October Events at the Corinium Museum
Throughout October
Discover what’s on at Corinium Museum in October 2026, with Roman history, spooky Halloween activities, guided walks, cinema and opera screenings, exhibitions and special events for October half term.
Visitors can explore Cirencester’s Roman, Georgian and medieval past, hear ghostly tales on a Haunted Cirencester tour, enjoy creative Halloween workshops and discover even more local history during the Cirencester History Festival.
Corinium Afternoons: Roman Villas in the Cotswolds
Thursday 1 October, 2pm – 3pm
£10
Discover the remarkable Roman villas of the Cotswolds, where more than 60 sites are known to have existed. Explore famous and lesser-known villas, fascinating finds and impressive mosaics while learning what these sites reveal about Roman life in the region.
An Introduction to Prehistoric Textiles
Saturday 3 October, 10am – 4pm
£75
Join award-winning experimental archaeologist and heritage educator Sally Pointer for a hands-on introduction to prehistoric textiles and ancient crafting techniques.
Explore flax and lime bast cordage, spinning, braiding and twining before making an antler needle using flint tools. All materials are supplied, with tea and coffee provided.
Haunted Cirencester Town Tour
Thursday 8, 15 & 22 October, 7pm – 8pm
£9–£10
Discover the darker side of Cirencester on an atmospheric evening walk exploring haunted stories, urban legends and ghostly happenings associated with some of the town’s historic buildings.
The tour lasts approximately one hour and begins outside Corinium Museum. Suitable for ages 16+. Booking is essential as places are limited.
Walking Roman Cirencester
Friday 9 & 16 October, 10.15am – 1.45pm
£30–£33
Join archaeologist Dr Alison Grierson-Brookes, former Head of Collections at Corinium Museum, for a half-day exploration of Roman Cirencester.
The experience includes a two-hour leisurely walk exploring the ancient town of Corinium, sections of its walls and impressive amphitheatre, followed by museum admission, refreshments and a guided tour of the award-winning Roman galleries.
Booking is recommended and places are limited to 10.
Conker the Cat and Other Tales
Thursday 15 October – Sunday 15 November
Free
Enjoy a colourful exhibition by Cotswold artist Lesley Davies, featuring watercolour, pen and ink works inspired largely by the imaginary past adventures of her former stray cat, Conker.
The collection also features maritime themes and influences from the artist’s recent visit to Japan, with an illustrative style designed to bring a smile.
Rural Cinema: The Devil Wears Prada 2
Saturday 17 October, 2pm – 4pm
£8–£9
Anne Hathaway returns as Andy Sachs, now the new features editor at Runway magazine, where she is reunited with formidable former boss Miranda, played by Meryl Streep.
Certificate 12.
The Metropolitan Opera: Macbeth
Tuesday 20 October, 6pm – 9.30pm
£15.50–£17.50
Experience Verdi’s Macbeth as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s award-winning Live in HD series, with Quinn Kelsey as Macbeth and Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a production directed by Louisa Proske, with a cast also featuring Freddie De Tommaso and Ryan Speedo Green.
Henry Tudor: The Incredible Diaries of Me Family Gallery Trail
From Friday 23 October 2026 – Friday 12 February 2027
£2.50
Meet the future Henry VIII when he was just eight and a half years old in this fun family trail based on the new novel by Danny Wallace with illustrations by Tor Freeman.
Search the Corinium Museum galleries for six facts exploring the activities Tudors believed demonstrated strength, speed, wealth and intelligence. Complete the trail to claim a prize.
Cirencester History Festival
Friday 23 October – Sunday 1 November
Celebrate Cirencester’s fascinating past during the Cirencester History Festival, with a programme of walks, talks and activities taking place at Corinium Museum and other locations around the town.
Cirencester in the Civil War Town Walk
Saturday 24 October, 11am – 12.15pm
£9–£10
Join Ian Thomas for a guided walk bringing the dramatic storming of Cirencester in 1643 to life.
Explore the town centre, Abbey Grounds and Cirencester Park while discovering Cirencester’s significance during the English Civil War. Booking is recommended and places are limited to 10.
Roman Cirencester Town Walk
Tuesday 27 October, 11am – 12.15pm
£9–£10
Join Ian Thomas to explore the Roman archaeology beneath modern Cirencester and discover the evidence that reveals Corinium as one of the wealthiest and most vibrant towns in Roman Britain.
Meet at the museum. Booking is recommended and places are limited to 12.
Royal Opera and Ballet: Manon
Tuesday 27 October, 7.15pm – 10.30pm
£15.50–£17.50
Experience Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, a signature work of The Royal Ballet exploring love, desire and temptation against the decadent backdrop of 18th-century Paris.
The production features Jules Massenet’s evocative score and Nicholas Georgiadis’s atmospheric designs.
Creepy Corinium Cupcakes
Wednesday 28 October, 10.30am – 12pm
£10–£12.50
Get creative for Halloween with edible art inspired by some of the monsters in the museum’s collections. Children can design and decorate their own monster cupcake to enjoy.
Suitable for ages 5+. This is a food-based activity, so please contact the museum regarding any allergies.
Votes for Women Town Walk
Wednesday 28 October, 11am – 12.15pm
£9–£10
Join Sue Jones, author of Votes for Women: Cheltenham and the Cotswolds, for an illustrated walk exploring Cirencester’s part in the fight for women’s suffrage.
Visit key locations around the town and hear stories of inspiring personalities, opposing groups and the sometimes dramatic events surrounding the campaign.
Tour of the Stores
Wednesday 28 October, 11am – 12pm
£9–£10
Go behind the scenes with Corinium Museum’s collections team and explore objects spanning prehistory to the 1950s.
Discover Roman mosaics, medieval tiles, carved stonework, pottery, costume, rural history, stone coffins, smocks, horse collars and plenty of other surprises normally hidden away in the museum stores.
Gruesome Gargoyles
Thursday 29 October, 10.30am – 12pm
£10–£12.50
Head to Cirencester Parish Church to investigate its gruesome gargoyles and grotesques before returning to the museum to create a fearsome gargoyle of your own.
All craft materials are provided. Suitable for ages 6+.
Georgian Cirencester Town Walk
Thursday 29 October, 11am – 12.15pm
£9–£10
Discover how Georgian prosperity transformed Cirencester and hear tales of entrepreneurs, political intrigue, riots, ruffians, religious non-conformity and popular entertainment.
Meet at the museum. Booking is recommended and places are limited to 12.
Make Your Own Curse Tablet
Friday 30 October, 10.30am – 12pm
£10
Discover how Romans wrote secret curses on lead tablets to seek revenge for everything from stolen possessions to chariot-racing rivalries, then have a go at creating your own spooky curse tablet just in time for Halloween.
Cirencester Wool Walk
Saturday 31 October, 11am – 12.15pm
£9–£10
Join Ian Thomas to discover how the medieval wool trade helped make Cirencester wealthy and shaped the town visitors see today.
Hear about wool combers, card makers, dyers, weavers and wool staplers, discover the role of Cirencester Abbey and explore sites connected to the town’s wool-trading history, including the great wool church of St John the Baptist.
Booking is recommended as places are limited.
Movement at the Museum
Mondays, 9.45am – 10.45am & 11am – 12pm
Enjoy gentle movement in the surroundings of Corinium Museum with a blend of low-impact fitness and Tai Chi led by a qualified instructor.
Sessions include mindful movement, balance and strength support, relaxation and optional chair-based exercise, with refreshments available afterwards.
OTHER EVENTS
