Despite Reading and Leeds festival running as a twin event since 1999, each year brings a new crowd onto the festival scene — and with line-ups becoming more and more inclusive, each year there are more festival newbies than ever. If it’s your first time going to the northern festival, fear not: this is the ultimate guide for first-time Leeds Festival goers.
Planning the trip itself — trains, shuttles, where to stay if you’re not camping? Start with our full Leeds Festival travel guide.
Camping
Leeds makes it really easy to figure out where to camp, as they publish a map online each year — but the real trick is to not overpack. The biggest struggle of festivals is hauling your bags from the entrance to your chosen spot and then carrying it all back on the last day, so for your own sake, pack light. You definitely don’t need “just in case” items, because the stores within the festival tend to sell any camping essentials and clothes — and the people camping around you will usually help out too.
Where you camp should depend on how much of a party animal you are, and as you enter, it will soon become clear whether that site is the right one for you. Each campsite is colour-coordinated, with bunting sectioning off the fields into blue, purple, red and so on. If you want decent sleep, do not camp under a fairground ride or next to a DJ set. Camp next to things that are easy to find and become landmarks when trying to find your tent — food trucks, walking paths, medical tents, or the flags people set up.
Now, the worst part about camping — and festivals in general — has to be the toilets. Prepare yourself for the worst and set your expectations immediately: the toilets at Leeds Festival are disgusting, and that includes the female portaloos. The way to conquer this is to go very early in the morning, around 5am, when they’ve just been cleaned and emptied. Or wait and use the ones in the arena — campsite toilets tend to be dirtier.
Packing
The most important items to take include a bum bag, to carry your valuables with you at all times — your phone, money, keys, and essentials like tissues and hand sanitiser (you will need plenty!). The festival publishes its own essentials checklist each year — check the official Leeds Festival site before you go.
What to wear?
The truthful answer is: whatever you like. Festivals are full of open-minded people and it’s a great chance to truly express yourself, whether that’s through wacky colourful outfits or a simple, comfortable look.
Practically: don’t wear any shoes you love or care about, because they will get covered in either dust from the paths or mud, depending on the weather. Wellies are always recommended in severe weather but aren’t the easiest or most comfortable to walk in — so take a pair if rain is forecast, but some comfortable trainers will be your best friend. As for the night-time: Leeds is a British festival, after all, and it can get pretty cold after dark. Take a jacket or hoodie of some kind, no matter how warm it is in the daytime.
Food and drink
I remember a friend naively took £20 to Leeds Festival back in 2019 and was shocked to find that would buy him two insufficient meals for the four days he was there. You’ll never struggle to find food you like at any festival — food trucks from classic fish and chips to Greek pittas, pizzas, salads and pad Thai — but each meal costs on average £10. A lot of people take dried foods that only need boiling water or can be eaten straight from the packet. Luckily, Leeds has its very own Co-op shop on site every year, where you can buy snacks, drinks and toiletries, so you don’t have to weigh your bag down.
The festival has multiple bars where you can order pints and other drinks between acts, but my best advice is to take a trolley of alcohol and drink only at camp, so that by the time you go into the arena you’ve had some drinks and spent less money. There are no restrictions on how much alcohol you can take onto the campsites. (Some people take flat-pack drink pouches and hide them in their clothing to get drinks into the arena — bear in mind this can be confiscated at any point.)
Reusable water bottles are your best friend. The site has water points in every campsite and every corner of the main arena, so use the free fresh water throughout the day and save your money — the bottled water from food trucks is often overpriced.
The bottom line
When going to your first festival, it’s best to go in with an open mind. Don’t worry if you forget something, pack the wrong clothes, or run out of beer — as long as you’ve got a tent and some money, you’ll be set. You’re probably about to have some of the best few days of your life.