Festival travel
Unless you're going to be flown in by helicopter just moments before appearing on stage, you'll have to find your own way to the festival. Here's how to make it quick, safe and comfortable.
Planning ahead
A perfect festival can be ruined unless you take care of your travel arrangements before you set off. Getting there is only part it - getting back is just as important, especially if you leave feeling fit to drop. So before the big event arrives consider:
- Location - How far will you have to travel and how long do you expect it will take? If you're looking at days, think what you'll do about accommodation on the way.
- Your budget - Chances are you can't afford to hire a limo to take you from door to field and back again. Even so, you can set up travel arrangements whatever your budget - even if you don't have one. Just be aware of the safety issues when it comes to hitching or lift shares with strangers - see precautions below.
- Your back up - Don't set off without first notifying someone of your plans. Leave them with your mobile number if possible, and make sure you note down their number in case of emergency. Finally, no matter how you plan to get there, bring a map and the festival site address.
Mode of Transport:
By rail
- Advantages: A jam-free journey, and a chance to doze off before you go without sleep for three days.
- Downer: Late trains, cancellations, dodgy sandwiches, possible coach trip from station to field.
- Contact: National Rail Enquiries - Online rail timetables and ticket bookings.
By coach
- Advantages: Cheap, cheerful means of travel, with special 'festival buses' often laid on from major cities.
- Downer: You're travelling by 'loser cruiser'. Also vulnerable to traffic jams and the smell of warm packed lunches.
- Contact: National Express - Provides coach service to most major UK festivals; TravelFromHere - Directory for the discerning traveller.
By car - as the driver
- Advantages: Travel by your own timetable, and with the passengers of your choice. Stop when you want and listen to anything that takes your fancy.
- Downer: Be prepared to sit in a jam for hours on end to get into the car parks. You'll also need to drive home at the end of it all, which means steering clear of drink and/or other substances for a long period beforehand. Risk of breakdown, car theft/vandalism and mates not coughing up enough for fuel should also be taken into account.
By car - in a mate's motor
- Advantages: They do all the driving. You get to start your festival celebrations en route.
- Downer: Risk of annoying the driver and possibly losing your lift back for taking liberties.
Through a liftshare
- Advantages: Split the cost of travelling by offering spare seats in your motor or by blagging a ride with someone else. Most festival websites offer a liftshare database, listing available rides or lifts required.
- Downer: Risk of sharing with a terminal bore - one who won't leave you alone for the festival duration.
- Contact: Freewheelers - National liftshare database.
Hitching
- Advantages: It's free.
- Disadvantages: You may not get a lift straight away. You have to think about your personal safety at all times. See Contacts for the lowdown.
- Contact: Safe hitching with TheSite.org.
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