Reading and Leeds Festivals are amongst the most important cultural events this country has to offer. Sure, the two fests are known as something of a rite of passage for young people after receiving their exam results, but they’re also vast celebrations of all kinds of music. Rock, pop, hip-hop, electronica, jazz... you name it, R&L has it.
That’s once again the case with the festivals’ 2023 edition, with a lineup featuring the likes of The Killers, Billie Eilish, Foals and Loyle Carner. And if you’re headed to R&L 2023, there are certain things you need to know. Like, for instance, what you’re allowed to bring into the campsite and arena. The festivals’ list of banned items changes pretty much every year.
Fair warning, there is a lot of stuff you can’t bring. After all, until a few years ago these festivals were renowned for their destructive, wild atmospheres. These days, the list of banned items ranges from drones and flares to items which promote ‘cultural appropriation’.
However, it’s worth noting that there’s a difference between stuff that is completely banned and stuff that is only banned from the main music arenas. There are plenty of items that you’re still allowed to bring into your campsite. Here’s the full list of banned items at R&L this year.
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What is banned at Reading and Leeds 2023?
Items that are totally banned
- Aerosols over 250ml
- Air horns / megaphones
- Animals (other than registered hearing dogs or guide dogs).Any goods for unauthorised trading with unauthorised Reading/Leeds Festival logos.
- Balloons
- Blow torches
- Catapults
- Chinese / paper lanterns
- Clothing/garments/items which promote ‘cultural appropriation’
- Disposable BBQs
- Non-disposable BBQs
- Drones and other flying devices
- Excessive amounts of food (i.e. more than for personal consumption)
- Fireworks/pyrotechnics, flares/distress flares
- Generators
- Glass bottles, jars, containers over 100ml.
- Illegal substances (drugs) and legal highs, herbal highs, new psychoactive substances and unidentifiable substances - including nitrous oxide
- Nitrous Oxide and any items associated with the taking of NPS and NOS
- Penknife
- Perfume and make up (over 100ml)
- Petrol burner
- Portable laser equipment and pens
- Skateboards and rollerblades, hover-boards, scooters, bicycles, and other personal motorized and non-motorized vehicles
- Sound systems
- Spray cans
- Unauthorised professional film or video equipment, radios or walkie talkies
- Unauthorised solicitation or marketing materials
- Unofficial tabards and reflective jackets
Items that are banned from the arena, but are allowed in the festival site and campsite
- Alcohol for personal consumption
- Audio recorders
- Bags larger than A4 size
- Camping equipment including cutlery, tin openers (weekend ticket holders only)
- Cans
- Chairs / stools / inflatable loungers
- Drinks of any size (sealed or unsealed) in plastic and metal reusable bottles
- Fitted gas canisters/cylinders in campervans
- Flags
- Flat based cooking stoves
- Gas canisters for cooking stoves (250ml or less)
- Gazebos
- Selfie-sticks
- Umbrellas
Do you need ID for the festival?
It’s recommended that you bring ID to the festival, especially if intending to buy alcohol on site. All of these things count as ID.
- A passport (but not a photocopy)
- Full driving licence or provisional licence
- A proof of age card bearing a PASS hologram
- A Ministry of Defence identity card
- A national identity card issued by an EU member state
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