WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) brings together artists from all over the globe.
Hear the best music you’ve never heard before, join in with over 200 free workshops led by musicians and dancers from around the world, taste delicious and exotic food cooked by artists, listen to talks, relax in the arboretum, and discover so much more.
If you have any questions that aren’t covered in the FAQs please contact us via email at info@womad.org
WOMAD Festival, Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9LL
Charlton Park is situated just off the A429 between Cirencester and Chippenham, close to Malmesbury. The site is 7 miles from Junction 17 off the M4, approximately 100 miles from London, 80 miles from Birmingham, and less than 30 miles away from Bath, Bristol, and Swindon. Please follow the yellow AA signs for WOMAD. If using Sat Nav please use SN16 9LL as the postcode.
From the North: Exit M5 J11a, take first exit A417 towards Cirencester. Before Cirencester take A429 southbound towards Malmesbury. Turn left onto B4040, follow signs into the festival.
From the West: Exit M4 J17, take A429 north towards Cirencester. Turn right onto B4040, follow signs into the festival.
From the East: Exit M4 J17, take A429 northbound signposted Malmesbury. Turn right onto B4040, travel for around half a mile and follow signs into the festival.
From the South: Take A350 northbound towards Chippenham. At the M4 J17 roundabout, take second exit A429 northbound towards Malmesbury. After Malmesbury turn right onto the B4040, travel for around half a mile and follow signs into the festival.
When you book your tickets you will be sent a confirmation email via email.
Your ticket will be sent to you 7 days before the event.
We are offering payment plans on all ticket types this year. You need to add all the tickets to your basket and then select the payment plan option at the checkout.
You can bring your own alcohol but glass is not allowed in the arena. Please drink responsibly. WOMAD does not tolerate underage drinking. Anyone under the age of 18 found with alcohol will have it confiscated and their parent/guardian contacted.
Challenge 25
If you are or look under 25, you need to provide proof of age. Please bring one of the following IDs with you.
The unlawful supply or illegal use of drugs is not condoned by WOMAD, this now includes the use of substances previously referred to as ‘legal highs’ and Nitrous Oxide (NOs). Drug enforcement laws are as applicable on site as anywhere else in the country. Security officers will be on site and will deal with drug offenses in accordance with national guidelines. If you engage in the unlawful supply of drugs, it is likely that you will be arrested. Neither anti-social nor illegal behaviour will be tolerated; participants will leave themselves liable to eviction from the site.
Experimenting with drugs can lead to adverse reactions. If you do take drugs and you become ill, depressed or frightened, please ask a steward to direct you to one of the many facilities on site which can help and support you.
Smoking is illegal in enclosed public areas. We enforce a smoking ban in ALL enclosed structures. Please remember to dispose of your cigarette ends responsibly.
No animals are allowed on site with the only exception of registered assistance dogs.
There are ATMs available within the arena and in the campsite market. There is a charge per withdrawal.
When you purchase a 4 or 3 day ticket, camping and parking is free and included.
Parking is also included with day tickets.
We have many camping options, including Glamping. These options need to be purchased alongside your ticket.
For safety, we segregate cars and tents (apart from in the Park & Camp areas). Campsites are in walking distance of the main festival site (5-10 mins) and are well lit. Please check the festival map closer to the time to check camping and parking locations.
Sleeping in vehicles is not permitted under any circumstances apart from in the designated live-in vehicle areas. Live-In Vehicle tickets can be purchased separately but sell quickly. Please note: generators are not permitted.
Please note barbecues or fires are not permitted in any of our campsites.
Traders and bars at WOMAD 2024 will be accepting cards as the main method payment. However, we there are ATMs on site, and we recommend bringing some cash with you on to site in case you need it.
Customer Care is the place to head to for any help or advice when on site. It is also where you can securely lock up any items, including bikes.
Bike lock up
If you cycle to the festival you can leave your bike at Customer Care. There is a charge of £1 per item for this service. Please bring your own bike locks.
Lock it up
Any valuables you want to keep safe? The WOMAD Campers’ lockup, situated in Customer Care, can do just that. Items can be left and collected between Thursday at 8am and Monday at midday. There is a charge of £1 per item for this service.
Lost and Found
Items found on the festival site should be taken to Customer Care. If you have lost any items, please check the Customer Care tent to see if they have been handed in.
If you lose anything at WOMAD 2024 please email lostproperty@womad.org
Please see information on our Accessibility page.
Child tickets
Children (aged 13 and under) must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian. One ticket holding parent/guardian can only accompany up to four people under the age of 18.
There is no charge for children aged 13 and under, however, they must hold a valid ticket to enter the festival. Please see the tickets section to order a child ticket.
Teenagers
Teenagers (aged 14 – 17) must be accompanied by a parent/guardian of 22 years and over. One ticket holding parent/guardian can only accompany up to four people under the age of 18.
Babies
We have a breastfeeding tepee located in the world of children. If you are attending the festival with a baby or young child and plan to watch amplified music, we recommend bringing hearing protection with you for your child.
Lost and Found Children
If you are attending with a child make sure you speak to them about what to do if they get lost. We have a lost child area which you should introduce them to in case they do get lost and we recommend writing your phone number either on the wristbands we provide or their arm. We have a ‘Lost and Found Children Protocol’ so in the event your child gets lost they can also find one of our Oxfam stewards who will be all over the festival and able to assist.
If you lose your child you should find the nearest OXFAM steward so they can contact the rest of the team, they will then give you instructions on what to do.
If you have found a lost child please alert an Oxfam Steward who will activate the Lost and Found Children Process. Do not try to take the child anywhere, someone will come to you. If you are unable to find a steward immediately wait with the child and ask someone else to find a steward.
Trolly hire is available via Airs and Graces Limited.
Carts are available for short term hire without pre-booking from £7 for 30 minutes on arrival and departure.
We can’t solve the world’s problems alone but together we can make a difference.
The cleanliness of your campsite after the festival shows us that you care and don’t abandon tents and other waste. You have done this long before it was fashionable. Thank you.
This doesn’t mean that there isn’t waste but you are already leaving less waste than any other comparable festival in the country.
What happens to the rest?
Over the last six years, WOMAD has generated an average of 113 tons of waste per festival. In 2012 approximately 16% of the waste was recycled. Since 2014, by supporting a Waste to Energy scheme, after metal, wood, glass, and some plastics are removed for specialised recycling, 100% of our remaining waste is diverted from landfill and recycled into energy. Ash etc from the process is then used in infrastructure projects nationally.
This means there will not be six different types of recycling bins around the site this year, just one. (Which in itself reduces vehicle movements on site). This is then sorted on site by our waste collection provider.
The best solution is for everyone to take their waste away with them but this method is accepted by our partners and advisors to currently be the most sustainable solution.
Please make sure you dispose of your cigarette ends in one of the many litter bins across the site.
Glass can be brought into the campsites but not into the arena. Please dispose of any glass items responsibly in the bins provided.
Lost and found property can be reported at or handed in to Customer Care over the festival.
If you lose any items at the festival, email lostproperty@womad.org
Will I be able to charge my phone whilst at the festival?
Yes, of course! Drop by the Charge and Store truck in the campsite village to keep you powered up throughout WOMAD.
You can pre-book tickets here
A ticket entitles the holder to 5 phone charges provided by portable or hand-in charging. Rental of a portable charger requires a £10 cash deposit which is refunded on final return. No deposit required for hand-in charging.
Ticket holders may allocate one or more of their 5 phone charges to friends and family at the festival.
Phone Charging tickets are valid for the charging of phones only. Charging of other devices is provided separately at an hourly rate.
Please note Phone Charging tickets are NOT valid without a WOMAD 3 or 4 day ticket.
The Charge and Store truck will be open each day from 10am to 10pm. Please collect all belongings by midday on Monday 29th July.
For everything from travel information, event updates, exclusive interviews with the artists, behind the scenes gossip, reviews and more, tune into Radio WOMAD on 87.7FM throughout the Festival. You can also listen online here.
Concerns
If you have a concern during the festival please contact our team via
Amplified music
Amplified music will be playing on site on Thursday the 25th – Sunday 28th July in the hours between 12pm and 2am, however the offsite noise levels will drop after 11pm. There will also be sound checks on Thursday morning.
Traffic
There are no planned road closures during the festival. The busiest times on the roads will be on Friday 26th July from the mid-morning and Monday 29th July in the morning, it will be quiet over the weekend.
We recommend to plan for any kind of weather, just in case. Make sure you bring a warm jumper and a coat and some waterproof shoes, even if it doesn’t rain those clear nights can get quite chilly. Make sure you also have plenty of sun cream and a sun hat, free water is available on site.