Dr Mobeus
Glastonbury tickets are £355 plus booking fees. A weekend at Reading costs £280. Even smaller festivals will set you back £150-200 before you factor in travel, food, drinks, and the inevitable “I forgot my wellies” purchase at the on-site shop.
A festival weekend can easily cost £500-700 per person when you add it all up. But it does not have to. With some planning and a few clever hacks, you can cut that to under £250 for the whole weekend and still have an amazing time. Here is exactly how.
Tickets – How to Pay Less Than Face Value
Early Bird and Payment Plans
The biggest single saving you can make is buying early. Most festivals release tickets in waves:
- Super early bird: Usually 20-30% off face value. Released in October-November for the following summer. The catch is you need to commit before the lineup is announced.
- Early bird: 10-15% off. Released January-February. Some lineup information available.
- Standard: Full price from March onwards.
- Last minute: Sometimes cheaper on resale, but you risk it selling out.
If you know you are going to go to a festival next summer, buy in the November sale. A £355 Glastonbury ticket in early bird could save you £50-100 compared to waiting.
Payment Plans
Most major festivals offer instalment plans where you pay in 3-4 monthly chunks. You do not pay extra for this – it is interest-free. A £280 Reading ticket becomes £70 per month over four months, which is much more manageable than a lump sum.
Local Resident Tickets
Many festivals offer discounted tickets for people living in the surrounding area. Glastonbury, for example, releases a limited number of local tickets at reduced prices. Check the festival website or your local council for details.
Volunteer and Work at Festivals
This is the single best money-saving hack for festivals. Volunteer organisations like Oxfam, WaterAid, and Stewarding schemes offer free entry in exchange for 2-3 shifts of work across the weekend.
- You typically work 3 x 8-hour shifts (24 hours total over 4-5 days)
- You get free entry, free camping, and sometimes free food
- You still get plenty of free time to see bands
- Applications open in spring and fill up fast
Check Oxfam Festival Stewarding and WaterAid Festival Volunteering for opportunities.
Other Free Entry Routes
- Crew: If you know someone working at the festival (bar staff, security, production), they may be able to get you a crew pass
- Performers: If you are in a band, dance group, or theatre company, many festivals offer performer passes
- Press: Journalists and bloggers can apply for media passes – you will need to write about the festival afterwards
- Community stalls: Running a workshop, talk, or activity can get you a free weekend pass
Travel – Getting There for Less
Travel to a festival can add £50-150 to your costs. Here is how to cut that down:
Coach Packages
Many festivals offer coach + ticket bundles that are cheaper than buying separately. Big Green Coach and National Express run services to all major UK festivals. A return coach to Glastonbury from London is about £35-45, versus £50-80 on the train plus local transport.
Car Sharing
If you are driving, fill your car. A typical festival car park fee is £10-20, plus fuel. Split 4 ways, that is under £10 per person for the whole weekend. Post on the festival Facebook group or use BlaBlaCar to find passengers.
Train Tips
- Buy Advance tickets: Up to 50% off standard fares if you book 12 weeks ahead
- Get a Railcard: 16-25, 26-30, Two Together, and Family and Friends Railcards all save you a third on train travel. A Two Together Railcard costs £30 and pays for itself in one festival trip
- Split ticket: Booking London to Bristol and Bristol to Castle Cary separately can be cheaper than a direct London to Castle Cary ticket. Use splitticketing.com to check
- Off-peak travel: Travel on Thursday instead of Friday morning – Advance tickets are cheaper and less crowded
Camping Gear – Do Not Buy New If You Do Not Have To
Festival camping is not the same as proper camping. You need a tent, a sleeping bag, and not much else. Do not go to Go Outdoors and spend £200 on kit you will use twice.
The Budget Festival Kit List
- Tent: A 2-man pop-up tent from Decathlon costs £25-35 and will survive a weekend. Do not buy the £10 “festival tents” from petrol stations – they leak and break. Vango and Eurohike budget ranges are better value.
- Sleeping bag: Any 1-2 season sleeping bag from Decathlon (£15), Argos (£12), or Mountain Warehouse (often in the sale for £10-15) will be fine for summer festivals.
- Roll mat: £5 from Decathlon or Poundland (yes, they sometimes sell them). You do not need a fancy self-inflating mat.
- Total basic kit: £45-55
Even Cheaper Options
- Borrow from friends or family – loads of people have camping gear gathering dust in their loft
- Check Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree – 2-man tents go for £10-15 regularly
- Charity shops sometimes have sleeping bags and mats for a few pounds
- Decathlon and Go Outdoors both do cheap festival kits for under £50 that include everything you need
Do not be that person who buys a £150 tent and leaves it at the festival. If you are going to abandon your tent, at least buy a cheap one.
Food and Drink – The Biggest Hidden Cost
Festival food stalls charge £8-15 for a meal and £5-7 for a pint. Over a 4-day weekend, that adds up fast:
- 3 meals a day x 4 days x £10 average = £120
- 5 drinks a day x 4 days x £6 average = £120
- Total: £240 just on food and drink
Here is how to cut that in half:
Bring Your Own Food
Most festivals allow you to bring your own food and drink into the campsite (though not into the main arena). Pack smart:
- Cup noodles and instant mash: Just add boiling water. Light, cheap, and hot. A 6-pack of Supernoodles is £2.50.
- Pitta bread, wraps, and sandwich fillings: Wraps do not squash like bread and last longer in a cool bag.
- Cereal bars and fruit: For breakfast and snacking. A box of Nature Valley bars is £2.
- Trail mix and nuts: High energy, no cooking needed.
- Crisps and biscuits: Cheap snacks that do not need refrigeration.
The Camping Stove Question
A basic camping stove and gas canister costs £15-20 and lets you cook proper meals. If you are going to more than one festival a year, it pays for itself on the second trip. Decathlon and Go Outdoors both sell compact stoves for under £15.
If you are only doing one festival, skip the stove and stick to food that does not need cooking.
Drink Cheaper
- Pre-drink at the campsite: Most festivals let you bring your own alcohol into the campsite. A 4-pack of cans from the supermarket is £4-6. The same amount at the bar is £20-25.
- Happy hour: Some festivals have cheaper drinks at certain times. Check the app or programme.
- Flasks and water bottles: Fill a reusable bottle at the free water taps. Most festivals have plenty of them.
- Spirits mixer cans: A 4-pack of Aldi gin and tonic is £3.99. A single G&T at a festival bar is £8-10.
What Not to Buy at the Festival
The on-site shops are conveniently priced at about 3-5x normal retail. Avoid buying these at the festival:
- Wellies: £25-40 on site. £10-15 at Decathlon or Tesco beforehand. Even cheaper at charity shops in summer.
- Rain macs: £15-25 for a basic poncho on site. £2-5 for a packamac from Poundland or Tesco.
- Sunglasses: £15-30 on site. £2-5 from Primark or Poundland.
- Sunscreen: £10-15 on site. £3-6 from Superdrug or Boots beforehand.
- Phone chargers: £15-25 for a power bank on site. £6-10 from Amazon or Aldi. Bring a fully charged one.
- Cigarettes: £12-15 a pack on site. Bring your own or, better yet, quit.
Pack a festival kit bag with all of the above before you go. Total cost: under £30 for everything. The same stuff on site would cost £80-100.
Free Things to Do at Festivals Beyond the Music
Most festivals have way more going on than just the main stages, and a lot of it is free once you are inside:
- Comedy tents: Glastonbury, Latitude, and Kendal Calling all have brilliant comedy lineups included in your ticket price. The same comedians charge £20-40 in theatres.
- Workshops and talks: From crafting to philosophy, most festivals have a packed programme of free workshops. Glastonbury’s Green Fields and Latitude’s Literary Arena are highlights.
- Cinema screenings: Many festivals have outdoor cinema areas showing films for free.
- Art installations: Wander through the creative areas – there is always something fascinating to see.
- Yoga and wellness: Free morning yoga, meditation, and fitness sessions at most festivals.
- Spa and wellbeing: Some festivals have free sauna and wellbeing areas. Others charge £20-30 – check beforehand.
The Festival Budget Breakdown
Here is what a festival weekend can cost, depending on your approach:
Budget Approach (Under £250 total)
- Ticket: £150 (early bird or mid-tier festival)
- Travel: £25-35 (coach or shared car)
- Camping gear: £0 (borrowed) to £50 (budget kit)
- Food and drink: £40-60 (bring your own, a few treats on site)
- Extras: £20 (wellies, poncho, power bank bought beforehand)
- Total: £235-315
Typical Approach (£400-600 total)
- Ticket: £250-280 (standard price)
- Travel: £50-80 (train)
- Camping gear: £50-100 (new basic kit)
- Food and drink: £150-200 (mix of own food and on-site)
- Extras: £50-100 (on-site purchases)
- Total: £550-760
The Savings
By following the budget approach, you save over £250 compared to the typical festival-goer. That is enough for a second festival weekend, or a very nice post-festival takeaway when you get home.
Quick Reference: Festival Money-Saving Checklist
- Buy early bird tickets in November (save 20-30%)
- Use payment plans to spread the cost
- Apply to volunteer with Oxfam or WaterAid (free entry)
- Book coach travel or car share (save £20-50 on travel)
- Get a Railcard before booking train tickets (save a third)
- Borrow or buy second-hand camping gear (save £50-100)
- Bring your own food and alcohol (save £100-150)
- Pack wellies, rain macs, sunscreen, and chargers before you go (save £50-70)
- Explore free activities beyond the main stages
- Set a daily spending budget and stick to it
Festivals do not have to cost a fortune. A bit of planning, some clever purchases, and the willingness to skip a few overpriced burgers means you can have an incredible weekend and still have money left for the next one.
For more ways to save this summer, check out our guides to 50 free and cheap summer ideas and saving money on summer drinks.
