Tickets
Always make sure you buy your tickets from an official vendor, like The Ticket Factory, or you may end up very disappointed. Official ticket agents can usually be found on the festival's own website. Here at The Ticket Factory we are a member of STAR (The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers), which is a self-regulatory body designed to help protect customers. For advice on buying tickets, visit www.star.org.uk/consumeradvice
Type of Ticket
Festivals offer many different varieties of tickets, you can usually get: weekend tickets (with or without camping, day tickets, children's tickets, VIP tickets, & even quieter family camping
There are also a number of additional upgrades available - early bird, campervan & parking passes.
Getting There
It's best to plan your journey before you set off, whether you are travelling by car or public transport. Most festivals will have a travel section on their website providing information of the nearest train/bus stops etc, so take a look to help you plan.
Top tip: try and book your train, bus or car parking tickets early as they will most likely be cheaper in advance!
Camping
When camping at a festival remember, you are there for a few days so be practical - That flower hippy tent maybe great for chilling on the beach but how would it survive after a big downpour in the Scottish Highlands at Rockness?
Also remember if you do forget anything: tent pegs, roll mat etc, most festivals will have stores that sell this equipment (but don't take our word for it!)
Health and Hygiene
Most festivals these days have showers and all will have washing facilities so don't worry too much if you are new to festivals! The horror stories about festival toilets are probably from jealous individuals who want all the festival tickets for themselves.
Wet wipes and toilet roll are essentials for any festival!
Also remember that as most festivals take place in the summer there's a good chance it will be sunny so make sure you take sun cream and a hat & drink plenty of water - although it wouldn't hurt to take a poncho in case the sun doesn't have his hat on!
Most festivals will have a first aid/welfare area - these will be clearly sign post and skilled professionals will be there to help! Look after yourself and those around you, even those people you don't know, if someone looks like they need help they probably do!
Clothing
The weather in the UK can be temperamental so it is important to pack for every outcome - It could be glorious sunshine but equally it could be thumping it down with rain. Wellies are a festival essential for a reason!
Food & Drink
Some festivals will have restrictions on fires/stoves etc so make sure that you check this before you buy your festival provisions. Also make sure that you take sensible food and not food that needs to be refrigerated or is likely to go off. Tins of beans or packs of noodles are firm festival favourites!
All festivals will have food outlets but some can be expensive so think ahead.
Safety
Festivals are exciting, fun and happy places to be in the summer but make sure that you are careful.
Keep you wallets, phones, cameras etc with you at all times and try not to take any expensive personal items with you, chances are you will only sleep in your tent and spend minimal time in it. Don't leave that new ipod you just bought lying around in your tent all day!!
Make friends with your neighbouring campers and look out for one another and most importantly have fun.