Medieval Knight Tournament at The Bishop’s Palace | Wells, Somerset
20 June 2026 | 9.30am – 5.30pm
Join the Knights of the Warwick Warriors and feel the thrill of medieval combat as armoured fighters clash in a spectacular Knights’ Tournament at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells.
Discover what it takes to be battle-ready, from being dressed in full armour to preparing for combat. Hear the knights rally support from the crowd before their squires step forward to test their skill in archery.
With blades flashing and shields clashing, watch as knights go head-to-head in gripping one-on-one contests to prove who will emerge victorious.
With a full day of action ahead, prepare to be captivated and entertained, whatever the weather.
Here’s the timetable for the day:
- 11.00am – Accepting the Challenge and Archery – Choose your knight and cheer for your favourite as they accept the challenge and head straight into the first competition. Longbow Archery!
- 12.00pm – Dressing the Knight – Join the Earl Marshall and the knights in the arena and learn just what it takes to get dressed into a full harness of 15th Century armour.
- 1.00pm – Sword Fighting – Watch and cheer for your favourite knight as they go into one-on-one combat using some of the finest of swords and weapons from the Armoury.
- 2.30pm – Battle of Barriers and Crest Melee – A barrier between them and Pole Hammers in their hands, raise your voice for your champion and spur them on as they fight in the hardest hitting event of the day! Followed by a competition of skill and speed to take the crest from their enemy’s helmets without losing their own.
- 4.00pm – The Grand Melee – Who will be victorious? The Grand Melee will decide. A full tournament field with every knight and squire heading in to face each other at the same time. Only one knight can win so shout, scream, boo and cheer for your favourite knight and see who will be crowned champion!
Make a day of it
Alongside the re-enactment day, visitors can also enjoy:
- The medieval Palace buildings and Undercroft
- 14 acres of RHS partner gardens
- Family-friendly multimedia tours and digital guides
- The Dragon’s Lair play area
- Refreshments at the award-winning Bishop’s Table café
Admission
This event is included with standard admission tickets to The Bishop’s Palace, including:
- Annual Pass
- Day Ticket
- Joint Ticket with Wells Cathedral
- Friends of the Palace