The Battle of Evesham – Evesham, England 2026
Overview
The Battle of Evesham reenactment is Europe’s largest living history event recreating the pivotal 13th-century clash on August 4, 1265, where Prince Edward’s royalist forces decisively defeated Simon de Montfort’s baronial rebels, restoring King Henry III’s authority and shaping early parliamentary roots. Held in the scenic Vale of Evesham, this immersive weekend draws thousands with authentic combat displays, a grand parade of armored knights, and a vibrant medieval encampment that transforms Crown Meadow into a bustling hub of 1260s life, complete with falconry, crafts, and feasting.
Free to enter, the festival blends high-stakes reenactments with family-friendly pursuits, from equestrian spectacles to treasure trails, all set against Evesham’s historic abbey ruins and riverside charm. Organized by the Battle of Evesham Ltd and Trust, it honors the battle’s bloody legacy—de Montfort’s dismemberment—while celebrating community heritage, boosted by UK government funding that underscores its economic spark for Worcestershire.
Event Highlights
- Main activities or performances: Epic battle reenactments on Saturday and Sunday with hundreds of combatants in full kit clashing across Crown Meadow; Grand Parade on Saturday featuring mounted knights thundering through town streets.
- Special traditions or features: Annual wreath-laying at the Abbey Park memorial on Sunday, evoking the battle’s solemn toll; living history camp showcasing 13th-century tactics, with volunteer-led talks on de Montfort’s reforms and Edward’s vengeance.
- Unique attractions for visitors: Interactive falconry and equestrian demos; children’s treasure hunts and archery ranges; pop-up stalls with medieval-inspired wares, blending education with entertainment in Evesham’s lush meadows.
About This Event
- Revives the Second Barons’ War’s climactic rout to educate on medieval politics, emphasizing de Montfort’s parliamentary innovations amid visceral combat choreography.
- Volunteer-fueled with reenactor societies like the Wars of the Roses Company, fostering authentic immersion that supports local tourism and heritage preservation.
- Eco-aware with minimal-impact setups in the riverside setting, tying into Worcestershire’s countryside ethos for a sustainable slice of history.
Why Attend
Charging into the Battle of Evesham lets you witness raw medieval drama up close—from clanging swords to knightly charges—without a penny for entry, making it a thrilling steal for history buffs plotting their own baronial uprising or families forging epic tales over camp roasts. The parade’s pageantry and meadow skirmishes create pulse-pounding highlights, effortlessly blending spectacle with strolls through Evesham’s abbey shadows, where every clash echoes democracy’s gritty dawn.
More than mock mayhem, it’s a portal to England’s feudal forge, where de Montfort’s fall ignites chats on power’s price, leaving solo time-travelers with lore-loaded notebooks, couples with chivalric toasts, and kids with bows drawn—sun-scorched, story-rich, and hooked on the Vale’s recurring roar of resilience and revelry.
Date & Duration
- Dates: August 1 – August 2, 2026
- Duration: 2 days
Venue / Location
- City: Evesham, Worcestershire, England; centered on the town center and riverside meadows for seamless flow.
- Main venues: Crown Meadow (primary battleground and encampment for reenactments and demos), Abbey Park (wreath-laying memorial), town streets (Grand Parade route starting at Vine Street).
- Main event Google location address: Crown Meadow, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4SS, UK
Ticket Information
- How tickets are sold: Free walk-up entry to all activities; no advance booking required, though parking passes may be available online closer to date.
- Whether admission is free or paid: Entirely free for spectators, funded by sponsors, donations, and grants.
- Ticket pricing in USD only: Free for all access; optional donations at info points.
- Any special seating or VIP options: No formal VIP; reserved viewing mounds for families via email request; priority for mobility-impaired via on-site assistance.
- Minimum ticket price: $0 USD (free entry); maximum $0 USD (donations voluntary).
- Group entry encouraged with marshals; child supervision advised for archery; licensed bar for over-18s.
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Contact Information
- Email: mick@battleofevesham.co.uk (general inquiries); info@battleofevesham.co.uk (events and programming).
- Phone: +44 7887 621856 (festival office, English available).
- Website: https://battleofevesham.co.uk; https://www.facebook.com/battleofevesham (updates and community).
- Social Media: @battleofevesham (Facebook); search Battle of Evesham (Instagram and X/Twitter).
- Key Staff: Mick (primary contact); Battle of Evesham Ltd and Trust board via email.
- Press/Volunteers: Email press@battleofevesham.co.uk (media); volunteer applications via website form (open spring).
- Note: Response time ~24–48 hours. English support available; volunteer camps in July.
Getting There
- Nearest airports: Birmingham International (BHX), 30 miles/45-min drive via M5; London Heathrow (LHR), 90 miles/1.5 hours.
- Public transport: Great Western Railway to Evesham station (direct from London Paddington, 1.5 hours); local buses from Worcester or Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Parking: Limited at Crown Meadow; use outskirts lots like Abbey Park ($3.90–$6.50 USD/day) with free shuttles; carpool encouraged.
- Other access: Avon River paths for cyclists; rideshares like Uber from stations; pedestrian routes with ramps to meadows.
Accommodation Options
- Budget stays: Camping at Evesham Riverside sites ($26–$39 USD/night); B&Bs like The Anchor Inn ($52 USD/night shared).
- Mid-range hotels: Premier Inn Evesham ($65–$91 USD/night, free parking); Riverside Hotel ($78 USD/night with river views).
- Luxury options: The Lygon Arms, Broadway (15-min drive, $130–$156 USD/night, spa); Evesham Hotel ($104 USD/night, historic elegance).
- Other: Airbnbs in town cottages ($52–$91 USD/night); book via Booking.com for August Bank Holiday; pet-friendly at most B&Bs.
Reviews
- Knights charging through the parade had hearts racing—camp demos were a hit, free chaos that felt like time-slipping into 1265 glory.
- Bloody brilliant reenactments with real grit; kids loved falconry, town’s alive with medieval magic—worth every muddy step.
- De Montfort’s fall staged epicly, music and mead flowing; Evesham’s meadows make it the ultimate history binge.
Maps
Contact
Video
FAQ's
What makes the Battle of Evesham reenactment unique among UK historical events?
This spectacle stands out as Europe's grandest 13th-century revival, pitting 900+ reenactors in authentic Second Barons' War clashes on the actual 1265 site, where Edward's ambush crushed de Montfort amid foggy dawn mists. Free entry democratizes the drama, blending visceral battles with nuanced talks on parliamentary seeds sown in blood. The Grand Parade's armored cavalcade through streets adds cinematic flair, while encampments offer hands-on heraldry and herbal lore. Funded by Levelling Up grants, it boosts local lore without commercial gloss. Families dig the treasure trails, purists the tactical breakdowns—it's raw resurrection, turning August weekends into visceral vaults of valor. Repeat visitors chase the evolving scripts that honor Evesham's pivotal punch in monarchy's makeover.
Is the festival family-friendly, and what activities suit children?
Absolutely, it's a young squire's dream with free access to safe meadows hosting kid-centric archery, treasure hunts, and pony rides amid the fray, keeping tots engaged without frontline peril. Parents praise the shaded camp zones for picnics, volunteer-monitored play areas, and short skirmishes that spark imagination sans scariness. Falconry feeds curiosity, craftsmen chats teach trades lightly, and the parade delights with horse-hoof thunder. All-ages licensing at the bar means elderberries for minis, while flat paths ease strollers. It's heritage homeschooling at its jolliest, forging mini-historians in Evesham's welcoming wilds—feedback dubs it "swordplay without the sting."
How can I volunteer or reenact in the 2026 battle?
Volunteering's a call to arms—email for roles like marshal or camp steward, with summer training in kit and courtesy, perks including insider access and feast invites. No feudal oath required; enthusiasm arms you—alums boast of forged fellowships amid the melee. Reenactors join via society links on site, submitting for royalist or rebel berths by spring; women and youth groups welcome for diverse ranks. Sponsors email for banner spots amplifying heritage hype. It's immersive impact, scripting the saga from scabbard to shield. Track Facebook for muster calls, as companies swell like Edward's host—step into the stirrups early.
What accessibility features support attendees with disabilities?
Equipped for allcomers: Crown Meadow's viewing mounds offer elevated, wheelchair-friendly panoramas of battles, with ramps at camp gates and volunteer escorts for parade paths. Free companion entry, plus audio-described narrations via app for key clashes and large-print programs at info huts. Quiet abbey nooks provide sensory respites, and shuttles from parking are low-floor. Staff guide navigation over gentle terrain, and feedback lauds inclusive encampment loops. Pre-email for tailored aids like reserved falconry seats or BSL for talks—ensuring every broadside and banner flies fair for mobility, hearing, and beyond in chivalrous stride.
August weather in Evesham and packing tips for the weekend?
Worcestershire midsummer sways 59–75°F with shower squalls—layer tunics under cloaks, pack ponchos and sunshades for the pageant of possibilities. Sturdy boots brave meadow mud post-rain; reusables for eco stalls, cash for trinkets (cards at mains), and the map for skirmish spots. Families: blankets for camp lounges, sun lotion for little lords. Download the app for schedules amid the clamor; arrive by shuttle early to claim vantage. Locals counsel post-parade riverside rests and mead moderation. Attire's era-flex—gambesons optional—and surrender to the sun; the clash conquers any cloudburst.
