The Gloucester History Festival has celebrated its most successful season to date, with box office figures confirming record-breaking audience numbers.
More than 16,000 people attended the autumn programme, which closed on Sunday night at Blackfriars Priory. Across the city, 150 events took place – over half of them free – with the medieval priory providing the backdrop for high-profile talks, debates and live broadcasts.
New additions this year included the opening of the ancient Scriptorium, Northern Europe’s oldest surviving library, and a BBC Radio 4 recording of Great Lives. Audiences also tuned in from as far afield as California, Vancouver and Tasmania via livestream.
Headline speakers included Frank Skinner, Celia Imrie, Michael Heseltine, Lyse Doucet, David Olusoga and Professor Alice Roberts.
Festival President Professor Janina Ramirez said she was “never prouder” of the event as it marked 15 years of growth.
The festival returns for its Spring Weekend at Blackfriars from 17–19 April 2026, with details due in the New Year.