Avoncroft Living History Festival 2027 – Bromsgrove, United Kingdom

Overview

The Avoncroft Living History Festival 2027 will take place on 24–25 April 2027 at Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. The festival transforms the museum’s historic setting into a large multi-era living-history experience, with more than 40 re-enactment groups expected to establish camps across the site.

The festival covers a remarkably broad period of history, with representations ranging from the Stone Age and Bronze Age through the Viking era, medieval periods, later centuries and into the 1940s and Cold War era. More than 300 reenactors are expected to participate across more than 40 camps.

Visitors can explore historic buildings and encampments, watch demonstrations and displays, meet reenactors, browse a historically themed market, enjoy music and dance, and take part in hands-on activities. The museum’s 19-acre site and collection of more than 30 historic buildings provide the setting for the weekend.

Cultural Significance & Origins

Avoncroft Museum was established to preserve historic buildings and structures that might otherwise have been lost. More than 30 buildings have been rescued and reconstructed at the museum in rural Worcestershire, creating an unusual open-air setting for interpreting Britain’s architectural and social history.

The Living History Festival builds on this heritage by placing reenactors within and around the museum’s historic structures. Instead of concentrating on one historical period, the festival allows visitors to move through different eras during a single visit.

The event has been held at Avoncroft since 2022 and has developed into one of the region’s major multi-era living-history festivals.

Traditions, Rituals & Customs

The festival focuses on historical interpretation and reenactment rather than a single traditional ceremony.

Different groups recreate aspects of everyday life from their chosen historical period. Camps may demonstrate cooking, crafts, military life, domestic activities, clothing, tools, weapons, music, and other elements of historical life.

The organisers encourage reenactment groups to interact with visitors, allowing people to ask questions and learn about the historical period represented by each camp.

What to Expect at the Festival

Avoncroft Living History Festival is designed as an immersive weekend rather than a conventional stage festival.

Visitors can walk through the museum grounds and encounter historically themed camps alongside the museum’s buildings. Demonstrations and displays take place in dedicated arenas, while stages are used for music, talks, and other presentations.

The 2027 festival will include two arenas for displays and talks, together with stages for music, talks, and demonstrations. Historic traders will also be present, offering historically inspired goods and crafts.

The museum’s miniature railway and vintage fun fair provide additional attractions, particularly for families. Food and drink are available from the museum’s tea rooms and event café.

Date & Schedule

The Avoncroft Living History Festival 2027 will take place on:

Saturday, 24 April 2027
Sunday, 25 April 2027

The official event information currently lists opening hours of 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day.

The detailed timetable for individual camps, talks, arena demonstrations, music, and other activities is expected to be published closer to the festival. The organisers advise visitors to use the event calendar when selecting their preferred day.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Main Events & Programme

Multi-Era Living History Camps

More than 40 reenactment groups are expected to establish camps around the museum. Together, the camps represent a wide range of historical periods, from prehistoric life through to the 20th century.

Visitors can walk between camps and see different approaches to clothing, crafts, domestic life, military history, technology, and everyday activities.

Arena Displays and Talks

Two dedicated arenas will be used for historical displays and talks during the 2027 festival. These provide opportunities for visitors to see demonstrations and learn more about particular periods or historical subjects.

Music and Dance

Music and dance performances will take place in Guesten Hall, adding another dimension to the historical atmosphere.

Meet the Authors

The 2027 festival introduces a Meet the Authors area, with talks and presentations taking place across the weekend in the Mission Church. The programme is intended to provide opportunities to explore historical subjects through talks and presentations.

Historic Traders’ Market

Historic traders will sell historically inspired goods and handmade products. The organisers list examples including jewellery, hats, handmade tools, costumes, cloth, historic pottery, and mead.

Hands-On Activities

Hands-on activities are part of the festival experience, allowing visitors to engage with historical themes rather than simply observing reenactments.

The exact activities available in 2027 will depend on the participating groups and published programme.

Vintage Fun Fair and Miniature Railway

The festival also includes a vintage fun fair and miniature train rides, providing additional entertainment for families.

Traditional Dress, Arts & Crafts

Historical clothing is one of the most visible features of the festival. Reenactors dress according to the periods and communities they represent, creating a changing visual experience as visitors move around the site.

Craft demonstrations and historical skills form an important part of the camps. Depending on the participating groups, visitors may encounter demonstrations involving tools, textiles, pottery, leather, woodworking, metalworking, cooking, and other traditional skills.

The traders’ market extends this craft element, with handmade and historically inspired products available to browse and purchase.

Traditional Food & Local Specialties

Food and drink are available throughout the festival. The museum’s tea rooms and the Event Café in Guesten Hall provide refreshments during the weekend.

Historical camps may also demonstrate period food preparation and cooking as part of their living-history displays. The exact availability of food demonstrations depends on the individual participating groups.

Visitors looking for a broader selection of restaurants can also explore Bromsgrove and the surrounding Worcestershire area outside the museum.

Location & Festival Areas

The festival takes place at:

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings
Stoke Heath
Bromsgrove
Worcestershire
B60 4JR
United Kingdom

The museum is an open-air heritage site covering approximately 19 acres, with more than 30 historic buildings and structures.

Festival activity is distributed across the site, with historical camps positioned around the museum buildings. There are also two arenas, performance areas, Guesten Hall, the Mission Church, the traders’ market, catering areas, and family attractions.

Getting to the Festival

By Car

Avoncroft Museum is located in Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, just off Buntsford Hill and Redditch Road.

The festival provides free parking, according to the official 2027 event information.

The museum’s address for navigation is: Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4JR.

By Train

Bromsgrove railway station provides rail connections to the wider West Midlands and surrounding areas. From the station, visitors will need onward road transport to reach the museum.

Visitors travelling without a car should check the latest local bus and taxi connections before travelling.

By Bus and Local Transport

Local bus services connect Bromsgrove with surrounding communities. Because event-day services can vary, visitors should check current routes and timetables before setting out.

Where to Stay Nearby

Visitors attending both days can stay in Bromsgrove or surrounding Worcestershire towns. Accommodation ranges from hotels and traditional inns to guesthouses and other short-stay properties. Staying in Bromsgrove is particularly convenient for visitors who want to explore the town as well as attend the museum.

Those travelling by car can also consider accommodation in nearby Redditch, Droitwich Spa, Worcester, or other parts of Worcestershire.

What Visitors Can Participate In

The festival is designed to encourage interaction between reenactors and visitors.

Depending on the participating groups and final 2027 programme, visitors can explore historical camps, speak with reenactors, watch demonstrations, participate in hands-on activities, attend talks, browse the traders’ market, and enjoy music and dance.

Families can also combine the historical programme with miniature train rides and the vintage fun fair. Visitors should follow instructions from individual reenactment groups when entering camps or participating in demonstrations.

Things to Do Before or After the Festival

Explore Avoncroft Museum

Even beyond the festival programme, the museum’s collection of rescued historic buildings is a major attraction. The buildings provide context for the living-history displays and are worth exploring during a full-day visit.

Visit Bromsgrove

Bromsgrove offers independent shops, cafés, pubs, and local services and can be explored before or after visiting the museum.

Explore Worcestershire

Visitors staying for a longer weekend can explore nearby historic towns and countryside, including Worcester, Droitwich Spa, and the surrounding Worcestershire landscape.

Discover More Heritage Attractions

The wider West Midlands and Worcestershire region contains historic houses, museums, canals, and heritage attractions, making the festival suitable as part of a broader heritage-focused trip.

Local Food & Restaurants

Bromsgrove and the surrounding area offer traditional pubs, cafés, restaurants, and casual dining options. Visitors can use the museum’s tea rooms and event café during the festival itself, while staying in Bromsgrove provides access to additional restaurants outside the event grounds.

For visitors attending evening activities elsewhere in the region, checking restaurant opening times and booking ahead is advisable.

Ticket Information & Access

The official 2027 event page currently lists the following early-bird ticket prices:

Ticket	Early-Bird Price
Adult	£19.75
Child aged 5–17	£6
Child under 5	Free
Member Adult	£10
Member Child	£4

An essential carer ticket is also available where the required proof of carer status is provided.

The museum states that early-bird prices are available for a limited time. It also reserves the right to stop selling tickets at the entrance once the site’s maximum capacity has been reached.

Free parking is available, and the event is advertised as dog friendly.

For visitors interested in attending both days, it is worth checking whether the final ticketing system offers any weekend-specific option when the complete 2027 booking information is published.

Official Event Information

For confirmed dates, ticket booking, participating groups, programme announcements, visitor information, and access details, visit the official Avoncroft Museum website:

Home

The official festival page currently confirms 24–25 April 2027, opening hours of 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, early-bird ticket prices, and the main festival attractions.