Information

Times & Location

• Main gates open at midday on Saturday, 12th September.
• The last entry is at 5.30pm.
• The festival closes with the music ending at 10:30pm.
• Address: Gunnersbury Park, Popes Lane, London W3 8LQ
• Please make sure you arrive at the time designated on your ticket. If you miss your designated ticket slot, please read below.

Tickets

• Please ensure you have your tickets downloaded from the RA app/website before arriving.
• If you have bought a group ticket, all members of your party must arrive and come through the gates together. 

What happens if I arrive after the time stated on my ticket?

All tickets are for timed entry. You must arrive before your scheduled time - late arrivals will be charged a top up fee.

We understand that delays can happen on the way to the event, and we ask that you make every effort to arrive before the entry time stated on your ticket. Our door staff will use discretion when applying this policy, but please note that if you miss your entry time, you will be required to pay a top up fee.

Age policy / Do I need ID?

We are an over-18 event, and all of our bars will be operating the Challenge 25 Policy for alcohol service. Please make sure you bring your ID with you. No physical ID, no entry.

Re-entry policy

There is no general re-entry to the festival, unless in the case of medical requirement. Please email info@waterworksfestival.co.uk for more information.

Low Income Tickets?

After huge demand for this scheme last year, we will be offering it again for 2026. Please check back here for more information or feel free to email info@waterworksfestival.co.uk

NHS Ticket scheme

After a huge demand for this scheme last year, we are revising how we offer this scheme. We will be sharing more information on our website once the scheme is up and running. In the meantime, if you have any questions surrounding this scheme please email info@waterworksfestival.co.uk

Set times

Please note these set times may be subject to change; all live updates will be added to the Clashfinder as soon as possible. The set times will be revealed closer to the date of the festival, please keep an eye on our social media for the latest news.

Cloakroom & clothing

Waterworks festival takes place on Gunnersbury Park, which is an open-air green-field site. It has some limited pavement, gravel and tarmac paths on the peripheral entrances and exits, however most of the space consists of grass and green space. While there will be some sheltered areas, it is predominantly an open-air event, with most stages uncovered - we would advise all attendees to be prepared for the unpredictable and increasingly adverse British summer weather.

Prepare for rain and mud or heat and dust by bringing layers and packable clothing/provisions such as waterproof coats, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. Ground conditions are also weather dependent; if we experience extreme weather, the ground may become muddy, and the grass may well get churned up, or may dry out unevenly, so appropriate footwear is advised.

We will be running a cloakroom; this can be found at the Info Tent.

Prohibited items

• Fireworks, laser pens, or flares
• Alcohol, illicit drugs including nitrous oxides or legal highs
• Animals (with the exception of guide dogs)
• Aerosols
• Selfie sticks
• Umbrellas
• Glass including perfume bottles
• Cans
• Hi Vis waistcoats, jackets or vests
• Bicycles or scooters
• Chairs
• Food / Drink / Cool boxes / Picnic hampers
• Pens or Paint
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (aka Drones)
• Any form of seating other than wheelchairs
• Anything which could be considered an offensive weapon or could cause danger or nuisance

Getting to the festival

There is no public event parking at the site and there will be restrictions for the surrounding roads, so please do not drive to the festival.

Tube

We advise people to plan for public transport to and from Gunnersbury Park as road closures will be in effect. For full details on road closures, please check here nearer the festival date.

Taxi & drop-offs

There is an allocated drop off / pick up point 400m from the festival site for taxis and private hire vehicles – follow the yellow AA event signage. Please do not use local residential roads for drop-offs or pick-ups

Bike

We have a limited amount of bike parking by the main entrance to the festival. If you would like to use it, please bring a lock. All bikes are left at the owner’s risk.

Food & drink

There will be plenty of reasonably-priced bars and traders on site providing a wide
variety of refreshments all day long. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options will be available.
We encourage attendees to bring their own empty reusable water bottles, and there will be multiple water refilling stations around the site.

 
We can’t allow attendees to bring their own food and drink into the venue. There should be food available to cater for most dietary requirements but please do check with each individual vendor in advance of purchasing food if you have particular requirements or allergies. If you have concerns or wish to speak with someone regarding a special dietary requirement which impacts your health, please contact info@waterworksfestival.co.uk

Bars

We will be running our reusable cup scheme across all bars. There will be a levy on your first cup - if you always bring your empty cup back to the bar you won’t be charged again.

A cashless festival

We operate a cashless system across all the bars at Waterworks. Some traders may still accept cash payments, but please ensure you are able to pay on card or Apple / Google Pay before entering the site.​

Medical & Welfare

We have a fully equipped Medical Centre on site that will be manned by qualified staff. Please make yourself aware of its location as you enter the festival.

If you take any medication regularly, remember to bring it in the original packaging with your prescription label. Please make your friends aware of any illnesses or allergies you may have. Look after yourself and those around you.

The Welfare Tent is located right next to the Medical Centre. If you need a quiet five minutes or just want someone to talk to, the Welfare Tent provides a safe and non-judgmental space to do this.

Respect policy

Waterworks is and always will be for everyone, with all attending feeling comfortable and safe on-site. Please read the below and remember to act with respect whilst attending.

• Don't be a Dick. Be nice to each other.
• Practice respect & consent for everyone’s boundaries.
• Don’t be a bystander.
• Speak to our team if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable or see anything happening to someone else that doesn't feel right.Leaving the festival

Please respect our neighbours when leaving the festival. Please don’t litter, and be respectful to the area's residents when making your way home. We have toilets throughout the park - please use them on your way to and from the festival.

When arranging pickups or taxis, please use the designated pick-up point in the park, not the surrounding residential roads.

Sustainability

Waterworks is committed to making our event as sustainable, accessible and inclusive as possible. Reducing the impact we have on the planet is a priority in every element of creating this festival. We are actively measuring and working on reducing our impact each year, whilst maximising our positive social and environmental impact through partnerships, projects and fundraising. For more information, see our sustainability page

Leaving the festival

Please respect our neighbours when leaving the festival. Please don’t litter, and be respectful to the area's residents when making your way home. We have toilets throughout the park - please use them on your way to and from the festival.

When arranging pickups or taxis, please use the designated pick-up point in the park, not the surrounding residential roads.

Accessibility 

Please go to our Accessibility page here to read our full provision.

We have the following accessible provisions at the festival:

• Personal Assistant / Companion Ticket
• Viewing Platforms
• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Toilets
• Lowered Bar Areas

If you would like to register to use any of these facilities, first purchase a ticket through our website, and then email accessibility@teamlove.org for a link to the application form. You can also use this email address if you have any queries about the accessible facilities at the festival, need clarification or advice.

‍Please note that submission of the form alone does not automatically guarantee eligibility for use of the accessible facilities. If you have any queries about eligibility, please contact us prior to purchasing your ticket at accessibility@teamlove.org.

Our accessible facilities will only be available to ticket holders who have pre-registered their requirements. This is to ensure that we have time to put appropriate provisions in place on site. Please complete the form no later than 17th August 2026. Information packs will be sent out to anyone who has successfully registered during the week before the event.