UK Castle Festivals and Events: Annual Calendar

Britain’s castles were built for drama, and every year they bring it back. From thundering jousts in high summer to after-dark light trails at Christmas, the UK castle events calendar is packed with reasons to visit somewhere you thought you already knew. This guide brings the best castle events UK-wide into one month-by-month calendar, so you can plan your camping trips around them.

We’ve grouped events by season, flagged which ones are included with normal admission, and noted where you can pitch a tent nearby. Dates follow a reliable yearly pattern, but organisers confirm them each season, so always check the official page before you book a pitch.

The UK castle events year at a glance

Castle events follow the school holidays: Easter trails, May bank holiday jousts, a summer of tournaments, Halloween at October half-term and light trails from late November.

Tip: English Heritage, Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust members get free or discounted entry to many of these events, so a membership can pay for itself in one summer.

Spring castle events (March to May)

Spring is the quiet start of the season: castles reopen full-time, campsites unlock their gates, and the first jousts arrive with the May bank holidays.

March and April: Easter trails and St George’s Day

Most heritage bodies run family Easter trails across the school holidays, with egg hunts, quests and costumed characters. Easter Sunday falls on 28 March in 2027, so expect trails from late March into mid-April. St George’s Day (23 April) brings dragon-themed family days to several English castles.

Camping tip: Early-season pitches are cheap and quiet, but nights are cold. Pack a winter-rated sleeping bag.

Early May bank holiday: medieval weekends

Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex marks its 1441 origins with a Medieval Heritage Weekend over the first May bank holiday, with reenactors, combat displays and craft demonstrations. In 2026 it ran Saturday 2 to Monday 4 May. (Herstmonceux Castle)

Late May bank holiday: The Queen’s Joust at Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle in Kent hosts The Queen’s Joust over the late May bank holiday. In 2026 it ran 23 to 25 May, with English, French and Norwegian teams competing, and it was included with standard admission. (Leeds Castle)

Camping tip: Late May is half-term in most of England, so book Kent campsites as soon as joust dates are announced.

Summer castle festivals (June to August)

Summer is peak season for medieval festivals UK-wide, and it lines up perfectly with peak camping weather.

June: jousting by the sea at Bamburgh

Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland hosts live jousting with the Knights of Royal England over Father’s Day weekend. In 2026 it ran 20 and 21 June. Tickets must be pre-booked, there’s no seating, and visitors are asked to bring a camping chair. (Visit Northumberland)

July: Arundel and Hever

Arundel Castle in West Sussex runs its International Medieval Jousting Tournament in late July; the 2026 edition ran 21 to 26 July with falconry, fire-eating and a kids’ battle between jousts. (Medieval Archives)

Hever Castle in Kent, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, stages jousting on selected days from mid-July to the end of August, included with admission. (Hever Castle)

August: English Heritage jousts and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo

English Heritage tours its Legendary Joust around the country through August. The 2026 run included Eltham Palace (1–2 Aug), Pendennis Castle in Cornwall (4–6 Aug), Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight (11–13 Aug) and Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire over the bank holiday (29–31 Aug). (English Heritage)

The biggest castle event of all is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. The 2027 show, The Same Heart Beat, runs 6 to 28 August 2027. (Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo)

Camping tip: Edinburgh fills up completely during the August festivals. Camp outside the city and use the park-and-ride, or book a pitch the day tickets go on sale.

Autumn castle events (September and October)

Autumn swaps jousting for ghost stories, and October half-term is the second-busiest week of the castle year.

September: free heritage open days

September brings the UK’s free open-door festivals: Heritage Open Days in England, Doors Open Days in Scotland and Open Doors in Wales. Some castles and towers that are normally closed or ticketed open for free. Summer crowds have gone, and campsites drop to shoulder-season prices.

October half-term: castle Halloween events

Warwick Castle becomes The Haunted Castle across October half-term, with family shows, the Haunted Hollows and the Witches of Warwick. In 2026 it runs 24 October to 1 November. Older teens and adults can book Castle After Dark, a scare-attraction evening on 24 and 29–31 October 2026. (Warwick Castle)

In Wales, Cadw runs a spread of castle Halloween events each half-term. The 2026 listings include Halloween evenings at Caerphilly Castle, a creepy quest at Castell Coch, a Halloween trail at Kidwelly Castle and spooky tours at Conwy Castle on 26–27 October. (Cadw)

Camping tip: Autumn half-term is a real second camping season. Pick a site with hardstanding pitches and a heated toilet block, and check it’s still open into November.

Winter castle events (November to January)

Christmas at castles UK-wide now means after-dark light trails, and the best slots sell out months before December.

November: fireworks

Bonfire weekend brings fireworks to several castles. Leeds Castle’s Fireworks Spectacular ran 7 and 8 November in 2026, included with admission. (Leeds Castle)

Late November to early January: Christmas light trails

Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle runs 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a Fire Garden, Laser Garden and Water Fountain Show. It’s a separately ticketed evening event, so castle admission doesn’t cover it. (Leeds Castle)

Warwick Castle’s Christmas at the Castle runs 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with a light trail across the grounds, an open-air ice rink and Stories with Santa. (Warwick Castle)

In Scotland, Edinburgh Castle has hosted Castle of Light, a projection show on the castle walls, from late November into early January in recent years. (Edinburgh Tickets)

Camping tip: Winter camping is for the hardy. Glamping pods, cabins or a campervan with electric hook-up make a December light-trail trip far more comfortable.

How to plan a camping trip around castle events

Book your pitch the same day you book event tickets: campsites near big castle events fill faster than the events themselves.

Check dates first. Organisers usually announce summer dates in spring and Christmas trails by early spring. Bookmark each castle’s events page.
Book the pitch early. Search Pitchup for sites within 20 to 30 minutes of the castle. (Affiliate link: Pitchup)
Pick the right day. Weekday jousts and trail slots are quieter and often cheaper than weekends.
Bundle the tickets. Look for skip-the-line or combined castle tickets on GetYourGuide. (Affiliate link: GetYourGuide)
Pack for the season. Bring a camping chair for open-air jousts and head torches for evening light trails.
Consider a membership. English Heritage, Cadw and Historic Environment Scotland members often get free or discounted event entry.

Castle events UK: frequently asked questions

When is the best time of year for castle events in the UK?

July and August have the most events, especially jousting. For smaller crowds, try the May bank holidays or September.

Are castle events included in the admission price?

Many daytime events are, including jousts at Hever and Leeds Castle. Evening events such as Christmas light trails and adult Halloween nights are usually ticketed separately.

Where can I see jousting in the UK?

Regular venues include Leeds Castle, Hever Castle, Arundel Castle, Bamburgh Castle and English Heritage sites such as Bolsover, Carisbrooke and Pendennis.

When does the Edinburgh Military Tattoo take place?

Every August on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. The 2027 show runs 6 to 28 August.

Can I camp near castle events?

Yes. Most major castles have campsites within a short drive, and some estates offer on-site glamping. Book early for August and bank holidays.

Plan your castle year

Pick one event per season and build a camping trip around it: a May joust in Kent, the Tattoo in August, Halloween in Wales and a light trail before Christmas. That’s four very different ways to see Britain’s castles, and four very good reasons to get the tent out.

We update this calendar as new dates are announced, so bookmark it or pin the infographic above.