Can you take a baby to Glastonbury? Do infants and children need tickets, how much do they cost - packing list

Glastonbury Festival has announced that Arctic Monkeys and Guns N’ Roses will be its final two headliners, joining Sir Elton John at the top of the bill.

On Friday (3 March) more than 50 other acts were added to the 2023 line-up, with hundreds more expected to be added in the coming months.

It’s one of the world’s most famous music festivals, and something that surely has to be on most music fans’ bucket lists. But what if you’re hoping to attend the festival, but you just welcomed a new addition to your family?

Can you attend Glastonbury with small children, or even a baby?! And just how do you get tickets for the festival? Here is everything you need to know.

Glastonbury tickets - everything you need to know

When are tickets released?

At the time of writing, Glastonbury 2023 has completley sold out. If you missed out on a Glastonbury 2023 ticket, fear not, there is still hope.

If you didn’t get your hands on tickets when they first went on sale, keep in mind that any cancellations will be made available for resale at face value through the Festival’s authorised ticket broker, See Tickets. Only See Tickets is authorised to sell Glastonbury Festival tickets, and no other site or agency will be assigned tickets.

In the past Glastonbury has set dates for much-anticipated “resales”, where returned tickets are made available to purchase again. In 2023, any cancelled or returned tickets to Glastonbury 2023 will be made available again through the event’s resale process in April.

We’ll update this article as and when and a more pinpoint resale date for 2023 is confirmed, but keep checking back on Glastonbury’s ticket information page for all the latest information. Take note that you will also need to be registered for tickets if you want any hope of picking one up in the resale.

How to register for tickets

Tickets for Glastonbury 2023 were issued on a first-come, first-served basis to those who had pre-registered at the Glastonbury Festival website.

How much do they cost?

The price of Glastonbury tickets was predicted to rise in 2023, and indeed, those predictions turned out to be correct. For standard tickets to the festival next year, attendees will have to pay £335 plus a £5 booking charge. A £50 deposit is also required.

Tickets for Glastonbury 2022 cost £280 plus a £5 booking fee, an increase over the £265 ticket price in 2020. Organiser Emily Eavis said these were “incredibly challenging times”.

“We’re facing enormous rises in the costs of running this vast show, whilst still recovering from the huge financial impact of two years without a festival because of Covid.

“As always, there will be opportunities for many thousands of people to come as volunteers or as part of the crew. In these incredibly challenging times, we want to continue to bring you the best show in the world and provide our charities with funds which are more vital than ever.”

Can you take a baby to Glastonbury?

You can indeed take a baby to Glastonbury, if that is your prerogative.

Glastonbury’s ticket information page confirms that “children aged 12 and under when the Festival takes place are admitted free of charge and do not need a ticket and do not need to register.”

The festival even provides a first-person account from Alexia on its website, who in 2016, had taken her nine-year old, six-year old and two-year old to Glastonbury every year since they were born.

If she can do it with three sprogs of varying ages in tow, so can you. Her experience is detailed with all sorts of useful tips and tricks, from ear defenders to the best way to transport sleeping little ‘uns about the festival site.

Here’s Alexia’s suggested packing list for starters:

• Warm blankets — it really does get very cold at night
• Kiddie transport (with rain cover!)
• Flannel or wash cloth
• Anti-bacterial hand foam or gel – the foam ones do not sting little hands like the alcohol-laden gels
• Hats and suncream
• Waterproofs — wellies, jackets and trousers
• Shower curtain or plastic-backed picnic blanket to sit on
• Bucket/travel potty — for midnight wees and must-go moments
• Torch

For more useful advice from somebody who’s been there and done that, The Travel Mum offers more invaluable advice, including how to avoid sleeping next to a “tent full of ket heads”.

“People will always judge and say things like ’Taking a baby to a festival is so selfish’, ‘Festivals aren't for babies’,” they say.

“What I've come to learn is people will judge your parenting whether you sit at home watching Cbeebies all day, or whether you take them to Glastonbury festival - so you do you, live your best life - and if you and your baby are healthy and happy - that is all that matters.”