ANNUAL HISTORY FESTIVALS IN THE UK - 2023
England is a country which takes its history very seriously, so it is not surprising that there are so many history festivals on offer, to give the history buff a fully immersive vintage experience. Here we list the regular festivals which return year after year - from the huge, week long Chalke Valley History Festival to the new We Have Ways Fest. Some are ticketed, some are free, some cover a specific time period, others encompass it all, but if you are a lover of history, there will be something here for you. Festivals are listed in chronological order.
Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend, Gloucester
21st - 23rd April 2023
As well as the 2 week Autumn Festival, they are expanding in 2023 and have a new Spring Festival on 21 - 23rd April at Blackfriars Priory, which is one of the key Heritage Open Days buildings at the heart of Medieval Gloucester and with a fascinating royal story to tell. At the Spring Weekend - as it's a fortnight before the coronation - they’ll be exploring Kings and Queens with more than a dozen in the programme. Few people realise that the only monarch with a coronation outside Westminster since 1066 is Henry III, who was crowned in Gloucester Cathedral in 1216 when the King was aged only 9. Professor Alice Roberts, Greg Jenner, Peter Frankopan, Tim Marshall and Kavita Puri are just some of the 20 speakers taking part.
Find out more about the Spring Festival >>
Medieval Fayre, Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset
22nd - 23rd April 2023
The Medieval Fayre takes place every year across all of the abbey grounds, right in the heart of Glastonbury. It features re-enactments, performances, demonstrations and offers an entertaining and immersive experience for all ages. It’s best to buy tickets in advance which are reasonably priced at £12 per adult. The Fayre takes place on both days of the weekend and you can buy a ticket for just one or both if you want to take your time.
Glastonbury Abbey was a monastery founded in the 7th century, although legend has it that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the first century. At its peak it was one of the richest and most powerful in England. It is closely associated with King Arthur as medieval monks claimed that Glastonbury was actually Avalon and that it is at Glastonbury Abbey where King Arthur and his wife Guinevere are buried.
Read all about a day at the wonderful Medieval Fayre at Glastonbury Abbey >>
Southwick D-Day Revival, Nr. Portsmouth, Hampshire
10th - 11th June 2023
Southwick house played a key role in the D-Day landings of 1944 as this Georgian Manor house was the supreme headquarters of the Allied expeditionary Force and home to Allied Supreme Commander General Eisenhower, Naval Commander-in-Chief Admiral Ramsay and Army Commander-in-Chief General Montgomery.
The large wall maps that were used on D-Day are still in their original positions in the main map room, showing H-Hour on D-Day. The house is now home to the Defence School of Policing and houses a military police museum.
For one weekend every year around D-Day, the villagers put on a whole weekend dedicated to World War II. The centrepiece of the Southwick Revival D-Day weekend is the tours to the D-Day map room where you can take a period shuttle bus to the house, see the famous D-Day wall map, listen to talks by museum staff on the scale and detail of planning that went into within those walls for Operation Overlord and visit the Royal Military Police Museum.
In the nearby village of Southwick they have both home front and military displays, 1940s school lessons in the old school house, entertainment, a street market selling wartime and military memorabilia and a twice daily motorcade of military vehicles. Visitors are encouraged to dress in 1940s attire, either civilian or military
Find out more about the Southwick Revival Weekend >>
Chalke Valley History Festival, Broad Chalke, Wiltshire
26th June - 2nd July 2023
The biggest history festival in the UK, the Chalke Valley History Festival is now in its 11th year.
What started out as a small, local festival now takes place in 70 acres of the beautiful green Chalk Valley in Wiltshire and is attended by some of the biggest names in history, literature and politics who give talks to thousands of enthusiastic visitors.
There are re-enactors from every time period, demonstrations, a history festival for schools and much more - it is the most civilised festival you will ever go to and really is something special.
There are a variety of ticket options available and on-site camping for those who want to stay the whole week.
Find out more about the Chalke Valley history festival >>
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival
8th - 9th July 2023
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is the biggest free medieval gathering in Europe, with people travelling from across the continent for the weekend, living in full medieval style in living history camps around the site of the famous battle of Tewkesbury.
There is a large Medieval market, an exhibition tent, medieval inspired crafts and shows for kids, roaming minstrels, jugglers and a varied program of events. On Sunday, the people of Tewksbury hold a parade through the town.
The centrepiece of the weekend is the re-enactment of the battle of Tewksbury which was fought in May 1471 between the Lancastrian army and the Yorkist army. It was a fierce battle and one of the most decisive battles in the Wars of the Roses. Lancastrian heir Prince Edward died in the battle, paving the way for the Yorkist King Edward to claim the throne. Now over 2000 people in full battledress come together to re-enact this bloody fight.
Find out more about the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival >>
Market Lavington Vintage Meet, Nr. Devizes, Wiltshire
15 - 16th July 2023
One of the smaller history days, this is a locally run festival of vintage family fun to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
There are displays of vintage vehicles and classic cars, living historians, demonstrations, falconry displays and much more on offer, including a fly past by either the Red Arrows or Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which is still to be confirmed.
Find out more about the Market Lavington Vintage Meet >>