A hot day – and heavily-armoured troops march past

It’s a hot day. Troop after troop of heavily armoured soldiers march past carrying pikes, swords and the colours of their lords.

You pass tents selling bespoke weaponry, mead, and every kind of medieval clothing. A lady swishes past in long skirts with what looks like a miniature dragon on her shoulder until you realise it’s a very cleverly designed puppet and you hear the sound of the PA system announcing that the re-enactment is about to begin.

Historical re-enactments are big business. Close to where I live, you can experience, in July, the medieval Battle of Tewkesbury described above or, if the English Civil War is more your style, you can hang on for the Gloucester History Festival which takes place in September. If you get a taste for it, I can also thoroughly recommend the annual re-run of the Battle of Hastings in October.