If you’re heading to Glastonbury Festival, this packing list covers exactly what you need to bring, what should be left at home and what you’ll wish you had once you’re there.
It’s based on real experience, including what I used, what I wish I had brought and what I would never bother packing again. At one point I even considered bringing a portable toilet, which tells you everything you need to know about how badly I overthought it. Whether you’re planning for Glastonbury Festival or heading to another UK festival, this guide will help you get it right the first time.
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This guide has been refreshed for Glastonbury 2027.
Absolute Essentials
- Festival ticket and any travel tickets
- Photo ID
- Car park pass, if you’re driving
- Tent, sleeping bag and something to sleep on
- Waterproof jacket and practical footwear
- Phone, portable charger and bank card
- Personal medication
- Reusable water bottle, SPF, toilet roll and hand sanitiser
Small Things That Make a Big Difference
A few minutes spent organising these before you leave can save a lot of stress if you get separated from your group or lose a bag.
Save your emergency contact details in your phone and share the contact details of the people you are travelling with. Change your phone lock screen to a photo of you and numbers of people you’re with so someone can call if it’s handed in. Add a luggage tag with your contact details to your main bag, especially if you’re travelling by coach.
A reliable portable charger is one of the most useful things you can bring. You’ll use your phone constantly for maps, meeting friends, photos and the Festival app, so don’t rely on finding a charging point when you need one.
Choose a slim magnetic charger if you want something lightweight and easy to carry throughout the day. Choose a larger power bank if you are charging multiple devices or sharing with friends.
If this is your first time, read my beginner’s guide before you go.
What Not to Pack for Glastonbury Festival
Don’t take glass, disposable vapes or a gazebo. The Festival also asks people to avoid excessive packaging and disposable wipes, including biodegradable ones. Check the official guidance before travelling, as prohibited items can change.
Avoid bringing a suitcase if you can. The walk into the festival is long, often over uneven ground, and if it has rained you’ll be dragging it through mud. A large backpack is much easier to manage, especially if you need to carry everything in one trip, preferably with a waterproof cover. You can often find good second-hand backpacks or covers on Vinted or Facebook Marketplace.
Camping Gear and Sleeping Setup
Choose a tent with a waterproof rating of at least 2,000mm, straightforward to pitch and manageable to carry. A two-person tent is usually a good size for one person: there is room for your belongings without making it unnecessarily heavy. If you’ve never put your tent up before, practise at home first.
A blackout tent can help with early morning light and makes a warm tent much more bearable.
In previous years, Decathlon’s Festival Tent Pledge has allowed customers who bought an eligible Quechua two-person tent to return it in store after the festival and receive the cost as a gift card. Check the current Festival Tent Pledge terms before buying, as the eligible tents and return dates can change.
Make sure your tent comes with pegs, and pack a mallet if you need one to pitch it. Take a sleeping bag, something between you and the ground, a pillow and warm sleepwear. If you’re taking an air bed, do not forget the pump.
Other useful camping extras:
- Head torch
- Bin bags for rubbish, wet clothes or emergency waterproofing
- Duct tape for quick tent, bag or shoe repairs
- Camping chair
- Tent flag or marker to easily recognise your tent
- Collapsible bowl for food or a quick wash
- Outdoor games or cards
- Dry bags or carrier bags to keep clean and muddy items separate
Clothing and Footwear
You’ll be walking all day, dealing with mud and changing temperatures, so think practically. I packed far too much the first time and regretted having to carry it all in. Clothes that are easy to pull up and down for the toilets are also much easier to manage than complicated layers or jumpsuits.
- A warm hoodie, fleece or jumper for the evening
- A waterproof jacket or poncho
- Comfortable trainers or walking shoes
- Wellies or waterproof boots, even a bit of rain can turn the fields into mud quickly.
- Underwear and more socks than you think you need
- A hat, sunglasses and sun cream
Warm socks, a comfortable day bag or bum bag, outfit bags for keeping clean clothes separate from muddy ones, and silicone heel pads are all useful additions. Period pants can be a useful back-up too. If you’re planning to use the showers or Wild Spa, pack a swimsuit and a quick-dry towel.
Consider an eye mask and earplugs if you want to sleep more easily. I use Loop earplugs with this necklace that stops them disappearing into the bottom of your bag.
Toiletries and Health
Take your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet roll, hand sanitiser, face SPF, dry shampoo and any period products you may need. Hand sanitiser is something you’ll use after every toilet visit, while face SPF is easy to reapply throughout the day without feeling as heavy as full sun cream.
The Festival has specifically discouraged disposable wipes, including biodegradable ones, so a washable cloth and a small bar of soap or soap sheets are a better alternative. Micellar water and reusable pads are useful if you want a quick way to freshen up.
Your small health kit should include personal medication, contraception or period-delay medication if needed, painkillers, antihistamines, rehydration sachets, plasters and Compeed. Blisters and dehydration are two of the most predictable problems, so prepare for those first.
Don’t forget your hairbrush, hair bands, and a non-glass mirror. A quick-dry towel and soap sheets are useful if you use the showers or wash from a bowl, while no-heat curlers, hair spray or gel are easy options if you want to do your hair without needing power.
Food and Drink
Buying food at Glastonbury can add up quickly. Bringing a few basics saves money and means you have something to eat when you first arrive or cannot face another queue. I would take cereal bars, crisps or salty snacks, instant noodles or pot snacks, soft drinks or mixers, and a reusable cup or mug.
If you’re bringing alcohol, use cans rather than glass. The Festival’s most recent guidance allows alcohol for personal use in campsites, but not in the main arena.
Check the official 2027 rules before travelling.
What to Carry With You Each Day
You’ll walk a lot, so keep your day bag light but make sure you have what you need:
- Small backpack, crossbody bag or waterproof bag
- Reusable water bottle
- Phone and portable charger
- Sun cream
- Packable waterproof or poncho
- Tissues or toilet roll
- Personal medication
- Hand sanitiser
- Snacks
- Bank card and a small amount of cash
- Earplugs
- Dry bag for valuables
Frequently Asked Questions About Packing for Glastonbury Festival
Do I really need wellies for Glastonbury?
Yes. Even in a dry year, one downpour can turn the site muddy quickly. Take comfortable trainers or walking shoes for dry days too, but take wellies or waterproof boots as a back-up.
Can I bring alcohol into Glastonbury?
You can bring alcohol for personal use into the campsites, but glass is not allowed and you cannot take alcohol into the main arena. Bring cans rather than bottles and check the official 2027 rules before travelling.
What bag should I bring to Glastonbury?
A large backpack is much easier than a suitcase. You’ll need to carry everything across uneven ground and, if it has rained, wheels become useless. Consider a waterproof cover too.
What do people commonly forget to pack?
Toilet roll, a portable charger and something warm for the evening are easy to overlook. A tent marker and something to keep clean clothes separate from muddy ones are also useful.
Plan Your Glastonbury Festival
If this is your first time, these guides will help you plan the rest of your trip:
