NME checked out the major “world-first” revamp of the Reading & Leeds campsites over the weekend and all the new initiatives to keep festival-goers happy, active, safe and mindful. Watch our video guide above.
The iconic twin-site festival returned over the weekend (August 22-24) with a packed line-up that saw headliners Chappell Roan, Hozier, Bring Me The Horizon, Limp Bizkit and Travis Scott.
For those staying overnight, festival-goers experienced the new and improved campsite, with new areas designed around sustainability, wellness and inclusivity (as well as fan-pleasing shower facilities). Festival boss Melvin Benn previously told NME about his plans for a major “overhaul” of the camping facilities, full of “a range of new camping improvements, programming, experiences and complimentary add-ons as part of a refreshed campsite layout.”
He boasted that the new campsites would be “the biggest site change at the festivals in its 55-year history and the biggest shake-up that UK festival camping has ever seen”.
While on site, NME checked out the campsites and all the new initiatives with campsite manager Claire Armstrong. There are four new campsites this year in addition to the general The Fields site: The Garden, The Meadow, Glitterball Grove and The Valley – all with different purposes, but one common cause: to provide the best Reading and Leeds Festival experience for everyone.
The Meadow is their reimagined eco-friendly camp focused on sustainability with compost toilets, art made out of recycled tents, and craft-making. R&L have always been conscious of the environment, encouraging customers to “look out for the planet” with their Staying Green initiative. Armstrong said she believed this “important cause” is coming through as a big interest for “the younger generations”.
“I think people really care and there is a drive for sustainability,” she added. “It’s really nice to see people buying into it” – especially The Meadow being fully subscribed to thousands of people at Reading.
The Garden is their “calm” area – with Armstrong calling it “an expansion of last year’s quiet campsite, designed for those seeking a calmer festival experience.” For those seeking a less hedonistic experience, you could join the daily run club and participate in all sorts of classes from yoga to poetry writing. The purpose of these activations is “to create a bit of community for the campers and give people who don’t necessarily want to stay up all night long somewhere to be.”
Inclusivity is at the heart of Glitterball Grove, the festival’s new community-focused space. “We want it to be a community space that fosters inclusivity and respect,” said Armstrong. “It’s open to everyone, it’s a very welcoming space. The vibes are high: people are hanging out in the stretch tent, people are making friends.”
The community ethos also inspired The Valley. The camp was originally for solo festivalgoers but has now been opened up to duos as well. With the “Find Your Friends” scheme and “Get Ready With Me” areas, The Valley allows smaller groups to come together and not feel lonely in such a big festival.
Armstrong added that the changes reflect a wider shift in what festivalgoers want from their weekend. “You can see how busy yoga was this morning, the run club had 30 people, and the football pitches have been absolutely rammed all weekend,” she enthused before concluding, “I think people are just looking for a little bit more from their festival experience. Maybe they don’t want to sit around a tent all day anymore.”
Melvin Benn also sat down with NME again this year to talk about the huge changes to the site, big plans for 2026 and how he’s already booked two headliners for next year.
Check back at NME here for all the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos and more Reading & Leeds 2025.
