Legendary Joust brings charging knights to Pendennis Castle

Four knights, four legends, and only one champion. For three days in August, the grounds of Pendennis Castle in Falmouth swap sea views for the clatter of armour as horses thunder down the lists and lances splinter on impact.

📷Photograph by Emily Whitfield-Wicks GRAND MEDIEVAL JOUST at Pendennis Castle. The Joust.

Three days of medieval spectacle

Pendennis Castle hosts its Legendary Joust from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 August, running each day from 10am to 5pm. The Tudor castle’s historic grounds become a tournament arena where four competitors battle for honour, glory and the crown, watched by a crowd roaring them on with every charge.

Each knight rides as an iconic figure from myth and legend. There is the noble Sir Lancelot, the fierce Wild Man, the powerful Wyvern, and the heroic Jason and the Argonauts. They clash across a series of jousts, and only one will be crowned champion by the end of the three days.

📷Photograph by Emily Whitfield-Wicks Grand Medieeval Joust - Pendennis Castle, Cornwall. Stephen Lawton.

More than the tournament

Between the passes, the medieval world spills out across the site. A mischievous jester works the crowd with antics aimed at the whole family, while traditional music plays and falconers put birds of prey through their paces. There are family-friendly activities running throughout the day, so the tournament is one part of a longer visit rather than the whole of it.

📷Photograph by Emily Whitfield-Wicks Grand Medieeval Joust - Pendennis Castle, Cornwall. First English Heritage Female Jouster Nicky Willis.

Tickets and booking

Entry starts from £13.46 per adult and £6.69 per child, with discounts for family groups and concessions. English Heritage members go in free.

To book or find out more, visit the Pendennis Castle page on the English Heritage website. The knights ride from 4 August.

📷Photograph by Emily Whitfield-Wicks Photograph by Emily Whitfield-Wicks Grand Medieeval Joust - Pendennis Castle, Cornwall. Dominic Sewell (Blue) and first English Heritage Female Jouster Nicky Willis (Gold).

📷Photograph by Emily Whitfield-Wicks Grand Medieeval Joust - Pendennis Castle, Cornwall. Stephen Lawton (Green) and Dominic Sewell (Blue).