put at the back of a big field on the edge of the site a long way from the festival entrance, a trek through several fields of campers so we might try for West Site this time. It's only 2 fields so getting there early won't matter so much. Not sure our daughter will approve though.

We take our awning. If it's muddy and wet it's good to have somewhere to put your clothes and boots out of the van. We do have a porti potti (the Thetford one) as the loos in the campervan fields may be quite a distance away and, as Swigle says, long queues in the morning.

We find our fridge manages to last out the whole festival (there's no hook up of course). We tend to only eat breakfast in the camper and then stay out in the festival all day. When our daughter was much younger we did come back to the van for a break late afternoon and one of us would come back in the evening with her for her bedtime but she's got as much stamina as us now!

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thanks Susan.

SusanT said:

Hi,

We've taken our daughter to every Glastonbury since she was 4 so, now aged 11, she's a bit of a Glastonbury veteran. We usually camp in the East site as it is nearer the kids field (great for craft, hair braiding, face painting etc) as well as acoustic tent, cinema tent and generally a slightly less crowded area. However we're finding that people are getting there earlier and earlier in the week. When we arrived last year on the Wednesday evening we were put at the back of a big field on the edge of the site a long way from the festival entrance, a trek through several fields of campers so we might try for West Site this time. It's only 2 fields so getting there early won't matter so much. Not sure our daughter will approve though.

We take our awning. If it's muddy and wet it's good to have somewhere to put your clothes and boots out of the van. We do have a porti potti (the Thetford one) as the loos in the campervan fields may be quite a distance away and, as Swigle says, long queues in the morning.

We find our fridge manages to last out the whole festival (there's no hook up of course). We tend to only eat breakfast in the camper and then stay out in the festival all day. When our daughter was much younger we did come back to the van for a break late afternoon and one of us would come back in the evening with her for her bedtime but she's got as much stamina as us now!

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thanks Susan.
Awning sound like a good idea. I guess the kids have more space to play in the morning then too.

Daft question probably as we don't currently have one, but how long does the potti last before you have to empty it? Sorry Interesting point about East vs West field but as our youngest will be six I guess it'll still be closer to the kids field?

Porta potti is for emergency weeing only! There's three of us and it lasts the whole festival, I just empty it on the Monday morning before we come home.

Yes sounds like you should go for the East site. It's easier too as the West tends to sell out in a few hours as it has a smaller capacity.

Take a flat pack airing rack to dry out all your wet gear overnight in your awning.
Use your engine as a genni
Freeze some food dishes and stash them in tubs in bottom of fridge
Buy a cooler fan cool box for your tinnies the ones than aldi/lidl make are ideal and use energy efficiently
Take packets and packets of baby wipes and then more
Go out dressed for every season each morning
Take me as I've failed to get tickets although Oxfam is an option and their camping in comparison to punter camping is luxurious HOT SHOWERS

Kampa kharzi is ideal

Pyabies said:

Take a flat pack airing rack to dry out all your wet gear overnight in your awning.
Use your engine as a genni
Freeze some food dishes and stash them in tubs in bottom of fridge
Buy a cooler fan cool box for your tinnies the ones than aldi/lidl make are ideal and use energy efficiently
Take packets and packets of baby wipes and then more
Go out dressed for every season each morning
Take me as I've failed to get tickets although Oxfam is an option and their camping in comparison to punter camping is luxurious HOT SHOWERS

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Thanks for the tips. The airing rack is definitely a good one. It's crazy with the tickets. Sorry you didn't get any. I'm planning on doing breakfast in the van and then eating out. One of the best things about Glasto is the range of amazing food.

The campervan tickets go on sale next Thursday at 12pm if anyone is going...

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/worthy-view-campervan-field-tipis-on-sale-on-29th-oct/

Aidy P said:

The campervan tickets go on sale next Thursday at 12pm if anyone is going...

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/worthy-view-campervan-field-tipis-on-sale-on-29th-oct/

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Thanks for heads up Aidy P

Looking forward to our first Glastonbury trip next year in our new Beach.

I presume we will be ok despite the website guidance.......

"Your campervan/caravan MUST have purpose-built fitted sleeping facilities and either fitted cooking or washing facilities".

Anybody been in their Beach previously??

Crangster said:

I presume we will be ok despite the website guidance.......

"Your campervan/caravan MUST have purpose-built fitted sleeping facilities and either fitted cooking or washing facilities".

Anybody been in their Beach previously??

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Mine's an SE, so can't say definitively. However have definitely seen a few Beaches in the last couple of years. Didn't see inside any of them to determine whether they might have had kitchen pods, though.

My mate has been going for ten years in his T2 that has a rock n roll bed and no kitchen facilities. I suppose as its a classic though they don't check. I think it's to stop people throwing a mattress in any old van. I'd rock up in your beach with the bed down and made up.

Yey, got my van ticket for the east field, see ya'll there

Me too. Can relax now!!
Here's the link if others need the direct one to purchase...

http://glastonbury.seetickets.com/event/campervan-caravan-tickets/worthy-farm/920000/?mobile=remove

Phew! West for me.