Expect five giants, a king and a host of medieval marauders in the streets of Canterbury this weekend.

The Canterbury Medieval Pageant on Saturday, July 7 recreates the day King Henry II and his queen Eleanor returned to the city to pay penance for his role in the death of Saint Thomas Becket, back in 1174.

The royal visit will be accompanied by performance, costumes, music, horses, giants, mounted warriors and pageantry as a procession takes to the High Street.

Starting at 11am at Tower House at Westgate Parks, Henry will give a speech to the assembled crowds and then change into his sack cloth, take off his shoes and start his walk of the city, flanked by monks taking him for a flogging.

The pageant will see more than 200 people taking part as actors, musicians and designers along with members of local brownie groups and pupils from Simon Langton, Priory Fields School, St Martins Primary School, Dover, St Christopher’s School, Canterbury, Wickhambreaux Primary School and Spires Academy.

Arts groups taking part include Marlowe Youth Theatre, Marlowe Minis, Rough Musicke, Milites de Bec, Free Men of Blean, Stargazer Dancers and the Canterbury Players, while you may see some familiar faces from businesses The Pound and Canterbury Tales, which is marking its 30th anniversary this year.

Canterbury College's summer school has created costumes and two giants while music written by students who entered the annual Fanfare competition will be played.

The pageant ends at around 12.30pm outside the Marlowe Theatre forecourt, but the fun's not over as there will also be medieval archery in Westgate Parks, a medieval village in the Franciscan Gardens, stain glass workshops in the Marlowe Kit and a family trail with 17 different venues to visit - those who visit five or more will get a free chocolate medallion from Canterbury Cathedral Shop.

Find out more at canterburymedievalpageant.co.uk or pick up your free trail leaflet at The Beaney in the High Street.