August in Malmesbury is busier than it looks on a map. The town runs its Carnival programme across the whole month; not a single day event but a rolling calendar of things to do, culminating in the Carnival Procession in early September. It’s been going for nearly a hundred years and it’s still organised by the community, for the community. Pettifers is in Crudwell, five minutes away, which puts you well placed for all of it.
What the Carnival actually involves
The programme typically spans the full month of August and covers more ground than the name suggests. Events include Open Gardens, the Scarecrow Trail, a spot the difference competition, a Family Fun Day, Petticoat Lane, Music in the Cloisters, and a host of talks, quizzes, plays and activities throughout the month. Most events require booking in advance, and some sell out so it’s worth checking the programme and sorting tickets before you arrive.
The Carnival Procession itself is the showpiece finale, usually on a Saturday in early September, with floats, music and community groups parading through the town centre. It raises money for local causes and draws a good crowd. If you’re in the area for a weekend in late August or early September, it’s worth timing your trip around it.
The Scarecrow Trail
The Scarecrow Trail is one of the more enjoyable things to do in Malmesbury at any pace. Scarecrows are placed at locations around the town and visitors follow a map to find them. The designs range from straightforward to genuinely inventive, and the trail works well for families with children as well as for anyone who wants a reason to walk the streets and look at the town properly. Maps are available from the Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall foyer.
Petticoat Lane
Petticoat Lane is Malmesbury’s pop-up street market. A range of goods including books, handicrafts, ironwork, toys, tombola, textiles, jewellery, knick-knacks and curios, with food stalls and live music running alongside. It takes place on one day during the Carnival programme and tends to fill the streets in a way that makes the town feel genuinely alive. It’s the kind of market where you go for half an hour and stay considerably longer.
Music in the Cloisters and other events
Music in the Cloisters is one of the quieter but more atmospheric parts of the programme. Live music performed in the cloisters of Malmesbury Abbey. Past programmes have included wine evenings, history talks, film screenings, theatre performances and family craft workshops. The range is wide enough that there’s usually something of interest regardless of who’s travelling with you.
The Athelstan Museum on Oxford Street is also worth an hour during your visit. It covers the town’s history from its Anglo-Saxon origins and includes a painting of Malmesbury Abbey by JMW Turner.
Making a stay of it
A long August weekend gives you enough time to catch several Carnival events without rushing. Friday arrival, a full Saturday in Malmesbury, and a slower Sunday using the surrounding countryside is a natural shape for the trip. The Cotswold Water Park is a short drive from Crudwell if you want something more active on the Sunday, and Westonbirt Arboretum is around fifteen minutes away for a longer morning walk.
At Pettifers we have 18 bedrooms across the main hotel and courtyard including family rooms and two accessible ground floor rooms. Dogs are welcome in selected rooms — useful if you’re walking between sites in Malmesbury and want to bring them along. Mayfield Cottage next door is a two-bedroom self-catering option with its own parking and a private courtyard garden if you’d prefer more independence over a longer stay.
Book direct at Pettifers for the best available rates, or explore accommodation options before you get in touch.
