Elizabeth: Leisure

• Leisure pursuits in Elizabethan England based on social class

  • Hunting - Nobility
  • Fishing - Nobility
  • Real Tennis - Nobility
  • Bowls - Nobility
  • Fencing - Nobility
  • Football - Lower
  • Wrestling - Lower
• Hunting - Upper Class 


  • Took place on horseback with hounds or with birds (hawking)
• Fishing- Nobility 


  • Done by men and women
• Real Tennis - Nobility 


  • Played indoors (men only), a cross between modern tennis and squash that was increasingly popular
• Bowls - Nobility 


  • Similar to the modern game (men only)
• Fencing - Nobility 


  • Undertaken with blunted swords (men only)
• Football - Lower 


  • Men only, the aim was to get the ball into the other side's goal, although the rules varied, could be very violent - men were often killed during matches
• Wrestling

  • Men of all classes took part in public wrestling matches with people gambling on the outcome
• Spectator sports in Elizabethan England

  • Bear-baiting
  • Cock-fighting
• Bear-baiting


  • Involved watching animals fight to the death, typically dogs were encouraged to attack chained bears and bulls, and bets were made on the outcomes of fights
• Cock-fighting


  • Cockerels attacked each other using metal spurs and their beaks, in many small towns special arenas were built for cock-fighting, money was bet on the outcomes of these fights
• A lot of new literature was written during Elizabeth's reign, although medieval literature, such as Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, remained popular
• Mystery Plays, popular with many Catholics, were replaced with new non-religious (secular) plays, these were shown in purpose-built theatres, such as the Red Lion and the Rose
• Comedies, performed by teams of professional players funded by wealthy noblemen, were very popular, sponsors included the queen and the Earl of Leicester, and their performers were known as Queen's Men and Leicester's Men
• All social classes attended the theatre, so purpose-built theatres had to be built to accommodate growing audiences
• Many Elizabethans played instruments, including lutes (similar to guitars), spinets and harpsichords (similar to pianos), musical performances were popular
• Musicians were paid to play at official functions or public events, music was also played at fairs and markets, or on public occasions, in churches, taverns, barbers shops and on the streets
• Wealthy families employed their own musicians (always men) to play during meals and feasts, books of songs were also popular
• Music was also written to accompany plays performed in public theatres
• Dancing remained a popular pastime, as it brought together men and women, although the upper and lower classes did not dance together