The 2025 edition of Reading and Leeds Festival kicks off this week. You’re familiar with the lineup, you’ve checked out some underrated acts to see, you’ve noted major changes to both festivals’ campsites: now it’s time to make sure you’ve packed the right stuff.
Chappell Roan, Hozier, Bring Me The Horizon and Travis Scott will headline Bramham Park and Little John’s Farm over the August bank holiday weekend. If you’re heading to either of the fests, there’s stuff you need to know about what you’re allowed to bring into the festival, and what you’re not.
There are two distinctions to note when it comes to R+L’s bag policy: items you’re not allowed into the festival at all, and stuff you can bring into the campsites but not the entertainment arenas. Here’s what you need to know.
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Banned items at Reading and Leeds Festival 2025
Items banned from the festival site
The following items are not allowed at all at R+L.
- Aerosols (over 250ml)
- Air horns/megaphones
- Animals (except registered hearing or guide dogs)
- Any goods for unauthorised trading with unauthorised festival logos
- Any item that could be considered for use as a weapon, including oversized lighters or any item which may cause danger, offence or disruption to any other person
- Balloons
- Blow torches
- Professional cameras or video equipment (lenses must be less than 6 inches)
- Campfires
- Catapults
- Chinese/sky/paper lanterns
- Items promoting cultural appropriation
- Both disposable and non-disposable BBQs
- Disposable vapes
- Drones and other flying devices
- Excessive amounts of food (more than for personal consumption)
- Fireworks/pyrotechnics, flares/distress flares
- Generators
- Glass bottles, jars and containers over 100ml. Small items under this measurement, such as perfume bottles, nail varnish, and small mirrors are allowed
- Illegal substances (drugs) and legal highs, herbal highs, new psychoactive substances and unidentifiable substances - including nitrous oxide are strictly forbidden
- Leatherman style multi tools
- Penknives
- Perfume and makeup over 100ml
- Petrol burners
- Portable laser equipment and pens are also not allowed
- Skateboards and rollerblades, hover-boards, scooters, bicycles, and other personal motorised and non-motorized vehicles are banned
- Soundsystems (small portable speakers are permitted in campsites)
- Spray cans
- Unauthorised solicitation or marketing materials
- Unofficial tabards and reflective jackets
- Walkie talkies or unauthorised radio equipment are also not permitted
- Drones
- Firewood
- Generators
Banned items in the main arena
The following items are allowed in the campsites, but not in entertainment areas.
- Alcohol for personal consumption (only before 6pm on Sunday)
- Audio recording equipment
- Bags larger than A4 size
- Camping equipment, including cutlery, tin openers
- Cans
- Chairs, stools and inflatable loungers
- Cool bags and boxes
- Drinks of any size (sealed or unsealed) in plastic and metal reusable bottles. Only sealed soft drinks under 500ml are permitted into the arena.
- Gas canisters or cylinders
- Flags
- Gazebos
- Selfie sticks
- Umbrellas (including golf umbrellas)
Bag policy
There are no restrictions on bag size on your first entry to the festival, though all bags are subject to search. In the arena, your bag must be smaller than A4 size.
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