Reading Festival

[Piff]

Nephew (age 16) saw that Guns-n-Roses are at Reading on 27/8/10. Parents said "no chance" on his own. Our number 1 son (aged 19) jumped at the chance to act as escort! Tickets booked.
Number 1 son had assumed that he would drive down, do the gig, sleep in car, drive home.
We were not happy with that arrangement - Citroen C2 - 2 large lads - beer - drive home!
We suggested local Travel Lodge for the night.
Researched this, local accommodation fully booked, next nearest £100/night upwards.
Then thought of trains. Good deal can be had for open return train tickets, very little more money than cost of petrol & parking. Problem solved, we thought.

Consulted nephews parents (who are currently busy with other major family issues) and they hadn't given much thought to the event. Bringing it to their attention has focused their thoughts. They are not happy with their 16 year old returning by train at whatever time of night/morning via London.

They have declared that they will allow son to go by train but they will drive down to Reading to collect the boys at midnight - 280 mile round trip

Now, not familiar with these events, Guns-n-Roses are the main act for the day. Does anyone know the approx timetable for these events? What sort of time will the main act be finished?

Having paid £75 each for the tickets, it would be a pity to miss the main act

 

[whitenemesis]

Not Reading but MK Bowl, collected offspring after gig. It was CHAOS!! I wouldn't do it again, total nightmare, thousands trying to leave....

Why not camp the one night? Get a "festival" tent i.e. disposable, and come home in the morning..

 

[Piff]

Camping permits only available to those who buy a weekend pass £180 each - too late for that option as they have already bought day passes.

 

[Mudster]

I went to the Reading Festival in 1987.

It took 8 hours to get out of the car park on the Monday. Only a lunatic would attempt to get even close to that place in a car. Live with the £100 a night accommodation on this one.

Highlight back then was Alice Cooper, but Dumpy's Rusty Nuts stuck in the memory. The weekend ticket back then was £25, but we'd blagged a couple of free ones as a mate's dad knew the promoter. Those were the days:-

http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-87.html

 

[neilrr]

Look for accommodation in Henley on Thames or Twyford.

Reading is 8 minutes by train to Twyford, a further 6 minutes to Henley. Or a £20 taxi ride. MUCH nicer too.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Now, not familiar with these events, Guns-n-Roses are the main act for the day. Does anyone know the approx timetable for these events? What sort of time will the main act be finished?

Checked with a mate who goes to Reading every year. He says the headline acts are scheduled to finish at 23:30, and they stick to that quite rigidly. Also says it takes about half an hour or so after that to make your way to the exits.

 

[Piff]

Grim news - no tickets. They got scammed on a fake web site. So spare train tickets to Reading now!
Only possible good news is that they used a Visa debit card to pay for the tickets & it looks like they may get a refund.

 

[bulldoze]

I went to Reading last year and will go this year too (Dependant on weather!)

I never buy tickects I just get them from a tout at the train station. All this sold out malarkey just means that the touts have all the tickets! never paid more than +5% face value. and the touts are everywhere!

Headliners finish at 11:30-11:45

 

[Alfie]

I am due to drop daughter no 2 off there later today. I guess it will be chaos!

How far is the event from the train station?

 

[bulldoze]

Its a good 30min walk!

 

[w124nut]

Both step-daughters are there now with friends having camped there yesterday. I'll hose them down before they get in my car or they can sit in the trailer for the journey back to Taunton. LOL

 

[Alfie]

I best set off then

 

[Alfie]

Good that was awful.

Getting through Reading was a nightmare. Its bad enough that the town planners have made the one-way system so awful but to have the place heaving with adolescants who seem to have no idea how to dress for mud and rain. it was just awful.

There were muddy sweaty filthy people everywhere. The MB dealer was caged off to stop the rabble from getting near the cars!

I'm not going there to pick anyone up thats for sure!

 

[neilrr]

Doesn't one trainline from Reading go to Waterloo through Surrey - Guildford, Leatherhead, & that area?

 

[Alfie]

Doesn't one trainline from Reading go to Waterloo through Surrey - Guildford, Leatherhead, & that area?

Yes but its quite a walk apparently.

 

[neilrr]

It's 0.8 of a mile form Reading Railway Station (RG1 1LZ) to Greenoaks MB (RG1 8EQ) by foot, maybe less if going along the towpath.

 

[renault12ts]

Eldest daughter went to Reading on Wednesday. I texted her yesterday..."wet night"...she replied, that they got soaked putting the tents up and all their clothes were soaked and may have to buy new ones, but besides that...all good!!