The sights, sounds and smells of early mediaeval life are returning to Kingston's Canbury Gardens for one weekend (26-27 July). 

Modern day Londoners are invited to step back in time to 925, the year King Athelstan, the first king of a united England, was crowned in the heart of Kingston. The free, two-day event will immerse visitors in history with an Anglo Saxon encampment set to pop up as the riverside park becomes Athel's Town.  

Reenactments will show families what life was like in a Saxon village over 1000 years ago. There will be battle demonstrations, music, storytelling, traditional crafts, falconry displays, a working forge and more.

On Saturday, a parade of warriors, nobility and townsfolk will march across the River Thames on Kingston bridge, just footsteps away from the original crossing point, traced back to Roman times. 

On Sunday, an innovative Augmented Reality experience will thrill visitors with the digital unveiling of a statue of King Athelstan by world renowned sculptor Andrew Sinclair. The event will be experienced in virtual reality developed by Kingston University.

There will also be community stalls, street food, Athelstan Beer from the Kingston Park Brewery bar and music performances fusing the traditional and the contemporary, giving a festival vibe to the occasion. 

Athel's town is set to be an exciting living history experience here in Kingston, promising fun for all the family.

It is one of a diverse programme of events for Kingston 2025, a six-month cultural festival marking the 1100 anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan and celebrating the past, present and future of the royal borough and its communities.  

Admission to the event is free and tickets are not required.  

You can find out more information here.