Thousands Step Back In Time At Arundel Castle’s Easter Medieval Festival

Thousands of visitors travelled back to the year 1189 over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend as Arundel Castle hosted its first Medieval Festival of 2026.

The three-day event featured a lively programme of entertainment, including 12th-century combat displays, falconry, archery and live medieval music, all set within a tented encampment on the castle grounds.

Families were also able to get involved, with activities such as axe throwing, craft sessions and the popular ‘Kids Battles’.

The festival celebrated the coronation of Coronation of Richard the Lionheart, with a central tournament hosted by the Earl of Arundel.

Castle Manager Andrew Lewis said organisers were “delighted” with the turnout, adding there was “something to captivate everyone”.

The weekend also marked the start of the castle’s annual Tulip Festival, featuring more than 110,000 blooms across the grounds.

Another Medieval Festival is planned for the late May bank holiday, promising further live combat, reenactments and immersive historical displays.