Heading To Lechlade Festival? Here's Your Survival Guide!

It's not every day that we get a festival right here on our doorstep here in Swindon, but the Lechlade Festival, just 25 minutes away in the car from most of us, is one that happens annually. Taking place in the beautiful Cotwolds during the May bank holiday at the end of the month, it sees everything from bands through to dance parties take the stage. If you'll be heading along, here's our in-depth guide to everything you need to know about it.

Fun for All the Family

Since its creation in 2011, the Lechlade Festival has provided a fantastic experience to members of the local community and surrounding areas. For a start, kids get in for free, and there are concessions for those who are students, seniors or disabled. You can even bring the four-legged members of the family along.

It's not just about music either, so don't worry if you have little ones or if that's not your thing. You might enjoy burlesque dancers or belly dancing workshops, but there's a lot of kid-friendly activities too. From the Jitterbug Circus - allowing them to run away and join a real one, kind of - to storytime for the little ones, they'll never be bored.

Of course, there are plenty of yummy food options available too throughout the weekend, catering to a range of tastes and dietary needs. Oh, and alcohol, too. This is exactly the bank holiday weekend you've been waiting for!

The Music

A lot of people go to festivals just for the music, and they've more than got you sorted. Taking place over three days and three nights across four stages, there are over 100 bands, performers and DJs.

It's being headlined by the Hoosiers, but we recommend checking out the full line up to really get a feel for what the event is all about. There are tribute bands to the likes of ABBA and The Rolling Stones, as well as up-and-coming singers and songwriters who may well become your new favourite artist (or even the next big thing!).

Parents? They've Got You Covered!

Sometimes, you just need a break, and you don't want to hang around with the kids all day. They're not going to get into a mosh pit, so what are you supposed to do? Luckily, The Little Top provide childcare for children with activities they will love, like Children's Zumba, a disco, glow stick fun, and films. They can even play pretend they're at a sleepover. You'll appreciate the fact that they're in safe hands, as all the care workers have been fully trained and police checked. Babysitting goes on up until midnight.

Three days is a long time to go without your phone, and whilst this may seem desirable, it's often not practical, especially if you have kids. Bring a power pack to charge your phone on the go. If you're not into the music and you need a break from the circus - literally - you can then use your phone to stay in touch with the real world or for distraction.

Scrolling Facebook is a no - you're here to take a break and let's face it, Facebook is too large a part of your everyday life back home. But the reality is that festivals are tiring even without kids, so you need a break. Games are easy to play from our smartphones these days, and casinos are some of the best because they add to the whole 'holiday' vibe (remember arcades as a kid?). If you're not sure where to start, you read online casino reviews including a breakdown of what they offer. For instance, William Hill includes blackjack, roulette, casino Hold'em, baccarat, slots and three card poker games. Their modern platform uses special software powered by Playtech, so you don't need to worry about the quality of the graphics, even when playing in a field on a 4G connection.

First Festival? No Problem

"Girraween camping" (CC BY 2.0) by DanLoaTmba

Lechlade Festival is a camping festival, but thankfully it isn't grotty like of the bigger rock festivals filled with rowdy teens and young adults. However, when camping it is important to note that you may not have that many of your home comforts! That is not to say that camping can't be a whole lot of fun, you just have to remember to pack smart. If you want to camp, you have to have a special wristband. You can either bring your tent and get close to nature, or you can opt to bring a camper van or caravan.

There are showers on site, but as these are an additional cost, baby wipes are a good idea. If you're going to shower, bring flip-flops to protect your feet, and don't forget essentials like shower gel or soap. You can get a better idea of what to bring by checking out a festival packing list before you arrive. It's also always a good idea to pack extra loo roll - you never know when it might come in handy!

Have Fun!

Don't forget to enjoy yourself, and remember - you're only up the road if you forget something, or if something goes wrong. You can get back home in no time.