Everything you need to know about Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling 2025
From its crazy history to how (and why?!) people hurl themselves down a hill after a wheel of cheese.
If you thought your biggest challenge this year would be keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions, think again. The world-famous Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is rolling (literally) back into action this May 26, 2025, and What’s On Gloucestershire have all the details—because let’s face it, you probably need a little help planning if you’re about to launch yourself down a near-vertical hill after a wheel of cheese.
For the uninitiated, the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling is one of Gloucestershire’s proudest and most ridiculous traditions. Every Spring Bank Holiday, hundreds of daring (or slightly mad) participants throw themselves down the steep Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth in pursuit of a 7-9lb wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. The first person to reach the bottom (or, let’s be real, survive the tumble) wins the cheese. Simple.
But where did this madness start? Historians aren’t entirely sure, but records suggest the event is at least 600 years old. Some say it began as a way to maintain grazing rights on the hill, while others claim it has pagan origins, with rolling objects symbolizing the cycle of the seasons. Either way, at some point, someone thought, “You know what would make this better? Let’s chase a cheese down there.” And here we are today.
Good question. Why not Cheddar? Or Stilton? Well, Double Gloucester is the king of rolling cheeses—it’s round, solid, and sturdy enough to withstand the brutal 200-yard descent without falling apart. The cheese used in the race is specially made by a local cheesemaker, traditionally encased in a wooden shell and decorated with ribbons. Because if you’re going to risk life and limb for a dairy product, it might as well look nice.
Once a small local tradition, Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling has exploded into an international sensation, attracting contestants from across the globe. Over the years, we’ve seen competitors from Australia, the USA, Canada, and even Japan come to try their luck (or test their insurance policies). Viral videos of competitors tumbling head over heels have made this one of the most talked-about extreme sports in the world—without any official governing body or safety regulations, of course.
Even when the event was officially canceled in 2010 due to safety concerns, the people of Gloucestershire basically said, “Yeah, no thanks,” and kept doing it anyway. And now, it’s as popular as ever.
This year’s cheese-chasing chaos is set to take place on Monday, May 26, 2025, with races kicking off at 12 PM sharp. If you’re planning to go, get there early—this isn’t your average village fete; thousands turn up to watch the spectacle unfold.
Want to throw yourself down a hill in the name of dairy-based glory? Good news—you don’t need to sign up! Just show up, line up, and when the cheese is released, run for your life (or, more accurately, tumble uncontrollably).
There are usually multiple races, including one for women and a few safer (ha!) uphill races for kids. The only real rule? First one to the bottom wins the cheese.
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We’ve done the digging so you don’t have to—because, trust us, parking for this event is no joke.
🚗 Closest Parking: There’s no official event parking, but in previous years, visitors have parked at Toby Carvery in Brockworth (about 1 mile away). Be prepared for a £5 parking fee and a 20-minute uphill walk to the event site.
🚶 Getting There: Roads around Cooper’s Hill may be closed to non-residents, so carpooling, public transport, or good old-fashioned legwork is your best bet.
Every year, bruises, scrapes, and sprains are pretty much guaranteed, with more serious injuries occasionally thrown into the mix. Medics are always on hand, though, because—surprise!—hurling yourself down a 45-degree hill at breakneck speed isn’t exactly injury-proof.
That said, if you’re spectating, we strongly recommend watching from the side rather than the bottom—because getting hit by a runaway cheese or a runaway person is a very real possibility.
If you’re after a truly unique experience, there’s nothing else quite like the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling. Whether you’re brave enough to enter or just want to watch the madness unfold, it’s an event that sums up everything we love about Gloucestershire: quirky traditions, a strong community spirit, and an unapologetic love of cheese.
We’ll be keeping an eye on all things cheese-rolling as the big day approaches, so stay tuned to What’s On Gloucestershire for updates. Until then, let us know—would you dare take on the hill? Or are you more of a sit-back-with-a-ploughman’s-and-watch kind of person?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, and if you’re going, we’ll see you at the bottom… hopefully on your feet!
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