History Weekend 2026 programme
Find out what's on during History Weekend
Sudeley’s history spans over 1000 years and we’re delighted to be unlocking the past with three days of talks, drop-in interactive sessions, bespoke tours and special events from knowledgeable experts designated to enliven and enrich the many and varied stories threaded into the castle and gardens.
With a mix of free (general admission fees apply) and ticketed events running throughout normal visitor opening hours as well as special ticketed evening events when you can experience Sudeley in a different light, History Weekend will feature popular periods such as the Tudors, English Civil War, Georgians and Victorians - with plenty of surprising details!
Find out more about what’s on below.
Alison Weir: The Boleyn Secret £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.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 17:00, The Orangery
EVENT HAS NOW PASSED
David Starkey on Katherine Parr £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).
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 17:00, The Orangery
EVENT HAS NOW PASSED
Join Sudeley's Head Gardener Stephen Torode 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.
When & where:
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)
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.
When & where:
Friday 26th & Sunday 28th June, 11:00, Saturday 27th, 14:00, Meeting Point - The Castle Terrace
Unfortunately, the castle rooms and exhibition areas are unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Meet the Archivist
Derek Maddock, Sudeley Castle’s very own archivist, will be offering visitors a chance to investigate original historical documents showcasing Sudeley's past.
When & where:
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)
Period music
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 including the portative organ, shawms, gittern, medieval fiddle, recorders and percussion, they're sure to create a memorable soundscape.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 30 mins each at 11:30, 12:30 and 14:30, Mulberry Lawn (weather permitting)
Storytelling - Terrible Tales from Tudor Times
Designed for adults and children alike, gather close and listen to the tales that made folk laugh in Tudor times with expert storyteller Dave Tonge. 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!
When & where:
Sunday 28th June, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, Mulberry Lawn
Conservation in Action
Conservators from Janie Lightfoot Textiles will be at Sudeley during History Weekend to work on the Sheldon Tapestry. 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. Watch them in action while they're working during the hours listed below.
When & where:
Friday 26th June 10:30-16:30, Library
Saturday 27th June, 10:00-16:30, Library
Sunday 28th June, 10:00-14:30, Library
Unfortunately, the castle rooms and exhibition areas are unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Thomas Robins and the Art of the Georgian Garden
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.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 14:00, Castle Coach House
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.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 11:00 & 12:00, Morning Room
Unfortunately, the castle rooms and exhibition areas are unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Lady Jane Grey at Sudeley
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.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 11:00, The Chapel
Saturday 27th June, 12:00, Castle Coach House
Katherine Parr - Survived!
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.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 13:00, The Chapel
Sunday 28th June, 13:00, The Chapel
The Royal Progress 1535
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 guide Liz Moulson to explore the pivotal moments of their visit.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 15:00, The Chapel
The Victorians of Sudeley
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.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 11:00, The Chapel
Romantic Sudeley
As the Romantic movement took hold in the Georgian era, the ruins of Sudeley became a tourist attraction, with George III paying a visit which nearly had a drastic impact on the monarchy. This talk by Sudeley guide Dale Scarboro aims to briefly explain Romanticism and illustrate it with chapters of Sudeley's past - and present.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 13:00, The Chapel
Victorian Celebrity
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.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 14:00, Castle Coach House
The English Civil War in Gloucestershire
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.
When & where:
Sunday 28th June, 14:00, Castle Coach House
Crinolines to Bustles
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.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 15:00, The Chapel
Sunday 28th June, 11:00, The Chapel
The Tangles and Legacy of the Civil War in Gloucestershire
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.
When & where:
Sunday 28th June, 12:00, Castle Coach House
Meet the Museum
Come and listen to 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'
When & where:
Sunday 28th June, The Badger Room
Evensong Service
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.
When & where:
Sunday 28th June, 16:00, The Chapel
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