Sarah
- 6 min read

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 >>

Chalke Valley FAQ >>

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 >>

Yorkshire Wartime Experience, Bradford, Yorkshire

11 - 13th August 2023

This festival is the north of England’s biggest military vehicle and living history event and it is a firm favourite in the reenactors calendar.

Over 50 living history groups from the first and second world wars can be seen demonstrating everything to do with the military side of the wars, from uniforms to weapons, equipment and vehicles. The festival re-creates large scale battles with full-on displays of firepower and massive pyrotechnic explosions and gunfire.

You can see the World War I trench systems in action complete with gas attacks and the use of war horses. Other lighter activities include military fashion shows, swing music, vehicle parades and several fly pasts. Fly pasts include the aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire and a Lancaster. There are stalls selling vintage clothing, collectables and much more on offer.

Find out more about the Yorkshire Wartime Experience >>

Gloucester History Festival, Gloucester

2nd - 17th September

The main event for the Gloucester History Festival takes place over 2 weeks in September and includes over 200 talks, exhibitions and events. Embracing Gloucester Day on Saturday 2 September, and incorporating events from partners Heritage Open Days and Voices Gloucester, the festival is back to the full nine days of talks at Blackfriars Priory. Hear from Britain’s best-known historians and broadcasters under the ancient beams of Blackfriars Priory in a Festival spearheaded by President Janina Ramirez with the support of patrons David Olusoga, Michael Wood and Bettany Hughes.

The Autumn Festival programme will be announced in July. Find out more and sign up to their mailing list here >>

We Have Ways Fest, Nr. Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

8th - 10th September 2023

We Have Ways Fest is a new history festival which began in 2019 and is based on the famous We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast which focuses on World War II history. The podcast is hosted by comedian/military history fan Al Murray, and historian/author James Holland who started the Chalke Valley History Festival. They have produced over 500 episodes of their podcast and have developed a firm fan base of World War II buffs. They cover nearly every aspect you can think of connected to World War II and many of their episodes include veterans, authors and guest experts.

The festival is two days filled with talks, re-enactors, historic military vehicles, artillery demonstrations, a modelling exhibition, a bookshop and plenty of ale, as the festival site is in the fields of a Buckinghamshire brewery. This is a place for like-minded history buffs to get together and talk all things World War II.

Find out more about the We Have Ways Fest >>

Buckinghamshire History Festival, Buckinghamshire

November 2023 (tbc)

Taking place around the county, the Buckinghamshire History Festival is curated by the Buckinghamshire Archives.

They hold events focusing on the fascinating history of the county which includes talks, plays, walks and behind the scenes visits to areas which are normally off limits to the public.

You can explore the archives, go for a walk to see the area through the eyes of famous one time resident Mary Shelley, learn about the heroes of World War I, the Wars of the Roses and a whole host of other subjects.

Find out more at The Buckinghamshire History Festival >>