As festival season kicks off, early arrivals at Glastonbury will be busy pitching tents, soaking in the excitement, and navigating the sprawling site. From the iconic Pyramid Stage to hundreds of food stalls, the festival has something for everyone – but no one looks forward to the toilets.
A former Glastonbury toilet cleaner has shared insider tips on the different toilet options available and, importantly, the best times to use them to avoid long queues and unhygienic conditions.
There are four main types of toilets on site. The least popular are the “long drops” – simple pit toilets that can be unpleasant, especially on wet days. Risky business here: many a phone or wallet has met its end down the long drops, so secure your valuables carefully.
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The best option by far are the compost toilets. They use sawdust instead of water to cover waste, significantly reducing odor compared to other facilities. As long as the previous user did their part by adding a generous amount of sawdust, these loos tend to stay fresh.
Portable toilets are scattered mainly near car parks but can be unpredictable. Some remain unused early on, but by festival’s end, they often become overrun and less appealing.
Speaking to beauty specialist Cult Beauty, the insider revealed that campsite toilets get cleaned regularly throughout the day in six-hour shifts: 6am-12pm, 12pm-6pm, and 6pm-12am. In some locations like Shangri La, cleaning happens through the early morning hours.
The toilets near the main Pyramid Stage, while busier, tend to be better maintained due to more frequent cleaning and larger cleaning crews. “Always choose compostable toilets over long drops whenever possible,” the volunteer advises.
Toilets farther from the center of the site can be harder to find and are cleaned less often. However, they also tend to see less traffic.
For those seeking extra comfort, the best-maintained toilets and showers are found on paid-for accommodation sites like Worthy View, where external companies handle cleaning regularly – but it comes at a price.
Timing is crucial. The insider’s top tip: “The best and quietest time to use the toilets is around midnight. Most big acts have finished, the festival remains lively but the loos have been cleaned extensively throughout the day and will be in much better condition.”
They caution against visiting the toilets immediately after a major act ends; these facilities will be packed due to increased demand.
Additionally, avoid going first thing in the morning before 6am, since no cleaning occurs overnight. The first cleaning shift starts at 6am, so it’s best to wait until around 7am when the loos have been refreshed but before the morning rush.
A final festival hack: when you get your wristband, put it on the hand opposite your dominant one to keep the tags cleaner during loo visits.
With these insider insights, your Glastonbury experience – even in the loos – should be a little more enjoyable.