Sudeley Castle & Gardens has unveiled a brand-new event for 2026 with its inaugural History Weekend this June (26th – 28th).
The three-day celebration of storytelling, heritage and exploration in the heart of the Cotswolds takes place from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June and showcases renowned specialists, including author Alison Weir and historian David Starkey, archivists and custodians of the castle, alongside storytellers, living history specialists and Sudeley’s knowledgeable guides. Visitors are invited to explore more than 1,000 years of the castle’s extraordinary past with a vibrant mix of talks, tours and interactive sessions.
Set within the historic grounds and gardens, History Weekend offers an engaging way to experience one of the Cotswolds’ most iconic landmarks. Promising three days of free (general admission fees apply) and ticketed events, including expert talks, drop-in sessions, tours and special evening events, exploring Sudeley through the ages, it is designed for avid historians and folklore fans alike.
‘Sudeley’s history is absolutely jam packed full of fascinating stories,’ says Sudeley’s CEO Dominic Hamilton. ‘We’ve had a great time putting together a programme of intriguing talks to tell some of the best of them – our challenge has been to fit it all in! From the intrigues of the Tudor court played out within Sudeley’s walls to the savagery inflicted by the Civil War to the ambition of the Victorian industrialists who restored the castle, our brand-new History Weekend features a broad range of topics and speakers. Set against the backdrop of the castle and rolling Cotswold countryside, I can’t think of anywhere more inspiring to feed a history-lover’s curious mind.’
Once home to kings and queens, including Henry VIII and Katherine Parr, the castle has witnessed moments that shaped both national and local history. Sudeley’s History Weekend explores these stories in more detail, from its Tudor connections to its role during the Civil War and later restoration periods.
Across the jam-packed weekend, visitors can enjoy a full programme of activities designed to bring the past to life, with informative talks and live demonstrations, alongside expertly guided tours of the castle and gardens, set against a backdrop of period music and storytelling.
Visitors will experience living history with costumed musicians Waytes and Measures, plus terrible tales from Tudor times with Dave Tong. Local heritage experts will also contribute to the experience, with sessions led by textile curator and conservator Bev Johnson, featuring Sudeley’s carefully curated selection of Victorian fashion. Members of Winchcombe Museum will explore Sudeley’s links to the town and Janie Lightfoot Textiles will be undertaking live conservation.
Sudeley Castle’s History Weekend Schedule:
| Alison Weir: The Boleyn Secret Friday 26th June, 17:00, The Orangery £25pp Author and historian Alison Weir returns to Sudeley Castle to give a talk on her most recent publication The Boleyn Secret. Tickets are £25 per person and include an arrival drink hosted by Lady Ashcombe, chatelaine of Sudeley. Doors open at 5pm followed by the talk at 6pm. |
| David Starkey on Katherine Parr Saturday 27th June, 17:00, The Orangery £25pp Renowned historian David Starkey will be delivering an insightful talk ‘Regent, Religious Reformer, Fool in Love: The extraordinary life of Katherine Parr, Sudeley’s Tudor Queen’. Tickets are £25 per person and include an arrival drink hosted by Lady Ashcombe, chatelaine of Sudeley. Doors open at 5pm followed by the talk at 6pm (approx. one hour). |
| Historic Garden Tour Friday 26th (Stephen Torode) 14:00 & Saturday 27th June (Lindsey Draper) 11:00, Meeting Point – The Castle Terrace (tours will last approximately 1 hour and 15 mins) £10pp Join Sudeley’s Head Gardener and guide Lindsey Draper as they offer an insight into Sudeley’s magnificent gardens with the opportunity to learn about the history that has shaped them. |
| Behind The Scenes Guided Tour Friday 26th & Sunday 28th June 11:00, Saturday 27th 14:00, Meeting Point – The Castle Terrace Meeting Point – The Castle Terrace £12.50pp Venture beyond the walls and into the private life of Sudeley castle with a tour that includes the private family rooms, usually closed to the public. |
| Meet the Archivist Friday 26th & Saturday 27th June 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 & 15:30, The Badger Room (accessed via the exhibitions area ground floor) Included with general admission Derek Maddock, Sudeley Castle’s very own archivist, will be offering visitors a chance to investigate original historical documents showcasing Sudeley’s past. |
| Period music Saturday 27th June Included with general admission Waytes and Measures return to Sudeley to play and sing music from Medieval times up to the mid-16th century. With historical costumes and period instruments such as the gittern, recorders, shawms, medieval fiddle, hurdy-gurdy, portative organ and percussion, they’re sure to create a memorable soundscape. |
| Storytelling – Terrible Tales from Tudor Times Sunday 28th June, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, Mulberry Lawn Included with general admission Designed for adults and children alike, gather close and listen to the tales that made folk laugh in Tudor times, with expert storyteller Dave Tong. Hear about lazy, long-limbed lads, poor penniless pedlars, wise and witty women, foolish fops in fine attire and even a radish that was worth a hundred gold coins! |
| Conservation in Action Friday 26th June 10:30-16:30, Library Saturday 27th June, 10:00-16:30, Library Sunday 28th June, 10:00-14:30, Library Included with general admission Conservators from Janie Lightfoot Textiles will be at Sudeley during History Weekend to work on the Sheldon Tapestry and visitors will have the opportunity to watch them work live. Conservation Manager, Lizzie Cherry and Conservator, Yana Tsikalo will be readjusting the existing lining and replacing the hanging mechanism to enable the tapestry to hang correctly and reduce the undulations across the bottom edge. This will help reduce stresses on the tapestry which could cause damage in the future. |
| Thomas Robins and the Art of the Georgian Garden Friday 26th June, 14:00, Castle Coach House Included with general admission Thomas Robins recorded the country estates of the Georgian gentry like no other, his artistic skill honed by the delicacy required for his early career as a fan painter. Known for capturing fascinating views of Sudeley Castle and other great houses, Dr Cathryn Spence will introduce Robins and his astonishing proficiency as a topographical, botanical, entomological and naturalist artist. Copies of her beautifully illustrated monograph on the artist and his patrons will be available to buy. |
| Thomas Robins Artwork Talk Friday 26th June, 11:00 & 12:00, Morning Room Included with general admission (limited capacity) Join Dr Cathryn Spence for a short 15-20 minute talk in front of the two paintings Thomas Robins did of Sudeley, one on loan and one part of the castle’s permanent collection, ahead of her in-depth talk on the artist at 2pm in the Castle Coach House. |
| Lady Jane Grey at Sudeley Friday 26th June, 11:00, The Chapel Saturday 27th June, 12:00, Castle Coach House Included with geneal admission Find out what brought Lady Jane Grey to Sudeley as a young girl, her links with Katherine Parr, and how her story unfolded until the tragic end of her life with Sudeley guide Debbie Dyson. |
| Katherine Parr – Survived! Friday 26th June, 13:00, The Chapel Sunday 28th June, 13:00, The Chapel Included with general admission Follow the incredible journey of Henry VIII’s last wife through the intrigues of the Tudor court and on to her final resting place at Sudeley Castle with Sudeley guide Mike Bottomley. |
| The Royal Progress 1535 Friday 26th June, 15:00, The Chapel Included with general admission Return to the turbulent time of 1535. The reformation is in full swing and Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn are on a crucial ‘progress’ to cement their power. Surrounded by the luxury of Sudeley Castle, they were shaping the future of England. Join Sudeley’s guide Liz Moulson to explore the pivotal moments of their visit. |
| The Victorians of Sudeley Saturday 27th June, 11:00, The Chapel Included with general admission Find out more about the Victorians of Sudeley, their links with the town of Winchcombe and how their legacy still lives on through the present family owners of the castle with Sudeley guide Heather Canavan. |
| Romantic Sudeley Saturday 27th June, 13:00, The Chapel Included with general admission As the Romantic movement took hold in the Georgian era, the ruins of Sudeley became a tourist attraction, with George III paying a visit that nearly had a drastic impact on the monarchy. This talk by Sudeley’s guide Dale Scarboro aims to briefly explain Romanticism and illustrate it with chapters of Sudeley’s past – and present. |
| Victorian Celebrity Saturday 27th June, 14:00, Castle Coach House Included with general admission Frivolous, destructive or dangerous? Jane Harrison of the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, will use Emma Dent’s collection to introduce Victorian celebrity culture and challenge contemporary stereotypes about its fans. |
| The English Civil War in Gloucestershire Saturday 28th June, 14:00, Castle Coach House Included with general admission Gloucestershire was a divided county during the English Civil War. Sudeley Castle was the beating heart of the Royalist war effort in the county with George Brydges, 6th Baron Chandos, Charles I’s loyal lieutenant, while Parliamentarian forces controlled Gloucester itself. This talk by Sudeley guide Dale Scarboro examines the strategic problems facing the two armies and the central role played by Sudeley in events between 1642 and 1644. |
| Crinolines to Bustles Saturday 27th June, 15:00, The Chapel Sunday 28th June, 11:00, The Chapel Included with general admission Join Sudeley’s textile conservator and curator Bev Johnson for a journey through Victorian fashion. Sudeley’s collection contains The Worth Jacket from the House of Worth haute couture fashion house and ivory silk shoes reputedly worn by Emma Dent on her wedding day. |
| The Tangles and Legacy of the Civil War in Gloucestershire Sunday 28th June, 12:00, Castle Coach House Included with general admission Founder of Gloucester History Festival Richard Graham joins Sudeley’s History Weekend to share insights into how the Civil War shaped history in the county. |
| Meet the Museum Sunday 28th June, The Badger Room Included with general admission Come and listen to the experts from Winchcombe Museum: 11:30 & 15:30 – Alastair Robinson ‘Emma Dent: A Benefactress to Winchcombe’ 12:30 – Sarah King ‘Goda: Winchombe’s Forgotten Princess’ 13:30 – Anne Crow ‘Sudeley Castle in Ruins 1649-1837’ 14:30 Carol Harris ‘Other Winchcombe Benefactors from Sudeley Castle’ |
| Evensong Service Sunday 28th June, 16:00, The Chapel Included with general admission The Parish of Winchcombe invites you to attend Evensong in Sudeley’s Chapel, St Mary’s Church. With worship led by Fliss Hall and music from Tapestry Chamber Choir this promises to be a moving end to History Weekend. |
 | For further details about Sudeley’s History Weekend, see https://sudeleycastle.co.uk/events/history-weekend-2026 |
