FAQs

The Secret Garden Party celebrates its 22nd year. This most enchanting, fiercely independent, award-winning music and arts festival takes place near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.


Jump straight to: Tickets, Travel, Site, Camping, Campervans, Accessibility & Welfare, Everything else.

Tickets

Mistress Mary a 36hr extravaganza only for invited guests - no day tickets are available but you are free to leave when you've had enough ;-)

Tickets are non-refundable. Tickets that are sold through Viagogo, StubHub, eBay or Facebook Marketplace or any other unofficial platform will be voided. 

Never ever sell or buy your ticket unofficially.

Mistress Mary Tickets are not able to be re-sold.

You must register guest names at the point of purchase. If your plans change you can change the names on the tickets later.

Photo ID (passport, driving license or citizen’s card) will be required on the gate and must match the name on the relevant ticket.

No entry or refund will be given to those who's tickets do not match their ID.

Yes.  Once the ticket has been paid for in full you can log in to your Easol account and change the name yourself. 

For assistance with this please get in contact with us, either through the contact page or using the chat widget at the bottom of this page.

Payment will be requested again after two weeks and if this fails you will receive an email to say that your payments have failed and you will be moved to a manual process and must make payments by logging into your Easol account.  

You will have been given a set deadline on your account and must complete payments by this date. 

If you do not pay off the installment plan by the set deadline you will lose your deposit, tickets and any extra's or accommodation within your booking.

To reset your Easol password, use the following link

Reset password

Travel

It's in a Garden of course.

The Secret Garden Party site is nestled in beautiful countryside in East Anglia near Huntingdon.

Postcode: PE28 2PH.

What3Words: strumming.jumbled.glorified

Google Maps HERE 

We encourage the use of sustainable travel options, like trains, and lift sharing. 

If you do decide to drive, there are good road links in place from the A14 and A1.

We do have parking available on site. 

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you drive on or off our site while under the influence of and substance.  Please limit yourself on the night before you are due to leave. 

Sharing is caring

By sharing your journey with others you can help save the planet, Save money, Reduce stress and tiredness, Cut congestion and pollution and meet new people with shared connections.

Liftshare is a free to use platform that connects those travelling in the same direction, so they can arrange to travel together and share the costs.You can post your journey as either a passenger, driver or both.

How to find a liftshare

  1. Sign up at https://liftshare.com/uk/community/festival
  2. Register your journey on the system and liftshare provides a suggested £ contribution for the trip.
  3. View journey matches and message to ask questions and arrange details...Or simply send a request to share.
  4. Download the Liftshare app for instant messaging and to authenticate your journey and earn badges.
  5. Organise payment directly with your sharer.

“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads…”

The nearest train station is Huntingdon. 

Taxis are available from Huntingdon station.

The party is in a field so this isn’t an easy one. 

We’re sorry we don’t have any electric car charging points on-site yet, although there are charging points at Tesco Extra Huntingdon just down the road (Abbots Ripton Rd, Sapley, Huntingdon PE28 2LA) and at Hartford BP fuel station (bp, A141, March Road, Hartford, Huntingdon PE28 2DN)

You can always pop in and pick up some crisps while you are waiting for your car to recharge.

Site

Our lovely warm showers can be accessed in the campsites. 

We have invested in our own composting toilets across site for use by all festival guests which are plentiful, clean and Green. 

We've had amazing feedback for our toilet provision in 2023, where we 'set the bar for Festival Shitters!' (we're told)

There are cold water sinks throughout the arena with potable water.

Each event will have it's own rules and as a general rule often the NORMAL rules don't apply - but as a given:

DON'T BE A DICK - If you still need help understanding...

  • Decide your own life, don’t let another person run or rule you.
  • Behave honourably at all times.
  • Do not take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation.
  • Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for the treatment of other Gardeners
  • When travelling, take your trip respectfully, take no personal chances & cause no problems.
  • Help all who are lost and try to induce them to return home.
  • Look after your fellow Gardeners whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... Or the one."

The Secret Garden Party is a Leave No Trace site. This means you should leave the site EXACTLY the way you found it when you arrived.

  • We (including you!) are collectively responsible for the state of the site. We are trying to encourage collective responsibility for the land. If you brought it with you, please take it away at the end of the show.
  • All cold drinks are served in recyclable cans or carbon neutral reusable cups.
  • Please make sure you bring a reusable water bottle. There will be plenty of points on site to fill up.
  • Our compostable litter is processed locally 
  • Our toilet waste matter will be composted

We reserve the right to search all pedestrians, crew, vehicles, campervans & caravans and luggage will be subject to search by our security teams. 

We reserve the right to turn anyone away at the door who is in breach of our safety, security or drugs policies. 

Mistress Mary does not permit the use of Cameras on site and so why would you need a phone? 

In case of emergency please ask for help at Event Control. 

Camping and Boutique

Camping is encouraged at Mistress Mary; of course! A ticket includes camping in your own tent.

Camping will be first come first served within our campsite areas.

Pre-pitched and boutique accommodation are now available to purchase on our website. 

Live-in vehicle passes are available to purchase. 

Yes.

The gates opening hours are until 10pm, before which time you can enter.

You can still leave any time you like, but to keep everyone safe we can only let you back in during gate opening hours.

Bell tent accommodation is on sale on the page after ticket sales on our website.  All tents are booked per unit NOT per person.

Bell tent accommodations is a camping only option. There is no boutique village. Please note that the two person bell tents come with either 1 double or 2 single beds, please inform us of your preference at checkout - all other accommodations come with single beds.

All accommodations are WITHOUT power

Accommodation can only be booked directly through our website.

All pictures are representation only and your tent may come with different furnishings.

For all enquiries please contact [email protected]

  • Bell Tent with fully zipped in groundsheet
  • Zippable door and windows with flyscreen
  • Full floor coverings
  • 6” memory foam mattresses on raised bed frames
  • Hotel quality bedding packs (duvet, duvet cover, sheets, pillows and pillow cases)
  • Central table
  • Interior LED fairy lights
  • A towel. A towel is about the most massively useful thing a Gardener can have.
  • Your ticket. Don’t forget this. They will be issued just prior to the event and can also be downloaded (nearer the event) from Your Account on our website by logging into www.secretgardenparty.com/bookings.
  • ID. A Challenge 25 policy will be in place for the purchase of alcohol at all events.  Please bring either a passport, driving licence or Citizen card to prove that you are over 18. A photocopy will not suffice
  • A tent if you plan to stay overnight (unless you have pre-booked accommodation on-site)
  • Bedding (unless this is included in your pre-booked accommodation on-site)
  • Clothes. Bring outfits for every season (cold / hot / wet weather, swimmers). Party outfit and sensible footwear!
  • Card for payments.
  • Booze – you are welcome to bring a limited amount of canned alcohol on site on first entry only. We have increased our limits in view of the cost of living crisis. You may bring a maximum of 12 cans of beer / lager / cider OR 8 cans of wine / pre-mixed spirits / cocktails. You may not bring glass bottles or decanted drinks. Drinks (except cocktails) are included at Mistress Mary so save on the packing unless you have very specific taste! Sun cream, pain relief, plasters, medication, contraception.
  • Refillable water bottle – drinking water taps will be provided.
  • Love and imagination
  • Presents. Who doesn’t like presents?
  • No illegal substances
  • No one under the age limit for each Party. 
  • No animals, unless they are an assistance animal by prior arrangement.
  • No independent sound systems
  • No generators
  • No items to sell
  • No weapons or items which may be used as a weapon
  • No barbeques or meth stoves
  • No Nitrous Oxide canisters or dispensers. Really. We have a zero-tolerance policy for these. Anyone seen even standing near No2 will be evicted immediately.
  • No glass, including mirrors. Please try to avoid single use plastics.
  • No professional film, video or audio recording equipment is allowed on site without prior permission. This includes all cameras with a detachable zoom lens. All car parks and gate areas, and event areas are included.
  • No cameras or camera phones at Mistress Mary. 
  • No spray paint. Don’t even think about it…
  • No fireworks, flares, portable laser equipment or pyrotechnic devices
  • No sky lanterns, drones or UAVs of any kind
  • No Personal Electric Vehicles without prior permission (including scooters and Segways)
  • No trailers
  • No bongos

Campervans & Caravans

Yes, if you have a camper van pass. 

We have small-medium campervan passes (pitch size up to 6 x 6m) or large campervan passes (6 x 9m pitch). 

Please book the right sized pitch so we can fit everyone in. 

Campervan passes will be available to buy via our website.

Be warned that these usually sell out quickly.

Yes, you can. 

Caravan passes are available to buy via our website.

Be careful though as these sell out quickly..

Please note that we cannot accommodate vehicles larger than 6 x 9m as we don’t have space.

Campervan and Caravan tickets are non-refundable, so if you turn up at the festival in a massive vehicle (well a vehicle bigger than 6 x 9m), we will have to send you to park well away from site. 

We won’t be liable to refund your festival ticket, or your campervan pass, and you will need to commute (Dave’s Taxis likely)

It’s really boring and not what you want so make sure you book the right sized pass.

It’s a field. 

There will, however, be a limited number of electric hook ups at our family event - The Wild Meadows, available via our website. Electric hook up is only valid with a valid campervan ticket.

Absolutely not. 

Only vehicles will be allowed access to the live-in vehicles campsite.

Having your tent driven over on Monday morning while you are lying in it sweating with a hangover is really boring for us, and even more boring for you. Who needs that on a Monday morning? 

Accessibility & Welfare


We are able accept applications for PA tickets for those with a PIP or DLA for camping in live-in vehicles or General camping.  

Wheelchair accessibility

Due to its green field nature, the ground is predominantly grass with the exception of a few hardstanding roads that connect various areas of the space.

While there will be some sheltered areas, it is predominantly an open-air camping event. Ground conditions are therefore weather dependent, (if we experience extreme weather the ground is quite likely to become muddy).

Whilst the crew will always do what they can to ensure the ground is as accessible as possible, unfortunately, mobility across the site may become compromised.


We openly welcome all our deaf, disabled and neurodivergent party-goers and want to make your weekend as enjoyable as we can. We have a number of accessible facilities around the site that are bookable to pre-registered customers. We are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all. 

For those in receipt of DLA or PIP we provide the following facilities to ensure that parties can be enjoyed by all:

  • Accessible camping 
  • Accessible Parking
  • Accessible toilets
  • Hearing induction loops
  • Assistance animal provision

Please note we can only offer these facilities to those providing valid evidence of entitlement to DLA or PIP, please send your documentation to [email protected]

We run a complimentary personal assistant ticketing scheme for our customers who wouldn’t be able to attend the festival without the aid of another person.

You need to be in receipt of PIP/DLA or equivalent to qualify. 

Please contact [email protected]

We will first check your eligibility against our strict criteria, and on receipt of supporting documentation and details of your account on Easol we will send you an invitation to your complimentary PA ticket, please access your Easol account to allocate the ticket to your PA.

Please get in touch if you have any more questions using the chat widget at the bottom of this page.

We are committed to ensuring that The Secret Garden Party is a fun and safe environment for all. As well as our general ethos and inclusive approach, we collaborate with many partners to ensure that there is somewhere to access help for anyone that needs it, whatever it may be. 

Whether this is mental health, harm reduction or any other advice, we have it covered.  

Gardeners' Club

If you have signed up to Gardeners' Club then 

THANK YOU!  

You are a massively valued member of our community and we will be asking you to help us to shape our parties.

  • 1x SGP Roots ticket
  • 1x The Wild Meadows ticket

  • 1x invite to purchase a ticket to Mistress Mary

  • Priority access to all ticket and accommodation sales.

We have been in touch with you you in for the parties you wish to attend. So RELAX, you're in!  If you have missed your invite then please get in touch on [email protected] x

For Meadows or Roots you do not need to buy another ticket in addition to your membership (unless you are getting extra tickets for friends & family). Please note Tickets to Mistress Mary are not included in your membership but it secures you an invitation.

Everything else

Kids are welcome at The Wild Meadow.  Please ensure that they have an age-appropriate ticket.

All other events are a party for grown-ups only. This means no under 18s at all. Mistress Mary is 25+. 

You may see some crew kids around during the event. This is because some of our crew live on site for many weeks creating the festival. They will be accompanied by responsible adults and well cared for to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

Dogs are welcome at The Wild Meadow.  Please reserve a ticket for your dog - a limited number will be available via the website.  

Please ensure that you clear up after your dog, they are not left alone and they are kept on a lead at all times. 

Sadly, we don’t allow pets on site at any other Parties unless they are an assistance animal.

There may be a few crew dogs at the event as some of our crew live on site with us for many weeks. These animals will be extremely well cared for, kept on a lead and cleared up after to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the animals, owners and general public.

Still have a question?

Have you read everything in these FAQs? Really?

Are you sure? If the answer isn’t in here and you truly need to know something special – then get in touch via the contact page.