Thousands of festival-goers are set to descend on Reading this weekend for one of the UK's biggest music festivals of the year - so here's everything you need to know.

Ranked as one of the best festivals in the UK, Reading Festival 2024 will run from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25 in Richfield Avenue, Reading.

With Reading just a short train journey away from Swindon, hundreds of music lovers from Wiltshire are expected to be among the crowds this year.

The 2024 event will feature some of the world's biggest acts, including a host of independent artists, comedians and much more.

But with an event this large, it's important to be prepared with train times, parking options, the performance schedule and what not to take.

Here's everything you need to know about Reading Festival 2024.

Who is playing Reading & Leeds 2023?

Lana Del Rey, Fred Again.., Blink-182, Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Gerry Cinnamon21 Savage, Raye, Two Door Cinema Club, Pendulum, Spiritbox, Fontaines D.C., Reneé Rapp, TheProdigy, Sonny Fodera, Skrillex, Jorja Smith, The Wombats, Beabadobee, Neck Deep, The JapaneseHouse, Bleachers, Bru-C, Barry Can’t Swim, Nia Archives, The Last Dinner Party, Overmono, Artemas, Teddy Swims, FLO and so many more.

You should download the Reading & Leeds Festival app for the full lineup, stages and timings.

How do I get there?

By train - Those travelling in from Wiltshire are in luck, as Swindon is just a short, direct, 30-minute train ride away from Reading.

Once you're off the train, you can take a 20-minute walk, a 5-minute taxi ride, or a £1.50 shuttle bus ride to the festival site in Richfield Avenue.

It's important to check train times though, as the last train back to Swindon is at 12.05am on Friday and Saturday night, and 12.15am on Sunday night - and will be incredibly busy.

By car - Although festival organisers don't recommend driving, if you want to drive you should park in either the White car park (for weekend vehicles coming from north or west of Reading), the Green (for day visitors or weekend vehicles coming from the east and south of Reading) or Broad Street Mall car park (for those without a festival ticket).

Parking is pay and display only.

How much are tickets to Reading Festival?

Prices for tickets range from £125 for day tickets and £325 for a weekend ticket, with additional packages like the Reading Lounge andCamping Plus upgrades in Reading.

Although you can't buy tickets at the door, you should check Reading Festival website for extra tickets in the week leading up to the festival.

What can’t I bring?

The list of banned items includes:  

  • Disposable vapes.
  • Campfires and disposable BBQs
  • Bags in the arena - There is a limited to one A4-sized bag per person permitted into the arena. 

What’s new at Reading Festival in 2024

  • The Chevronis - Reading & Leeds’ new 40,000 capacity open-air venue in the Main Arena. The venue features the world’s first floating video canopy made up of hundreds of thousands of programmable LED lights.
  • A Sensory Calm Space run by charity Diverse UK, for anyone in need of a quiet environment to relax in before getting back to the festivities
  • The AUX - A brand new tent in the main arena at both Reading & Leeds, where the programming is focused entirely on digital content creators. It will feature a mix of interactive shows, live podcasts, streams, and hands-on activities.
  • Quiet Camp - For those who fancy a little extra shut-eye and a break from the party atmosphere of the standard campsites. Users must book their spot in advance.