Residents in Gloucester will have the opportunity to explore the city’s past this month as Visit Gloucester launches its programme for Local History Month. Running from 16 May to 30 May 2026, the festival is part of a national initiative organised by the Historical Association to promote awareness and community engagement with local heritage.
The programme features several ways for the public to connect with the city’s history. A Festival Day will take place at St Michael’s Tower on 16 May. Additionally, visitors can join the Westgate Characters come alive walking tour, which highlights figures commemorated on benches along Westgate Street, a road notable for having the highest number of listed properties among the city’s original Roman gate streets.
Many of the walking tours are supported by the Gloucester Civic Trust, which maintains a team of over 60 professionally trained volunteer guides. While the Westgate walk and the Festival Day are free to attend, the Trust is also offering Historic Characters Tours priced at £10 for adults and £4 for children, with all proceeds dedicated to supporting the organisation’s heritage work.
The month of events also includes a special presentation on 27 May titled The Confessions of a Town Crier. The session will feature Gloucester’s own town crier, Alan Myatt, a Guinness World Record holder known for his powerful voice, as he shares stories from his career in the role. Further historical activities and displays will be held at St Nicholas Church on 16 May.
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