Tewkesbury Medieval Festival 2027: 10 and 11 July, free

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is a free weekend of re-enactment on part of the field where the Battle of Tewkesbury was fought in 1471, just south of the town centre. The 2027 festival is on Saturday 10 July, from 11am to 6pm with more events in the town afterwards, and Sunday 11 July, from 11am to 5pm. It is usually held on the second full weekend of July, and the organisers give 8 and 9 July for 2028.

What happens

Re-enactors fill the field for the weekend and fight the battle each afternoon: at 4pm on the Saturday and 3pm on the Sunday, for about an hour. Watch from the viewing area, and get there early for a good view; there is no seating, so bring a folding chair if you want one, and expect loud bangs, which can upset small children and dogs. Around the camps is a large medieval market, where you can buy anything from a suit of armour or a gown to herbs, sweets, mead or a leather belt. Other events are held around Tewkesbury and in the abbey.

What it costs

Entry is free and needs no ticket. The festival is a non-profit run by volunteers and relies on donations, so bring some cash: card payments on the field are unreliable, and the nearest cash machines are a short walk away in the town.

Getting there and parking

The site is off Gloucester Road, about five minutes' walk from the town centre. The nearest station is Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, about 2 miles (3km) east, with buses into the town, and buses from Cheltenham stop within two minutes' walk of the site. For satnavs the organisers give GL20 5SX, the leisure centre next to the site. Drivers should follow the yellow signs to the festival car parks, which cost £10 a car for the day, cash only, and lock at 6.30pm, with a fee to release a car left later; by then the town centre car parks are free. Do not park in the streets around the site. Blue Badge holders have their own spaces at the same price.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on short leads, not extending ones. There are portable toilets on site, including accessible ones. The fields are rough underfoot but the organisers say they are accessible to wheelchairs; there is little seating or shade, so bring a hat and a chair. The organisers also run a campsite five minutes from the field from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, booked through the Tewkesbury Tourist Information Centre on 01684 855040.

Questions about Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

When is the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival in 2027?

The 2027 Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is on Saturday 10 July, from 11am to 6pm, and Sunday 11 July, from 11am to 5pm, on the battlefield off Gloucester Road. The battle is re-enacted at 4pm on the Saturday and 3pm on the Sunday, and there are more events in the town on the Saturday evening.

Is the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival free?

Yes, the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is free and needs no ticket. It is a non-profit run by volunteers and depends on donations to pay for the weekend. Parking in the festival car parks costs £10 a car for the day, cash only, so bring cash for that, for the market and for the donation buckets.

Can I take my dog to the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival?

Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival on a short lead; the organisers ask that you do not use an extending lead and that you clean up after your dog. There are portable toilets on the field, including accessible ones, and you can ask the organisers ahead if you need more.