Thousands of visitors travelled back to 1189 over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend as Arundel Castle hosted the first Medieval Festival of its 2026 events programme, running from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th April.
The three-day spectacular centred on a tournament hosted by the Earl of Arundel to celebrate the coronation of Richard the Lionheart, set within a tented encampment on the castle’s lower lawns. Visitors watched exhilarating displays of 12th-century combat, falconry and archery, while live medieval music, axe throwing and hands-on craft activities kept families entertained throughout. Children could take part in Arundel Castle’s popular Kids Battles — a firm favourite with younger visitors making the most of the Easter break in and around Brighton and the South Downs.
Andrew Lewis, Castle Manager at Arundel Castle, said: “This marks the first Medieval event of the Castle’s 2026 events programme, and we were delighted to see so many visitors enjoying the activities and demonstrations on offer. Whether delving into hands-on experiences or simply enjoying the atmosphere, there was something to captivate everyone, whatever their age.”
The Easter weekend also marked the opening of Arundel Castle’s Tulip Festival — regarded as one of the finest tulip displays in Europe — featuring 110,000 tulips across more than 120 varieties planted throughout the castle’s gardens and landscape. The festival continues through spring and makes Arundel one of the most rewarding day trips from Brighton for families and garden lovers at this time of year.
May Bank Holiday: A Skirmish Returns
For those who missed Easter, Arundel Castle’s next Medieval Festival — subtitled A Skirmish — takes place over the late May bank holiday weekend, Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th May 2026.
Set against the backdrop of England in 1480, in the fragile peace following the Wars of the Roses, the three-day event will recreate the dramatic arrival of a French raiding party, with tensions erupting into twice-daily live combat demonstrations within the castle grounds. Three fully immersive encampments will host traditional craft demonstrations, period cooking, falconry, fire-eating, weapons handling and artillery showcases. The centrepiece each day will be live staged skirmishes set against the castle’s historic walls — a rare opportunity to experience the tactics, armour and weaponry of 15th-century warfare up close.
Tickets are available at arundelcastle.org, priced from £29 per adult, £13 per child and £71 for a family ticket. Children under five enter free. Garden-only tickets are not available for this event. Arundel is easily reachable from Brighton by train in under 30 minutes — making it one of the most accessible heritage days out on the Sussex coast.
For full details including catering and any changes to the programme, visit the Arundel Castle website directly.
