The History of England's Medieval Festival

For more than thirty years, England's Medieval Festival has created unforgettable medieval memories for thousands of new and returning visitors from across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Today, England's Medieval Festival continues at its spectacular new home at The King's Grove in Pippingford Park, East Sussex, where the festival's long-established tradition of jousting, living history, medieval heritage, and immersive weekend celebration continues to grow.

Origins at Herstmonceux Castle

England's Medieval Festival was created, developed and operated by The Malcolm Group Events, owned by Clive and Gilly Geisler.

The Festival was first conceived by the Geislers in 1993, when they developed the idea of a medieval festival to mark the reopening to the public of the magnificent 15th-century moated Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex.

While Herstmonceux Castle provided the spectacular historic setting, England's Medieval Festival was not a castle-created or castle-operated event. The Festival itself was created, produced, managed and developed by The Malcolm Group Events and the Geisler family, who built it from its beginnings into one of the most recognised medieval festivals in the country.

From its original concept through decades of operation, the Geisler family were responsible for developing the Festival's format, programming, presentation and visitor experience, as well as bringing together the performers, re-enactors, traders, craftspeople, musicians, entertainers and operational teams that made the event possible.

Over the following decades, England's Medieval Festival grew to become the largest annual festival of its kind in England, attracting thousands of visitors over the three days of the August Bank Holiday weekend and establishing a national and international reputation.

The objective was always to create something far more immersive than a conventional historic-property event. The Festival was designed so that, from the moment visitors entered the grounds, they felt transported into another world.

Costumed attendants and ticket sellers greeted visitors in character, while colourful medieval encampments, tents and marquees filled the grounds. Hundreds of merchants, knights, archers, musicians, dancers, craftspeople, re-enactors and performers combined to create the distinctive atmosphere for which England's Medieval Festival became known.

That experience was developed and refined over many years by The Malcolm Group Events, with considerable investment of time, resources, creativity and expertise in building both the Festival itself and the reputation and goodwill associated with it.

While other castles, historic properties and event organisers have hosted medieval-themed events, the scale, identity, atmosphere and reputation associated with England's Medieval Festival were established through decades of work by the Geisler family and The Malcolm Group Events.

Herstmonceux Castle was an important and historic home for the Festival, but the Festival and the organisation behind it were separate from the Castle itself. The history, goodwill and reputation of England's Medieval Festival were built through the long-term work of the Geisler family, their event company, and the many performers, traders, re-enactors, staff and supporters who worked with them over the years.

Medieval-themed events subsequently staged at Herstmonceux Castle by other operators are separate productions and should not be confused with England's Medieval Festival as created, developed and operated by the Geisler family and The Malcolm Group Events.

A New Chapter at The King's Grove

In 2022, the owners of Herstmonceux Castle decided that they would no longer continue to host England's Medieval Festival, as they were rewilding much of the grounds and there would no longer be sufficient space available to accommodate the festival at the scale for which it had become known.

Following almost thirty years at the castle, England's Medieval Festival moved to its new home at The King's Grove in Pippingford Park, East Sussex.

This new setting provides a spectacular and immersive backdrop for the next chapter of the festival's history, allowing the event not only to continue, but to grow.

England's Medieval Festival remains the premier medieval festival in the UK, now re-established in a woodland realm that offers an exceptional atmosphere for reenactment, heritage interpretation, living history, performance, and weekend festival adventure.

The Festival Continues

Today, England's Medieval Festival - King's Grove continues the tradition established in 1993, bringing together:

• British and international re-enactment groups
• living history encampments
• jousting tournaments
• medieval battles and demonstrations
• craftsmen and traders
• music, theatre, and storytelling
• camping, glamping, and evening entertainment

Visitors can come for the day, or stay for the entire festival weekend and experience the atmosphere of the realm after dark.

We look forward to welcoming both returning visitors and first-time guests to EMF - King's Grove, where the medieval world comes alive once again.

Looking for the Medieval Festival at Herstmonceux Castle?

For nearly three decades, England's Medieval Festival was held at the historic Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, where it became one of the best-known medieval living history festivals in the United Kingdom.

Many visitors still search for the medieval festival at Herstmonceux Castle, Herstmonceux medieval festival, medieval heritage weekend at Herstmonceux, or living history weekend at Herstmonceux Castle because the event became such a well-known annual tradition.

Following changes to the use of the castle grounds in 2022, the original England's Medieval Festival moved to its new home at EMF - King's Grove at Pippingford Park, where the event continues today with the same organisers, performers, traders, and traditions that visitors have enjoyed for decades.

If you are searching for the medieval festival event formerly held at Herstmonceux Castle, you will find the original event now taking place at England's Medeival Festival - King's Grove.

Visitors searching for the historic medieval festival formerly held at Herstmonceux Castle are warmly invited to join us each August Bank Holiday weekend at England's Medieval Festival - King's Grove.

Medieval battle reenactment during England's Medieval Festival at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex.