It's that time of year again, where rock music returns to its spiritual East Midlands home.

The monsters of rock are gathering in less than a fortnight at Castle Donington's Donington Park for Download 2018.

So if you're heading along here's EVERYTHING you need to know.

And if you're not, here's that all important ticket info...

Here's all you need to know about Donington Park's rock showcase.

Fans pictured on Saturday at Download Festival 2016.

Who are the big hitters on the line-up?

Ozzy Osbourne (Sunday), Guns n' Roses (Saturday) and Avenged Sevenfold (Friday) headline the Main Stage of the festival and the rest of the bill looks pretty tasty too with the likes of:

Shinedown, You Me At Six, Black Stone Cherry, Hatebreed, Cradle Of Filth, Neck Deep, The Hives, The Bronx, Cancer Bats, Milk Teeth, Less Than Jake, Jamie Lenman, Bury Tomorrow, Kreator, Dead Cross, Stick To Your Guns, The Maine, blessthefall, Stray From The Path, Employed To Serve, The Bottom Line, Emmure, Plini, Myrkur, Knocked Loose, All Them Witches, Malevolence, Wayward Sons, Puppy, Zeal & Ardor, Miss May I, SHVPES, No Hot Ashes, Gold Key, The Hyena Kill, Sun Arcana, Tigress, Death Blooms, The Faim, Turbonegro, Corrosion Of Conformity, Savage Messiah, Myke Gray, Von Hertzen Brothers, Woes, Powerflo, Sleep Token and Koyo - plus Kerrang! Radio Fresh Blood returns to host The Avalanche Stage.

British singer Ozzy Osbourne poses for pictures as he arrives for the MTV Europe Music Awards
British singer Ozzy Osbourne poses for pictures as he arrives for the MTV Europe Music Awards

When is it?

The three day festival takes place on June 8 to 10 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire.

What time does the campsite and arena open?

The general campsites open at noon on Wednesday, June 6 until noon on Monday, June 11.

The Arena opens at the following times:

  • Friday: noon
  • Saturday: 10am
  • Sunday: 10am

What's new for Download Festival 2018?

Foodies will certainly be able to stock-up on supplies with the introduction of an on-site Co-op supermarket. As well as offering all the essentials to festival-goers the shop will also be trialling the UK's first 'reverse vending machines' which works using a deposit and return scheme.

UK's first 'reverse vending machines' to be trialled at Download festival 2018 by Co-op supermarket
UK's first 'reverse vending machines' to be trialled at Download festival 2018 by Co-op supermarket

Other new additions for 2018 include Main and Zippo Encore stage sign language interpreters, the festival's first ever Greenpeace Eco Campsite, which can accommodate up to 3,000 festival-goers and is located amongst ancient oak trees and native wildlife, access viewing platforms will now be available at all stages across the festival as well as in Village party stop The DogHouse and 50 percent more shuttle buses will be scheduled to ferry revellers between the Village and the campsite.

What food and drink will be available at the festival?

Food and drink vendors have yet to be revealed but what has been confirmed is that there will be a brand new pop-up Co-op supermarket on site selling all your essentials while those who enjoy a campsite tinny can pre-order cold cans of Carlsberg of Somersby cider to be delivered on arrival by visiting music.carlsberg.co.uk. Crates cost £20 for 24 cans.

What's the parking situation at Download 2018?

Car park passes (£20) and motorbike passes (£10) are still available and buying them in advance will save you £5 on your arrival. If you are driving to Download you MUST purchase a car parking pass and make sure you keep it in a safe spot as lost and stolen car park passes will not be replaced and they cannot be exchanged or refunded either.

Look below for where the car parks are this year:

Sounds great! But how much are tickets and are there any left?

There are still some up from grabs from £200 for a weekend ticket at Ticketmaster.co.uk .

What camping options are there?

There's three different options: standard camping, quiet camping or there's still spaces at Download's first Greenpeace Eco Campsite, which can accommodate up to 3,000 festival-goers and is located amongst ancient oak trees and native wildlife... perfect for blowing the cobwebs away.

Campervan and caravan passes have sold out, as have shower passes for those that don't fancy being part of what makes Download the filthiest festival in the UK.

What is the weather going to be like on the weekend of Download Festival 2018?

It's a little to early to tell for sure.

The Met Office says it could be changeable, with dry and sunny conditions to the north and cloudier patches to the south - and a lingering chance of thunderstorms still.

Knowing Download, we'd pack those wellies...