Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

The breakfast spread was excellent, including interesting continental options as well as the usual cooked options.  Straight after breakfast we drove to Tewkesbury and parked the car in the dedicated festival car park.

Leave Your Weapons Here

Rather than heading into town as we had originally planned, Mr C elected to explore the festival ground arriving before most things were open so we retraced our steps and enjoyed a refreshing drink in the Touching Souls tea room followed by a quick visit to the Abbey. I was amused by a sign on a table in the Abbey’s entrance porch that stated, ‘Please leave your weapons here’. Sunlight was streaming through the windows and the Abbey had a special atmosphere that we had not experienced on our previous visits.

Kings Camp

By now the festival was officially open so we walked back to the showground and visited the trade stands picking up some lunch along the way. After lunch we visited the Kings Camp living history area and walked around the field where the re-enactment of the battle was due to take place.

Tranquility

I then left to visit Victoria Gardens whilst Mr C stayed to watch some of the re-enactment.  I enjoyed the peaceful gardens which were a contrast to the hustle and bustle in the street outside and at the festival site.

Tewkesbury Abbey

When the toing and froing of people and cars had died down I was able to cross the road to the Abbey, although by this time the tearoom had closed. It was not so peaceful in the Abbey grounds with a noisy family whose children were breaking twigs and leaves of a magnificent tree that had grown amongst the gravestones. I didn’t linger long before walking to the town’s visitor information center hoping to pick up some walking leaflets I had noticed earlier in the day. This was not to be because it had also closed for the day. By this time Mr C had seen what he wanted to see of the battle re-enactment and texted me to say he was on his way. In the Abbey Grounds I settled myself a shady seat framed by flowers to wait for him.

Tewkesbury Abbey

Back at the hotel we had a shower to wash away the dust and heat of the day before dining in Zitto e Mangia. I chose Branzino al Vino Bianco (sea bass fillet with white wine, garlic and herbs) followed by Tartufo al Limoncello (Lemon ice cream with a liquid limoncello centre coated with crushed meringue). Both dishes were delicious. When we arrived back at the hotel for a nightcap I noticed that the people sitting on the next table to us were the same people that we were seated near in the restaurant.

2 Comments CherryPie on Jul 14th 2022

2 Responses to “Tewkesbury – Day Two”

  1. Is this an annual event?
    I remember one near the abbey when I was there many years ago.
    People dressing up, tourists taking photos, etc.

    • CherryPie says:

      It is an annual event where a re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury takes place along with other connected festival events.