Membership

Weekly Sessions in Leicester

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of the Vikings! Learn about their history, culture, and lifestyle. Whether you're a history buff or just curious about the Viking era, these sessions are perfect for you. Come along and have a great time with like-minded individuals as we explore the fascinating world of the Vikings together!

Our sessions are weekly: once a month we have a 2-hour "Living history" session that takes the form of a demonstration, lecture or workshop where you can learn about or get hands on with a Viking-age craft or skills, with opportunities each week to practice it in our workshop space.

For the rest of the month, and for more blood thirsty amongst us, we have combat training sessions. This is where we practise our unique system of un-choreographed combat displays: a mix of competitive fighting rooted in historical martial-arts combined with performing arts skills that engage our audience. So pick up your axe and shield, don your armour and unleash your inner Viking!

See us at Public Events

Our skilled Viking re-enactors get loads of chances to show off their passion at public events around the country, and occasionally we even take to the ships and invade foreign fields!

Public events are where we get to share our knowledge, experience and hard earned skills in front of an audience: whether it's our volunteers' mastery of a Viking craft, or our skill in telling entertaining historical narratives. There's nothing better in displaying our heritage than the rapt attention as an object is being made, or the cheering (or booing!) as our warriors clash in the shield wall.

And once the public have left armed with new knowledge and with smiles on their faces, our volunteers can unwind in a fantastic setting: we've camped in castles, at national monuments, at UNESCO World Heritage sites and more, able to bask in the history together in our living history encampment, playing games, telling stories and sharing an ale or mead horn around the hearth.

Viking Adventures

Besides our weekly meetings and public events, we also facilitate all sorts of Viking-inspired experiences. We've trekked hills and vales at 'Vike-Hike,' where we don our reproduction Viking-age costume and test it out in an immersive environment; we've booked screenings of 'Vikings' related films at the local cinema so we can watch and critique it together; we hold annual feasts, where members contribute gorgeous stews, platters and deserts, while we award those who have gone above and beyond with arm rings; we subsidise visits to museums, organise trips abroad, perform in film work and more!

Besides experiences, we also make sure we can support a number of people with First Aid qualifications, send members to academic conferences, and if you are really invested, any number of our leadership roles look great on a CV!

Costume, Combat, Crafts

All of our members, whether they want to fight in combat displays or develop a historical craft — or both — will put together a basic costume. We have a members-only handbook that walks new members through their first session, how to go about making or buying all the items they need, and there's always help on hand from experienced members. At public events, we all camp and contribute to "Living History" together and members are encouraged to create their own 'impression' of a Viking-Age person as they progress in the group.

Membership

We welcome new members aged 16+ though families with younger children are welcome to join in with us at public events. Our weekly meetings and other experiences are member funded, and fees pay for the venue, shields and other things that we need to continue weekly sessions. Our membership options are flexible, being able to pay on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. Alternatively, you can buy a 'punchcard' to attend up to 10 sessions, redeemable in a 6 month period. Your first session is free.

Cash or Card accepted at sessions, or you can set up a standing order. Training is every Wednesday at 7.30pm, Braunstone West Social Centre, Leicester, LE3 3FT.

Other Costs

Viking re-enactment is one of the cheapest periods to get started in, with the a complete costume around £200. All of our members start off with basic tunics and accouterments, so if they find they don't like the hobby, then they haven't spent too much money. To help even further, the group has a wide variety of kit to lend out so new members can get a taste of events before investing money and time into making new clothes. We also have the services of incredible craftsmen and women that can make clothing and equipment for members for a small fee.

For those who wish to participate in combat displays, the group provides shields for free, eliminating another expensive purchase.

Of course, members who stay may wish to invest more heavily in their outfits, and perhaps into Viking-age crafts and Living History. To this end, we have a great list of trusted suppliers, and an online handbook to help make the right purchasing and crafting decisions.

We also try to help with transport where possible, either arranging carpooling, or contributing to travel costs. At many events, we'll also cook or provide a club meal.