'I've been to Glastonbury Festival four times - here's the bucket list things you must do'

Happy Glastonbury to all who celebrate - and to all who will be popping their Glasto cherry. As I sit and spectate the festival from afar, know that my heart truly lies at Worthy Farm.

It’s been nearly a decade since I made my first pilgrimage to Glastonbury Festival, volunteering with an amazing crew who keep the festival enchanting for all. I’ve both worked and attended the event as a ticket holder four times, meaning I’ve seen the Farm completely empty, drenched in waist-height mud, and become the hottest place on Earth.

Veterans of the game will inundate you with recommendations, but you’ll have to accept you won’t get around to everything in one stretch, so you’ll just have to attend again. I’m still yet to find The Rabbit Hole (if you know, you know).

So if you’re new to Worthy Farm and feel slightly overwhelmed by the magnificence of it all, there are a few things I personally suggest you do. And if you don’t, don’t stress, Glastonbury will be back.

Glastonbury Festival 2016 altered the course of my festival experience, and nothing quite lives up to trekking up to the sign, pint in hand, overlooking the magical make-shift city. It’s a place of solace where the outside world doesn’t matter, with joy exuding from every person, artist, vendor, volunteer and worker you’ll meet.

Remember - stay safe and stay hydrated. Glastonbury isn’t just a festival; it’s a spiritual experience, a way of life. It’s home.

Glastonbury sign

This might seem extremely obvious to a veteran, but going on a Duke of Edinburgh-like expedition up to the Glastonbury sign, Above The Park, is a non-negotiable. I’d suggest doing your first visit as early as you can, watching the sunset as the sky turns from blue to a golden peach.

But if you want to see the festival really come to life, after dark, it’s a hedonist’s playground. Swing by after you’re all raved-out but not quite ready to go to bed. It provides a certain sense of tranquillity only experienced at the Farm.

Find a secret stage

Glastonbury has a lot to offer, no one can stress that fact enough. While there’s plenty to do above ground, there are a number of concealed stages and bars you’ll hear about. Are they an urban legend? Depends who you ask.

I’ve not been successful in finding some of these secrets myself, because they never stay in the same place twice. You could go on an Easter egg hunt the entire festival just to track them down.

But if you want to get away from the swathes of sweaty bodies in pursuit of a fairytale, there’s always a lesser-known spot to scurry away to. Now, The Rabbit Hole won’t be returning for Glasto 2024, but you can still attempt to track down the Underground Piano Bar.

Rumours can be rife at the festival, but take note, most of the time they’re always real.

South East Corner - The Rum Shack

Any Glasto veteran knows that the place to spend Thursday nights at the festival is in the South East Corner. I got the tip from a trader in my first year (thanks Dan), which led to a corner of the festival that has no limits.

In 2017, we revisited the SEC, starting the night at The Temple - a transformative, ‘religious’ experience you won’t get anywhere else. You start before the sun goes down and continue until the sun comes up. I won’t go into specifics, but the ecstasy of it all will carry you through.

June 22, 2017, continues to be the best day I’ve ever experienced. To see you into the early dawn for the ultimate after-hours party, The Rum Shack has been my spiritual home for nearly a decade.

It’s an essential, one which continues to draw me in every time I’m back at the Farm. It’s my home away from home, and it will be yours too.

Try an ostrich burger

Glastonbury is a foodie’s nirvana, there’s no doubt about it. Think street food market on steroids, with thousands of places just waiting to serve your sustenance to get through the weekend.

With a plethora of options, your head can be turned in any which way by the kaleidoscopic stalls, but if you’re feeling adventurous there’s one thing you have to try - an ostrich burger from I Love Ostrich. This was one of the first food stalls on my radar when I first went to Glasto in 2016, with the stall firmly cemented by the Other Stage.

Yes, it may sound strange, but at Glasto, is nothing is out of place. It even sells a burger named after the festival, which is a must. ‘The Glastonbury’ features an ostrich patty, smoked bacon, stilton mayo, Jack Daniels onions and some fresh leaves (just for a bit of health).

It would take me a lifetime to detail all the food vendors, but a special mention goes to Camper Coffee Co (you’ll find them at The Reach) and Buddha Bowls (The Brewery), plus all the bars, for getting me through countless days of sweat and dirt.

The Meat Rack

Where New York City meats Glastonbury. A giant sweaty warehouse plucked from the Meatpacking District into Glasto’s block9.

It’s dark, sweltering, and sweaty, bringing the underground queer NYC scene into the present day. It feels rather exclusive, because you have to get a ticket to get in - and not everyone gets one.

Most queue for hours just to get inside, and once you’re in, you’ll see why. The Meat Rack encapsulates the wondrous, carefree and powerful nature of LGBTQ+ community.