SPRING WEEKEND 2025: Elder Statesman Michael Heseltine Tells All

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Life Peer, Michael Heseltine, will share the inside story of Downing Street and his six decades in British politics when he appears at the Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend in April.

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One of the most colourful and controversial statesmen of the post-war era, Lord Heseltine will discuss his time in Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, as John Major’s deputy and David Cameron’s advisor, as well as his thoughts on the current state of party politics and the future of Britain.

The Westminster heavyweight joins some of the country’s top historians, authors and broadcasters who will be on stage as part of the three-day event in April. Among the star names appearing are designer and TV personality Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Britain’s Lost Masterpieces co-host Bendor Grosvenor, acclaimed writer and documentary-maker Luke Pepera, and Sunday Times Best-Selling author Hallie Rubenhold. For the first time all the Spring Weekend talks and debates will be livestreamed to a global audience and available on demand.

Other highlights include the former head of GCHQ David Omand discussing Presidents Trump and Putin, waterways expert Tony Condor celebrating the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal, master stonemason Andrew Ziminski’s guide to British churches and medievalist Max Adams on King Offa and the golden age of Mercia. In total 18 events will take place in Gloucester’s iconic 13th century landmark, Blackfriars Priory from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April 2025.

‘The world is changing at dizzying speed right now,’ says Festival President and TV historian Professor Janina Ramirez. ‘Join us in Gloucester this April to understand the history behind the headlines and hear from experts who’ll be offering an insight into what the future may bring.’

Tickets for the Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend are on sale now from the event website gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk, by telephone on 07834 406228 and in person from the Spring Weekend Box Office at the Museum of Gloucester, Brunswick Road, Gloucester GL1 1HP (during normal Museum opening hours). Livestream tickets are available exclusively online.