Historians Mary Beard, David Olusoga, Neil Gaiman and Janina Ramirez are among the star names for this year's Gloucester History Festival, which gets underway on Saturday.

The 10th anniversary event, which has the theme of voyagers and visionaries to mark the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage to America, opens with the celebration of Gloucester Day.

The opening week is dedicated to the City Voices programme with online events or to be explored around the city.

City Voices heard online at Gloucester History Festival 

The 25th anniversary of Heritage Open Days will run from September 11-14 with the series of Blackfriars talks from September 13-20, which will be available free online for at least 30 days.

Dr Ramirez, the festival president, will open the event with Writing Medieval Women Back Into History and teams up with Michael Scott to explore Ancient Global Discovers on September 15.

City archaeologist Andrew Armstrong will explore the history of Westgate Street with other highlights including historians Mary Beard, David Olusoga, Neil Gaiman and Bettany Hughes in conversation.

While the coronavirus pandemic means a scaled-back anniversary edition of the Heritage Open Days, the programme of free guided walks and talks will still take in venues such as the Cathedral, Blackfriars Priory, Llanthony Second Priory, the Docks and St Mary de Crypt.

Booking to the open days is essential along with face covering and social distancing.

Details of the full programme and how to register for the virtual events are available at gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk