A CONCERT soaked in history will be held this weekend to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's reign.

The Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge in the City of London's Epping Forest will be hosting the first-ever Tudor evening concert on Saturday, May, 23, from 7pm to 9:30pm.

The Erato Consort, a group of experienced singers specialising in unaccompanied music of the 16th and 17th Centuries, will be donning Tudor costumes and performing ‘Pastime with Good Company’ - a combination of songs from the King's original manuscript, as well as other repertoire.

Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, originally known as the Great Standing, was built for Henry VIII in 1543.

It was constructed as a platform that allowed guests to view the hunt from a high vantage point and participate by shooting their crossbows from the upper floors, as well as serving as a demonstration of royal Tudor hospitality and a show of the wealth and power.

Katherine Fellowes, musical director at the Erato Consort, said: "The hunting lodge is a very fitting place to celebrate the Henry VIII anniversary.

"We hope that the audience will feel that they are a part of a journey back to the way of life and music of the Tudor period.

"We are sure that it will be a relaxed and inspiring evening."

Tickets are available from the Epping Forest Visitor Centre on: 020 8508 0028. Booking is essential.