About
King Harold Day, Waltham Abbey
Saturday 10th October 2026
Celebrate this special day in Waltham Abbey and take part in the various activities on offer:
WALTHAM ABBEY TOWN
12.30am Morris Dancing outside the museum
1.00 - 2.00pm King Harold Day Society Parade. Assemble outside the museum for a costumed procession through the town centre to a Flower-Placing Ceremony at the King Harold Memorial in the Abbey Churchyard. We remember King Harold II on the 960th anniversary of his death at the Battle of Hastings 1066.
EPPING FOREST DISTRICT MUSEUM
Drop-in and timed activities: Epping Forest District Museum – Don’t miss your chance to see “King Harold’s battle axe” up close in the museum’s display. Includes a Rune trail and Anglo-Saxon objects to handle, brass rubbing and meet King Harold, a Bishop and a Saxon Huscarl. Enjoy more by taking part in an Anglo-Saxon cooking session, Storytelling, and Arts & Crafts Activity. £7 per child.
Museum event times: Family Crafts 10.30am - 3.30pm, Storytelling 11am, 12noon and 2pm, Saxon Cooking 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm.
WALTHAM ABBEY CHURCH
12 noon Music for Lunch. Steel Pan in Motion: classical sounds of steel. Refreshments for 11.30am - admission free.
1.30 - 3.45pm (last admission 3.30pm): Bell Tower Open – climb to the top of the tower, see the bells and admire the view. Tea, coffee and cake served in the church. £5 adults / £2 children to climb the tower – supporting the Bell Fund.
WALTHAM ABBEY LIBRARY
Drop-in activities: Waltham Abbey Library – Activities including Waltham Abbey Trails, colouring and crafts. Admission free.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
King Harold Day Foraging Walk Starting from outside the Abbey Church. Saturday 10th October
Æthelstan first Anglo-Saxon King a talk at Epping Forest District Museum. Wednesday 14th October
King Harold's Mother at Epping Forest District Museum. Friday 23rd October
Facilities
Accessibility
- Accessible Lift
- All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors - Step-free entry access is available throughout the museum. Toilets are located on the ground floor and second floor. A unisex accessible toilet suitable for wheelchair users is available. Baby changing facilities are also available.
- Disabled persons toilet
- Guide Dogs Permitted - The museum welcomes assistance
Map & Directions
Road Directions
The Museum is located in the heart of the historic town of Waltham Abbey, situated just outside the M25 between Epping Forest and the Lee Valley. From the M25, leave at junction 26 and follow the signs to Waltham Abbey.
Free parking is currently available at the Abbey Gardens carpark which is a 10 minute walk from the museum. Further pay and display parking is available in the town centre, the nearest car park is Quaker Lane car park which is a 2 minute walk from the museum.
Public Transport Directions
The museum is a 25 minute walk from Waltham Cross Railway Station. A taxi rank is located outside the station. Buses also operate from Waltham Cross Bus Station which is a 5 minute walk from the station and a bus stop is located within a 2 minute walk of the museum.
More information on the museum facebook page here.
Book Tickets Online
Facilities
Catering
- Refreshments Available
Map & Directions
Road Directions
M25 (junction 25/26) A121 – Waltham Abbey. The Abbey Church is in Highbridge Street (postcode EN9 1DG).
Car parking is available outside the Abbey Church – free for two hours. Or park in the Cornmill car park behind the Muhinur restaurant, or in the Abbey Gardens car park (accessible from the roundabout on the B194 at the junction of Abbey View and Crooked Mile).
Public Transport Directions
By Rail
To Waltham Cross (1.2 miles) from London Liverpool Street, Hertford East and Cambridge. – Services run approximately every 30 minutes in each direction. For details, contact Greater Anglia.
By Bus
Waltham Abbey is served by several bus routes – for information, refer to Travelline South East and Anglia. Use Find a Timetable and enter Waltham Abbey as the location.
