Will you be one of the thousands heading to Bramham Park for Leeds Festival 2014?

Festival goers will descend on the country park from Wednesday to secure the best campaign spots for the rock weekender.

Blink 182, Paramore and the Arctic Monkeys are this year's main stage headliners, with Disclosure, The Courteeners and Bombay Bicycle Club topping the bill on the NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage.

It's sure to be a weekend to remember - especially if you're a festival newcomer.

Click here for pictures of this year's Leeds Festival line-up

 

Is this your first time at the festival? Or are you a Bramham veteran?

Never fear - our festival survival guide will ensure your weekend goes without a hitch.

Here's our Leeds Festival survival guide:

What should I pack?

  • Avoid the temptation to pack everything but the kitchen sink - Remember, you're going to have to carry it all across fields, up hills, potentially through mud and in the rain. Those trolleys on wheels are tempting - but if you've ever seen someone wrestle one through mud you'll know they're a bad idea.
  • Go mini - Those tiny toiletries you can pick up in supermarkets and pharmacies are perfect for festivals - far easier than lugging the full-sized bottles to the festival. The miniature suncream bottles are great to carry around in your bag, too.
  • Decanter your booze - Don't be that festival newbie that turns up with glass bottles of wine and vodka and ends up desperately pouring them into plastic bottles scrounged off a mate at the festival gates. Glass is not allowed on site, so make sure your alcohol is in a plastic bottles. Buy cans of lager and cider, not bottles. It's always a good idea to label them too - or you may grab a bottle first thing in the morning, believing it to be water, but discovering it's sambuca. Grim.

  • Food glorious food: Even if you're planning to live off tempura, noodles and burgers from the festival stalls all weekend, pack a few snacks for in between moments - cereal bars are great first thing in the morning, and everyone loves a big bag of crisps for those late night munchies. Fruit, tinned or fresh, may prevent you from getting scurvy before the weekend is out. If you're planning to cook, thing supernoodles, tinned chili and curry and anything else that you can literally plonk into a pan on your stove and enjoy in 10 minutes. Don't try to be a festival Jamie Oliver.

    Think simple when it comes to festival cooking
    Think simple when it comes to festival cooking
     
  • Bin liners are ESSENTIAL - Because they have so many wondrous uses. As well as their traditional role of holding rubbish, you can use them to sit on if the ground is wet; as an extra layer of protection on top of a leaky tent; somewhere to keep your muddy wellies so you don't cover the inside of your tent in mud; a makeshift pillow (just stuff it with newspaper/spare clothes)...the possibilities are endless. We salute you, bin bags.

  • Look after yourself - Ward off sunstroke and killer hangovers by packing sun cream, aftersun lotion and painkillers. Throw in antihistamines if you suffer from allergies and hand sanitizer is a godsend after dealing with festival loos. And stay hydrated - beer is not a replacement for water.

  • Keep clean(ish) - Baby wipes and dry shampoo. It's not the same as a nice hot bath, but it's the closest you'll get. Of course, you could queue for the showers, but who has time for that?

    Dry shampoo can be a lifesaver
    Dry shampoo can be a lifesaver
     
  • Minimise valuables - Take only what you really need to the festival - leave your iPads, Kindles and iPods at home - and keep valuables on you at all times, not unattended in your tent. There are lockers available to rent too. Don't put a padlock on your tent - while you might think it makes your belongings safe, it's more likely to tempt a would-be thief to investigate your tent.

What should I wear?

  • It's all about layers - Simple, comfortable clothing that you can adjust to suit the weather. Girls - pack a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, and a skirt, and team them with some different vest tops and t-shirts, layering up with a cardigan or hoodie for when it's cold. A summer dress is a festival staple and can be teamed with leggings or tights if it's a bit cooler. Boys - my own experience is that you'll try and survive in the same pair of jeans for 5 days, intermittently changing your boxers and your t-shirt. But more than one pair of jeans and a pair of shorts is a good idea.
  • Practical is key - Pack comfortable, hard-wearing shoes, so if the mud erupts you're prepared. You might love your new summer wedges, but trust me, after standing in them for 12 hours or trying to navigate your way through mud in them, you won't. Wellies are a good shout, but wear them to the festival so they don't take up vital packing space. And regardless of how uncool they look, pack a waterproof. Soggy is not sexy.
    Batman costumes aren't usually a festival wardrobe staple
    Batman costumes aren't usually a festival wardrobe staple
     
  • Hats are cool - As well as protecting your head and neck from sunburn, festival hats, from the wacky to the super chic, are a good way to spot your mates in a crowd. With that in mind, avoid cowboy hats. EVERYONE wears cowboy hats.
  • Super spares - Keep one clean, dry set of clothing back at the tent for emergencies - for example, if you get soaked, covered in beer in the middle of a crowd, or fall over into the mud. You'll be so grateful for it if the worst happens.
  • Snuggle up - When the temperature drops at night, it can get quite nippy - this is where a thick jumper or hoodie will be heaven. Teamed with some thick pyjama bottoms, socks and a blanket, you'll be snug as a bug in a rug. Or snug as a drunk person in a tent, anyway.

How do I make sure I don't miss anything?

  • Plan your day - Last minute decisions about who you're going to see can result in you legging it halfway across the main arena only to miss your favourite band's classic tunes. If you really don't want to miss your favourites, pick who you want to see and plan your day ahead of time so you know where to be when.
  • Remember the crowds - While the main stage and NME/Radio 1 tent may look close together on the site map, you need to bear in mind you're going to be making your way through some hefty crowds between acts - including some heading to the same tent as you. Give yourself plenty of time to move between stages so that even if there is a bit of a people-jam, you won't miss the band.
    Factor the crowds into your planning
    Factor the crowds into your planning
     
  • Make some tough decisions - Unfortunately, festival fate means that at some point during the weekend, two bands you love are going to be on at the same time. It happens to all of us. If they're back to back on separate stages, you might be able to duck out from one early to make it on time for the other. But on more than one occasion you're probably going to have to make some tough choices. Weight up the pros and cons. Are you likely to get the opportunity to see one of the bands again? Who would be cheaper to see art a gig elsewhere? Which back catalogue do you know more of? And if you still can't pick, take a vote with your friends, or toss a coin.
  • Don't overdo it - Know your limits. Would you rather see absolutely everything but barely have the energy to sing along, or would you rather take a breather and be able to jump up and down with the rest of the crowd? Make sure you take some time during the day to refuel, have a break and get your energy back - especially before the headline sets.
  • Pick a meeting point - If your group is splitting up to see different bands, assign a meeting place and time before you bid them aideu. Arranging a meet up by mobile phone can be futile as the sheer amount of people making calls and sending texts at the same time can mean your messages get delayed for several hours. Pick a spot, name a time, and everyone should have a stress free-reunion.
    "We're behind the Union Jack flag!"
    "We're behind the Union Jack flag!"
     
  • Pick a flag - If you are meeting in a crowd, the brightly coloured flags folk insist on carrying about can be really handy. You will hear cries of "we're by the rainbow flag!" "we're behind the Yorkshire flag" and "we're to the left of the Leeds United banner!" all weekend - pick a flag and make it your rendezvous for the headliners.

Any other advice?

  • Keep an eye on your cash - As well as your other valuables - a bag with a zip is best. Don't keep your bank cards and cash together - that way if you lose one, you can fall back on the other.
  • Get your bearings - Knowing where the first aid/information/security points are when you arrive means less of a panic if you happen to need them over the course of the weekend.
  • HAVE FUN - Leeds is a highlight on the festival calendar for people across Yorkshire and beyond, particularly for A-Level students who want to have one last celebration with their mates before they all head off to uni. Soak up the atmosphere, dive into the moshpit for your favourite bands and have a ball.
Mud, tents, live music and a pint in a paper cup - nothing says summer like Leeds Festival
Mud, tents, live music and a pint in a paper cup - nothing says summer like Leeds Festival