IT’S nearly here: Glastonbury Festival is now just seven days away.

Seasoned festival-goers and first-timers alike will be checking their tents, writing their shopping lists and combing through the all-important line-up before heading to Worthy Farm.

While I’m not a festival veteran by any means (some fanatics are in double figures), I’ve been lucky enough to go to a few Glastonburys, giving me a few hints and tips.

Here are my five recommendations for making the most of your first Glasto:

Check the stage schedules – but don’t over-plan

Take the time to scour the festival schedule with plenty of time to spare before you set off for Worthy Farm, as there's a huge amount going on.

But I would recommend whittling it down to a few ‘must-see’ acts on each day, rather than trying to plan hour-by-hour.

The sheer size of the 1,000-acre site means it can take a long time to get from one stage to another, leaving you cutting it fine or missing out.

Sometimes, the best plan is to have no plan, and you can have a great afternoon pottering around with an open mind and watching sets from artists you’re not familiar with in bars or bandstands.

The official app is useful for working out which bands you’d like to prioritise – and seeing which of your favourites will be affected by the dreaded clashes (my thoughts are with anyone hoping to see Dua Lipa, IDLES and Fontaines D.C on Saturday night).

I’d also suggest keeping one eye open for ‘secret sets’, which are usually marked in the schedule as TBA. The key one to monitor this year is at Woodsies on Saturday evening (6pm to 7pm).

In previous years, secret sets have included Foo Fighters on the Pyramid (although their pseudonym ‘The Churnups’ was soon worked out), George Ezra and Hozier at Woodsies, Jack White at The Park and Bastille at Williams Green.

Explore the smaller stages

The Glastonbury Festival site has more than 100 stages, including the five main ones: Pyramid, Other, Woodsies, West Holts and The Park.

But there’s so much more to see and do, including live comedy, DJ sets, the Pilton Palais cinema and even a Free University of Glastonbury.

A festival highlight of mine was watching Sir Michael Eavis and his band perform at Williams Green, preceded by a DJ set by Sporty Spice, in 2022.

You don’t get that at the Pyramid!

The stage at Strummerville, opposite its campfire.The stage at Strummerville, opposite its campfire.

Check out the BBC Introducing stage to find unsigned up-and-comers, Glasto Latino for Latin music and dance, or Strummerville for stunning views and a 24-hour campsite.

And take time to explore the installations: Glastonbury-on-Sea brings a taste of the Great British seaside resort to the festival, while the awesome Carhenge sculpture looks fantastic during the day and when night falls.

Don’t overlook Wednesday and Thursday

The main stages don’t open until Friday, but some of my favourite festival moments have come long before the first verse is sung on the Pyramid.

On Wednesday evening, you can join thousands of revellers on the fields above The Park to watch the sun set over the enormous site, or you could find a quiet spot to enjoy the opening night’s fireworks display with a few cans.

The Cider Bus, captured on a disposable camera.The Cider Bus, captured on a disposable camera. (Image: Newsquest)

Thursday is a great opportunity to explore the smaller stages and installations, visit the Cider Bus or The Tea Stop, or even take part in a 5k run (yes, really).

Take in some food and drink

There’s a huge amount of food on offer at Glastonbury, with more than 400 traders on-site during the festival offering a diverse range of cuisines.

Affordable food is “very important” to the organisers, so many traders take part in a £6 meal deal scheme (look out for blue and yellow stickers to find them).

The festival’s website says £6 options “could include a katsu wrap, Somerset rarebit, muesli and coffee breakfast combination, a bowl of homemade chilli, a kid’s meal and drink, a falafel pitta, a hearty salad, Thai curry and rice, chicken with roast potato and gravy or a deal on coffee and cakes for two”.

There's plenty of food options at Glastonbury - including a toastie made with Worthy Farm cheddar.There's plenty of food options at Glastonbury - including a toastie made with Worthy Farm cheddar. (Image: Newsquest)

But even with that, paying for food and drink at Glastonbury can quickly add up.

You’re allowed to bring in your own food and drink, including alcohol to avoid spending £6.80 on a pint, but all glass is strictly prohibited and will be confiscated.

I’d suggest bringing plenty of food to have for breakfast, such as cereal bars, that you can eat in your tent or on the move, plus biscuits and other snacks to keep you going during the long days.

You can (and should) bring your own water bottle to Glastonbury, and there are plenty of places to get it filled up. Consider bringing an on-the-go squash bottle to add some flavour.

Also remember to carry suncream, a hat, sunglasses and your ID!

You’ll walk a long way, so wear the right footwear

It’s not uncommon to walk more than 20,000 steps in a day at Glastonbury, so make sure you’re wearing appropriate footwear to save yourself from pain and blisters.

Trainers are fine if you’ve got a pair you trust, but plenty of people stick to sturdier footwear to make it through unscathed.

You can help yourself out by taking a look at the festival map and pitching your tent close to the stages you’re planning to visit most often.

I’d also advise anyone to download the What3Words app to help them find their tents (or their friends) without getting lost.