This weekend, we took on Tewkesbury parkrun, a scenic four-lap course with stunning views of the 12th-century Tewkesbury Abbey. But our adventure didn’t stop there! From exploring the town’s rich history to tackling the fiery Tewkesbury Mustard challenge, and indulging in an epic chocolate feast, it was a day full of discoveries and surprises.
Watch our video of Tewkesbury parkrun adventure on YouTube
Tewkesbury parkrun
Tewkesbury parkrun is held at The Vineyards, a large open green space in the heart of the town. The course is entirely on grass, making it a softer but slightly trickier surface, especially if there has been recent rain (too much rain and there will be no parkrun as part of the course is on a river flood plain!). With four laps around the park, runners get a fantastic view of Tewkesbury Abbey on every loop, and a chance to run up the short sharp inclines every time too!
Tewkesbury Abbey – A Post-Parkrun Must-Visit
After the run, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to step inside the Abbey that had been our scenic backdrop during the parkrun. Tewkesbury Abbey, consecrated in 1121, it is home to some of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the UK.
When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1540, the townspeople of Tewkesbury saved the Abbey by purchasing it for just £483—a bargain for such a stunning structure! Inside, we were blown away by the towering Norman columns, the intricate vaulted roof, and the grand organ, originally made for Magdalen College, Oxford. The modern Denny Stained Glass Windows, installed in 2002 to mark 900 years since the arrival of monks from Cranborne, were particularly stunning.
Exploring Tewkesbury’s Hidden Alleys & Former Pubs
Wandering through Tewkesbury, it’s easy to feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The town has an incredible network of medieval alleyways, originally built to allow people to access the river. Many of these narrow passages still exist today, and we had great fun exploring them.
One thing we noticed? A LOT of the buildings used to be pubs! Tewkesbury was once a thriving market and brewing town, and at one point, it had over 100 pubs. Now, many of these former pubs have been converted into homes and shops, but their historic signage and facades remain.
Fueling Up – A Jazz-Infused Breakfast at Jelly Roll Café
All that running and history-hopping had us ready for a proper breakfast. After browsing the many independent cafés, we landed at Jelly Roll Café, which turned out to be the perfect choice for me with jazz music playing in the background. I enjoyed a great Eggs Benedict while the children “built their own” breakfast sandwiches and Ruth was able to put together a GF breakfast too.
Tewkesbury Mustard – The Challenge We Weren’t Ready For
But the real test of the day wasn’t the parkrun. It was Tewkesbury Mustard, a blend of mustard flour and grated horseradish, which gives it a distinctive fiery kick. Its origins can be traced back to medieval England, when Tewkesbury became well known for producing this particularly strong mustard, gaining nationwide fame.
It was often sold in the form of mustard balls—small, cloth-wrapped balls made from ground mustard seeds and horseradish, which would be reconstituted with vinegar or other liquids when needed. These mustard balls were a highly portable and long-lasting way of storing mustard, making them a valuable trade product.
It was so well known in the Elizabethan era that William Shakespeare himself referenced it in Henry IV, Part II. In Act 2, Scene 4, one of the characters, Falstaff’s page, jokes about another character’s lack of intelligence, saying: “His wit’s as thick as Tewkesbury Mustard.” But in 18th and 19th centuries, the mass production of milder, ready-made mustards—such as Colman’s Mustard from Norwich—led to a decline in Tewkesbury Mustard’s popularity.
But there’s been a modern revival, with The Tewkesbury Mustard Company, founded in the early 2000s, playing a key role in reintroducing the traditional recipe and bringing this historic mustard back to modern markets. Now mostly sold in jars rather than mustard balls, and is available in specialist food shops and online. A strong, fiery alternative to mass-produced mustards and is still handmade in small batches, staying true to its historic roots.
So we had to try it, we purchased two variants at the Tourist Information Office and did a taste test in the Abbey Gardens. Iona was NOT a fan but for the rest of us “A Grain of Wit from The Bard of Avon“ (a Honey and Horseradish Whole Grain Mustard) was a clear winner over the traditional “Very Pleasant Peasants Tewkesbury Mustard“.
Sweet Relief – Chocolate Heaven at Café au Chocolat
After all that running and mustard-induced suffering, we needed something sweet to cool down. Enter Café au Chocolat, home to an insanely good chocolate selection, you can buy a range of chocolates and brownies to take away from the deli area or test your chocolate consuming capabilities with the Supreme Chocolate Platter!
Final Thoughts – A Perfect Tewkesbury Adventure
It was all that was great about parkrun tourism. Visiting somewhere that we wouldn’t have done otherwise, learning about unexpected history and enjoying amazing food, especially if that includes loads of chocolate!
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