Leeds Festival tips and advice

Written by Carol Ferndale

Tips and advice for Leeds Festival goers

Leeds festival is just around the corner and the excitement is building as over 70,000 people will be heading to the city during August Bank holiday for a weekend of live music and entertainment. Leeds knows how to put on a live music festival.

Finding your way to Bramham Park

So, having got your tickets how are you going to get there? Throughout the duration of the festival there will be a regular shuttle bus operating between Leeds Railway Station, Leeds Coach Station and Bramham Park, (£4.50 single, £8.50 return). So if you are using public transport, getting the bus or train to Leeds and then using the shuttle bus will probably be the most practical way to do things. If you are arriving by car, head for the A1 as there is (amazingly) no access to the Festival by any other route.

Bramham and the Park

Bramham is located midway between Leeds and York, the park is two miles of the village. Its grounds cover over 400 acres and are used for various events, including the Leeds Festival and the Bramham Horse Trials. Part of the grounds are kept as gardens and run as a tourist attraction, visitors can also tour Bramham house but only in pre-arranged parties.

Leeds Festival camping tips

If you are camping at the fest then of course all the usual tips about camping apply, like keeping a spare set of clothes in a waterproof bag, taking a waterproof, etc. But let’s add to this a few festival refinements. Camping at a fest you’ll find the tents far more densely packed together than you would at your average campsite, and finding your own tent after the music is over can be an achievement in itself.

One good way to relocate your tent is to make it really distinguishable from all the others in the dark, so you might think about using a flag or inflatable, the more luminous the better. One recommendation is to use coloured light sticks in light stick holders attached to your tent. Another advantage to this is that people are less likely to tread on your tent after dark if it’s lit up.

Keep your valuables on you, not in the tent. Like at most big events, stuff gets nicked. You’ll be spending a lot of time out in the sun, so take sun block and slather it on liberally. Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Drink lots of water, especially if you are drinking alcohol too, as this tends to dehydrate the body. Take bottled water, but don’t throw the empties away – they can be refilled at the taps on site.

Where to stay in Leeds

If you’re not camping and you don’t live in the Leeds area then you’ll be thinking about where to stay. Unfortunately Leeds has a lack of backpacker hostels, and cheap hotels, so the next best bet is to look for special deals, like on Late Rooms and offer some of the best priced hotels online. Both the Days Inn and Ramanda Hotel are located in Wetherby, a short journey to Bramham Park.

It may not be as cool as struggling your way back to your light stick illuminated tent, but those hotel beds are certainly comfortable.

Please feel free to add your own tips or questions.

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