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Leeds Festival Camping Tips

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? by Indielievable
I'm a Leeds festie virgin, anyone who went in previous years got any tips for camping at this years?

Which is the best field to camp in?

Where do the riots kick off?

Any sources of water - rivers etc - to avoid?


Thought seen as I went to Glasto for the first time and lost half my stuff I'd see if there's anything to bear in mind when I make my trip up to Yorkshire in two weeks time...
Indielievable | 14 Aug '05, 17:15 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

isn't it now located at some posh arse heritage park ie in a different place to where the riots were a big deal

don't camp by the toilets or in ditches or too close to paths. simple. maybe.
silence-r | 14 Aug '05, 17:17 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

maybe take a fire extinguisher too.
staz | 14 Aug '05, 19:43 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Normal advice, if you are expecting rain then go near the top of a hill, not the bottom and if the ground is wet camp next to some trees.

I will be there very early on Thursday.
tom_from_sparks | 14 Aug '05, 19:27 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Don't take anything you would be upset if you lost.

obviously excepting Drugs and Guitars
fullerov | 14 Aug '05, 19:45 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

I've been four times and the campsite changed every time so I can't really recommend anywhere. Get somewhere that is easy to find, far away from toilets/police towers (where the riots happened that time).

The tiny 'river' is so horrible you'll know to avoid it. They have taps, just bring a big water bottle.

Just take nothing you care about particularly. Hide your guitar under the groundsheet of the tent. If you haven't got much money take your own food because it's all a huge ripoff.

Enjoy the company of strangers.
mug_mug_mug | 14 Aug '05, 20:11 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Any more tips?
Indielievable | 14 Aug '05, 21:23 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Things I'd never go to a festival without:-

1. My own tent, no sharing thanks very much
2. A car - travelling back from Reading 2000 on the bus was no fun.
3. A torch
4. Wetwipes and plenty of socks- once your feet are fucked so are you
5. Lots of plastic and black bags
6. Toilet roll

Also stuff like food, clothing etc. Hopefully that's a given for most. There's no way I'd bring a guitar to Reading.
silence-r | 14 Aug '05, 21:36 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

I don't take food to Reading.

No lie. I'll probably buy an apple or something.
fullerov | 14 Aug '05, 21:40 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

I suppose there isn't much choice in terms of what food you can bring, unless you're gonna start cooking it there. I tend to bring loads of crisps, nuts and oranges. I've always enjoyed going to the Waitrose to buy cheese and bread, especially as you get such dirty looks off the middle ages weekend shoppers.
silence-r | 14 Aug '05, 21:51 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

I just generally don't eat at reading.

Don't wanna get sick
fullerov | 14 Aug '05, 21:55 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Pop Tarts are the tasty breakfast solution.
mug_mug_mug | 14 Aug '05, 22:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Waitrose? Posho [;)] - I normally head down the Poundland in the town centre. 15 packets of space raiders? Lots of crappy "strawberry" cake things? Cheap red bull substitute? All for a quid each? SCORE.
guntrip | 15 Aug '05, 07:58 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Mouthwash is your new best friend if you don't want your mouth like a shit pit.

Some very sturdy boots, I advice Army Boots as they are hard as nails, waterproof and are cheap from army surplas stores.

Use the toilets inside the stage area, so much cleaner then the ones in the camping area.
tom_from_sparks | 14 Aug '05, 21:41 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Second the boots. Or proper trainers maybe even. Those converse type things absolutely murder your feet if you have to use them the whole time.

Clean teeth make you feel clean. Also the obvious wet-wipes.

More pooping advice: If you get in early to the arena each day the loos will be totally clean! With toilet roll and that handwash stuff* in plentiful supply! If there isn't any roll swipe some serviettes from a food stall.

Sniff steak and kidney pies before journeying to the campsite toilets so you get a feel for the smell.

* The handwash stuff is alcoholic. I saw a few people eating it last year. I don't think that's the best idea.
mug_mug_mug | 14 Aug '05, 21:48 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Ew.
Take some disposable BBQs. You can find them in poundstretcher for £1.99.

They are great for cooking frozen turds.

I've bought 6 BBQs for Reading. I'm going to sit there in a fishing hat with fosters and one of those ridiculous chairs.
marilyninthesky | 14 Aug '05, 22:07 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

i always wanted to be one of those people. with the chairs and the boombox and the crate of booze and the MASSIVE FUCKOFF white marquee "house a small country" tent with doors n windows n shit. it's a mark of veteranship in my book.

one day... one day.
-gen- | 15 Aug '05, 02:03 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Yeah - this'll be my sixth (seventh? i dunno) Reading, so I'm sure I should qualify for "nearly veteran" status. But no, I'm a cheapskate, and don't even yet own my own tent. Or sleeping bag.

\m/
guntrip | 15 Aug '05, 08:00 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Above all else, get a collapsible water container... then at the start of the festival you fill it once and that's it - water for stove, hand washing, toothbrushing, drinking and (for the brave with a helpful mate) hairwashing... all without the monster morning queues. If it gets low, refill it at night when the taps aren't busy.
Damian | 14 Aug '05, 22:24 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

i have a question!

*raises hand and waves*

is it a good idea to padlock your tent whilst one is away or will ppl think a padlock indicates stealable goods and the tent will be ransacked?

i want NO ONE stealing my supply of nutella and bread
girl | 15 Aug '05, 00:49 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

A determined thief might use a knife or simply pull some tent hooks out to get inside.

A padlock would just look silly really, just don't leave anything valuable.

Oh and if your nutella disapears it wasn't me *runs*
tom_from_sparks | 15 Aug '05, 00:51 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

padlocks do nothing but draw attention to yr tent...
-gen- | 15 Aug '05, 02:05 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

I've never had anything stolen [six readings, two trucks, one t in the park] - first few times I went I did padlock my tent, but haven't bothered since. As others have said, it could just draw attention to it, plus you'd be hella fucked if you lost the key!
guntrip | 15 Aug '05, 08:01 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

With experience from Reading, I've never had problems with stuff being stolen... The toilet situation is always grim though, and I tend to live off a bag of apples and a box of cereal bars for the weekend...

I'm going to Leeds this year for the Saturday (Pixies!!!) and possibly the Sunday, I'm just wondering whether Leeds is the same as Reading and you get into the camping area on the way to the arena? In which case I can camp for the weekend anyway, I've got friends who're planning to do that...
dis-integration | 15 Aug '05, 09:20 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

I got my stuff stolen at Reading, but like I did pass out outside my tent, so I had it coming really.

I would like to start a bamos fanclub, as thanks to him I just got a job at Reading!! Which kind of sucks, having to steward at 6am in the morning, but I hope I get some kind of important uniform.

Thanks Bamos!
marilyninthesky | 15 Aug '05, 09:45 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Leeds Festival Camping Tips

Haha, Im pretty sure I know the bammos you speak of and you dont wanna ever thank him.
JimmyLeeVanHalen78 | 15 Aug '05, 11:24 | Send note | Report this | Reply