Glastonbury 2025: Tips, tricks and money-saving advice from seasoned festival-goers

ITV News

4 hours ago

It is almost time for the gates of Worthy Farm to open to the hundreds of thousands of festival-goers eager to enjoy five days of music, dancing and celebration at the world-famous Glastonbury Festival.
Music festivals don't come cheap, let alone one of the world's biggest, and there are lots of things you can do to keep costs down.
So how do you prepare and how can you make the most of all that's on offer at Worthy Farm without spending a fortune?
In the run-up to this year's event, we've been speaking to seasoned festival-goers to find out some of their best tips tricks and advice.
Think before you pack, says Dan Egg from Devon who'll be enjoying his tenth Glastonbury Festival this year.
Dan regularly shares his top Glastonbury tips over on his TikTok account.
"I've been going since I was barely an adult and frankly it's pretty much the one constant in my life; it's pretty much the only time in a year that I get to see some of my oldest friends - the people I grew up with - and I can't imagine ever not going. It's genuinely my favourite place to be.
"In terms of budgeting, I do treat it as my yearly holiday - so allow myself a bit of a splurge here and there, however I do still try and be semi-frugal for the most part.
"Glastonbury allows you to bring your own alcohol to every part of the site. Drinks are predictably not the cheapest at the bars (though in fairness could be a lot worse!) so you can save a lot by just bringing your own.
"There are lots of food places that do a meal for £6, which can keep things semi-affordable. Plus, if you bring a camping stove or similar, you can make your own bacon butties - the onsite Co-op shop is a relatively new addition and is good for getting your essentials as well.
"I'd also strongly recommend looking out for the Hare Krishna tent; they offer free food, respite from the sun and nice, calm vibes.
"There are loads of wonderful stalls at Glastonbury, so do have a browse. You can get some great clothes. In terms of being budget-friendly, I've seen some of these stalls selling their wares for way cheaper on the Sunday night - to make sure they sell at the festival, it may be worth having a peruse then."
Tasha Mann says she has eight golden rules for Glastonbury Festival - ranging from what to bring, to how to best enjoy the music.
Alex shares her top tips as a five-time Glasto-goer.
"I'm a huge festival lover. It's my favourite way to spend my annual leave over summer, camping with my friends, listening to live music and having zero responsibilities for a few days," Alex said.
"I love fashion and also use festivals as an opportunity to wear my zaniest outfits and feel free. Singing, dancing and laughing with my friends for five days straight is literally a dream come true: enter Glastonbury.
"There are so many incredible festivals both in the UK and abroad, but there's just something different about Glastonbury.
"First of all, it's absolutely stunning. There are so many beautiful areas to explore, fairy lights and lanterns scattered through trees, and even each individual bin is painted!
"There's so much to explore; you could be at Glastonbury for a month and still discover new things.
"Something really special about Glastonbury is that there are no barriers for stages, meaning you could bring a blanket, snacks and drinks and stay at any stage you like all day.
"Not only is this super freeing, but it makes it super cheap too. Imagine waking up, getting breakfast and sitting at the back of a stage to watch an unreal band - whenever in life do you get to do that?
'The more you pack, the less you spend'
"Typically at festivals, you can have your own food and drinks around camp until you enter the main area of the festival where they aren't permitted - but not at Glasto.
"This means that if you pack enough, you will barely have to spend a thing. The only issue is having to carry them over from the car or coach, but if you can get through that then you'll can massively cut costs.
Prepare for the weather
"I've been to Glastonbury when it got up to 30 degrees. Bring outfits to accommodate for the heat - light dresses and trousers, and a fan and sun cap won't go amiss.
"Bring a large water bottle to keep at camp and a smaller one to take around with you, ideally one which keeps the water cool. Sun tan lotion is essential.
"Despite how hot it gets in the day, the temperature always drops by the time the Pyramid headliner is closing. Layers are your best friend. I'm going to take some leggings or trousers to slip on at night.
"Make sure you're prepared for sleeping in the cold too. I've been unable to sleep due to the cold before, but I'm preparing by making sure I have a camping mat, a good sleeping bag and a blackout tent."
Pace yourself
"I like to think I'm getting wiser when it comes to festival energy conservation. Go too hard on the first night and you'll feel yourself playing catch-up throughout the festival.
"There is the feeling that you need to stay up all night, every night, to absorb all that Glastonbury has to offer. But I've learnt (the hard way) that to still be dancing on day five, you need to rest where you can.
"Don't feel that you have to go out every night, and disco naps are a must. I've even napped at the back of Bloc Party before to recoup a bit of energy - it's worth it!"
Explore on Thursday
"Once Friday arrives, you'll soon be caught up in the whirlwind of running from stage to stage to see every act. That's why Thursday is your opportunity to explore everything that the festival has to offer.
"Head over to areas like the Shangri-La and the Theatre & Circus Field where you'll always find something to see and do.
"You've probably heard of Pyramid and Other Stage before based on TV coverage, but one area which isn't so televised is Shangri-La (and probably for good reason).
"The South East corner of the festival is truly something else. Both the day and the night offer something completely different yet equally enchanting, try to get over there at least once during your time."
Don't be too rigid with your schedule
"Glastonbury is massive. Some of the stages can be a half an hour walk away, and factoring in waiting for friends and unexpected toilet breaks means that you may not be able to make every act you have planned.
"To avoid disappointment, decide on a few non-negotiables and go with the flow the rest of the time. Some of the best acts I've seen at Glasto were those I wasn't even planning on seeing, so don't feel you have to stick to a plan the whole time!"
Shoes and socks
"This is probably the most common Glastonbury advice, but for good reason: bring comfy shoes and spare socks. My friends and I did 50,000 steps in a day once, so comfortable shoes are a must.