FREE, no booking needed.

History has gone viral! Dr Amy Boyington (@history_with_amy) with over 3 million followers and Han Parker (@historical_han) with almost 400,000 reveal how social media is revolutionising storytelling, smashing barriers and inspiring vast new audiences to explore the past. Chaired by Janina Ramirez

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Jung Chang’s worldwide bestseller Wild Swans was both an epic personal history of ‘three daughters of China’ – Jung, her mother and grandmother – and a history of China itself undergoing seismic change. Her bestselling sequel Fly, Wild Swans brings the story up to date in a deeply moving and unforgettable account as China faces another watershed moment poised between capitalism and communism.  Join her as she discusses her life and writing in a rare event.

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FREE for Members Only

Join Festival President Janina Ramirez for tea, cake and excellent conversation! Meet fellow Festival members, share your views and hear Janina share exciting plans for the future.

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£15 (includes delicious craft chocolates)

Unwrap chocolate’s irresistible history as food historian Sam Bilton follows cacao from the ancient Americas to European courts and fashionable chocolate houses in a compelling new talk. Kathryn Laverack of Cocoa Encounters then leads a delicious guided tasting of carefully selected chocolates.

The post Chocolate Night: A Delicious Journey Through History appeared first on Gloucester History Festival.

£15 to include a selection of 4 gins or alcohol free botanicals

Gin expert Andy Cole uncovers gin’s colourful journey from medicinal spirit to eighteenth-century craze and British favourite. Discover why it became notorious as ‘Mother’s Ruin’, how the Gin Craze transformed society and how changing laws and fashions have reshaped its reputation. All whilst enjoying a guiding tasting of a delicious selection of gins or alcohol-free botanicals.

The post Mother’s Ruin: A History of Gin appeared first on Gloucester History Festival.

£8

One of two special half-hour tours offer a rare chance to climb down under the streets of Gloucester to see the extraordinary King’s Bastion for yourself. Numbers are limited so book early.

Meet by entrance in Kings Walk Shopping Centre, Gloucester (by the silver trapdoors, just outside Superdrug)

With thanks to the Museum of Gloucester and the Civic Trust.

The post Explore the King’s Bastion Tour appeared first on Gloucester History Festival.

£8

One of two special half-hour tours offer a rare chance to climb down under the streets of Gloucester to see the extraordinary King’s Bastion for yourself. Numbers are limited so book early.

Meet by entrance in Kings Walk Shopping Centre, Gloucester (by the silver trapdoors, just outside Superdrug)

With thanks to the Museum of Gloucester and the Civic Trust.

The post Explore the King’s Bastion Tour appeared first on Gloucester History Festival.

Celebrate the start of a new season as stars of the men’s and women’s game join us at Kingsholm for a special evening exploring the remarkable history of the Cherry and Whites.

The post The Glorious History of Gloucester Rugby appeared first on Gloucester History Festival.

The Roman army established a fortress at Gloucester in the first century AD, creating a defensive line that shaped the city for centuries and still defines its streets today. In a brand new illustrated talk, City Archaeologist Andrew Armstrong follows Gloucester’s walls from their Roman origins through Saxon, Norman and medieval expansion to their defiant role during the Civil War siege of 1643. He also explores how recent archaeological discoveries have revealed intriguing new information about Gloucester’s ancient walls.

The post Fortress City: The Roman Walls of Gloucester appeared first on Gloucester History Festival.

In 927, King Aethelstan conquered Viking York and secured the submission of Britain’s rulers at Eamont Bridge, a crowning achievement that created the first united kingdom of England. As its 1,100th anniversary approaches, acclaimed historian and broadcaster Michael Wood explores Aethelstan’s extraordinary life from birth to death. In a dazzling new talk, he offers fresh insights into England’s forgotten founder king, reveals Gloucester’s important place in his story and considers the challenges of writing an early medieval biography.

The post Aethelstan: England’s First King appeared first on Gloucester History Festival.