What to Pack
Tickets? Check! Children? Check! It’s tempting when packing for an outdoor camping trip to bring everything just in case. But remember, unless you’re in the live-in vehicle field, you’re going to have to lug all of that stuff from the car park to the campsite and back again! We can’t emphasise enough how much easier your experience will be if you pack light… And if you forget anything essential, there’s always the festival shop.
Here’s our list what to bring and what not to bring.
Tent. Obviously. Unless you have booked one of our pre-erected glamping options. But if you’re thinking about bringing your lovely canvas bell tent, do remember you’ve got to get it from your car to the campsite and back again so bring a trolley if you need to as there won’t be any to hire this year. Don’t forget a mallet. Space is limited in the campsites, so please don’t bring gazebos or other big shelters and be considerate to fellow campers.
Mattresses and bedding. Sleeping bags, blankets, pillows and roll mats. Nothing is worse than feeling like you can’t get a good nights sleep and it can be surprisingly cold in the middle of the night in May. It’s also a good idea to keep spare blankets and clothes in the car, just in case.
Torches / lights. The main roads and paths around the festival site are quite well lit, but we intentionally keep the campsites a little dark so that everyone can enjoy the stars! Bring torches to help avoid tripping over other people’s guy ropes and maybe a lantern for inside the tent.
Clothing & fancy dress. We probably sound like your mum, but pack clothing for all eventualities, even if the forecast is great! It is possible to have an amazing festival experience in the wet, provided you’re properly equipped, so make sure you bring wellies and raincoats as well as flip flops and sun cream. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged for everyone, especially on the Sunday for our big family dance off. Elderflower Fields is a festival – dress in your finest, let your hair down and have a dance. Honestly, you’ll love it!
Food and Drink. Our food and drink vendors offer a huge selection of fantastic quality meals for the whole family. It’s not a bad idea to bring a few snacks and drinks for back at camp, but you don’t need to bring food for the whole weekend and we ask you to consider the environment in what you pack. Take a look at the food and drink page to see what’s on offer this year.
Water bottles & mug. This is one of our top tips – bring your own good quality drinking bottle and fill up with water from the taps around the site. There are no single-use plastic bottles sold on site so if you don’t have your own reusable water bottle, why not pre-order one of our aluminium Elderflower Fields bottles to collect when you arrive? All our hot drinks vendors offer reduced prices with the ‘cup levy’ if you bring your own mug for your morning cuppa too! More on sustainability.
Safety & Hygiene. There are free hot showers at Elderflower Fields, but they get super busy in the mornings. Our advice is to go mid-afternoon or very early if you want to avoid queuing. You could also consider no-rinse body wash and dry shampoo. Or, dare we suggest it, not wash for a day or two… Do make sure you pack sun cream, ear defenders for any kids not keen on loud music, and a potty if you have small children. Toilets and hand wash stations are located across the site.
What not to bring. If you bring any of the following items, you’ll either have them confiscated or be asked to leave the festival so don’t get caught out! Glass – decant before you leave home. No glass whatsoever is allowed on site because it can be so dangerous to barefooted children and animals if broken. No Chinese lanterns. No pets or animals. No sound systems. Make sure you check the festival terms & conditions for a full list of what is and isn’t allowed.