Words by Morgan Hermiston
Reading Festival – this year sponsored by Rockstar Energy – is the perfect festival for discovery. Whether you’ve attended before, or this is your first time going, this preview will give you the essential information on the 2025 lineup and changes to campsites. Taking place this year between 21st-24th August at Richfield Avenue, you can end the summer months with an unforgettable festival experience.
There’s something for everyone at Reading festival, especially within the lineup itself. Musical diversity is evident across the headliners and acts on other stages. On Sunday, D-Block Europe will perform ahead of Travis Scott’s headline set, which also acts as a European Exclusive. Friday will see pop artist Chappell Roan perform her viral, catchy songs before Hozier headlines the Main Stage. For fans of heavier rock, Saturday’s Main Stage top slots will include Limp Bizkit, followed by Bring Me The Horizon.
Aside from headlining the main stage, fans of every genre will have something to look forward to at this year’s festival. Indie enjoyers have lots of acts to choose from across the whole weekend. This includes Sea Girls and Nieve Ella (Sunday), Red Rum Club (Friday) and Pale Waves (Saturday). If alternative music is more your thing, then Suki Waterhouse (Sunday), Been Stellar (Friday) and Wunderhorse (Saturday) will take to various stages too, among many others. Other acts playing this year’s lineup include post-punk band Vlure, dance/electronic artist Becky Hill, and rap acts like Trippie Redd and AJ Tracey.
Whether you’re attending Reading Fest solo, with a friend, or as part of a bigger group, there are numerous camping options to choose from to further enhance your festival experience. Along with improvements to toilet facilities and lowering the festival’s carbon footprint, every camp will now have free “GRWM Stations” for the first time. These include extras like mirrors, toiletries, plug sockets, and seating that will help festival goers look, and feel, their best throughout the whole weekend. Each camp will also offer chill/hang out areas if you need time out, or somewhere less busy. There are also a couple of re-brands for certain campsites this year, providing excellent choices depending on your needs and even festival experience.
The Fields, or Main Camp, is your place for general camping with big groups. This site doesn’t require additional booking, and there is different colour bunting separating this camp into sections that will help you find your way back to your tents with ease. Now included, along with proper toilets and food/drink facilities, are pop-up activities, a football pitch, and chill/hang out areas.
The Garden, also known as the Calm Camp, requires free separate booking but offers a more relaxed atmosphere compared to The Fields. This is a 2025 replacement of the Quiet Camp, and now offers things like a run club, as well as yoga, meditation, and wellness sessions. There are also film screenings and limited noise after 1am if maintaining a good sleep pattern is a priority of yours.
This year, the Eco Camp is now also known as The Meadow. Also requiring free additional booking, this site is perfect for campers who prioritise the environment. The Meadow contains compost toilets which use no water or chemicals, making it a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative. Additionally, there are facilities like clothes swaps, talks focused on sustainability, and upcycling workshops.
The Grove, or Community Camp, needs to be booked separately, and is in partnership with Safer Spaces. This is a non-profit organisation that aims to make festivals like Leeds more accessible and safer for women and girls. These spaces provide safety if you need it, as well as information on domestic abuse and sexual violence, helping to promote and encourage a secure and more enjoyable festival environment for everyone. The Grove nurtures a sense of community in this camp with activities like open mics, karaoke, movie screenings, and more.
If you’re travelling to the site by yourself, or as a pair, then you may like the idea of The Valley. Alongside the newest additions to every camp like proper toilets and GRWM stations, this camp also offers a link-up lounge where you can make new friends and meet likeminded people. There is also a section of this camp called FYP (Find Your Pal) and Meet Me Here, giving the perfect spot for festival goers to turn to so they don’t find themselves wandering to different camps or getting lost.
If you already have your weekend ticket, perhaps you might want to upgrade to a VIP option. The Pink Moon Boutique Village boasts additional luxuries that some may choose to extend their enjoyment of Reading Festival. These extras include hot showers, 24-hour security, experienced management, and complimentary USB charging.
Regardless of which site you choose to camp in, and who you choose to see, Reading promises an unforgettable festival experience. Keep an eye on the Reading festival website to find future stage times and additional lineup announcements.
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