Meet you at the tavern. We’ve got a few centuries to explore.

Send this to the friend who keeps saying, “We should do something different.”

Then suggest meeting at a medieval tavern.

On 26–27 September, the Abbey History Festival takes over Abbeystowe, bringing together worlds you would normally need a very ambitious travel itinerary—and several centuries—to explore. From the team behind the Abbey Medieval Festival, this is a weekend of living history, performances, food, markets and opportunities to get involved.

This is history you walk into

Forget trying to remember which king did what in which year. Start with whatever catches your eye.

Explore a Viking encampment. Follow the music to the dance hall. Meet the people recreating life in another age and ask the question you would never think to type into a search engine. The festival moves from ancient worlds through medieval life, Regency society and the experiences of the early 20th century.

Across the announced programme, Japanese Taiko drums bring the energy, colourful dancers bring the movement, and Australian Light Horse riders demonstrate the extraordinary coordination of horse and rider. Vintage aircraft flypasts add another reason to stop and look up.

You could learn a dance that predates your great-great-grandparents. Discover the patience behind calligraphy. Or simply wander, letting the sights, sounds and conversations choose your next stop. The Japanese precinct includes calligraphy and origami workshops alongside performances and demonstrations.

Historical dress is encouraged, but it is not compulsory. Enthusiasm is considerably more important than owning a cloak.

A little less rushing.
A lot more discovering.

Here is something longtime Abbey fans will appreciate: this is a deliberately smaller-capacity event than the Abbey Medieval Festival, designed to bring visitors closer to the experience.

That is an invitation to linger.

Have the conversation. Explore the encampment. Give the children time to follow their curiosity rather than hurrying them towards the next thing.

Young adventurers can head into Kids Dig It! Kingdom, with hands-on activities, crafts, puppet shows and traditional games among the attractions. Archery is another returning Abbey favourite.

But this is not a children’s outing with something for the adults squeezed around the edges. It is a day you can enjoy together—or a perfectly good excuse to assemble an entirely grown-up group of adventurers.

Especially once lunch enters the conversation.

Come for the adventure.
Bring an appetite.

The announced food stalls make their own journey around the world: Greek souvlaki, Vietnamese bánh mì, Japanese karaage and takoyaki, bratwurst, pasta and the wonderfully on-theme Samurai Sword Chicken.

Choose something delicious, browse the merchants, and make time for a stop at the Stag Inn.

There is something appealing about a day that does not need to be organised down to the minute. You can follow a performance, find an unexpected treasure at a stall, then gather everyone back together over food and a drink.

There is, however, one thing worth planning your afternoon around.

Put this one in the group chat

The festival celebrates 40 years of the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology—but you do not need to be a history enthusiast to join the celebration.

You just need to be ready for a day that feels different.

Some workshops may carry an additional fee, and programme details are subject to change.

We’ll see you somewhere between the tavern and another century.