Forde Abbey and Gardens

Enjoy England Excellence Silver Award Winner 2008 and South West Toursism Small Attraction of the Year 2006 & 2007.

Now privately owned, Forde Abbey was founded by the Cistercians in 1140 and became one of the richest and most learned monasteries in the country. The church was demolished in the dissolution, but in 1649 Sir Edmund Prideaux transformed the Abbey into a magnificent commonwealth house. Of particular note are the splendid Mortlake tapestries and ceilings from the 1650's and the crucifixion painting dated c1320. The 30 acres of world famous gardens include a walled working kitchen garden, ponds, cascades, ionic temple, rockery, bog garden, and the Centenary Fountain, the highest-powered fountain in England.

Opening Times

Garden Open 1 Jan 2008 - 31 Dec 2008

House Open 18 Mar 2008 - 31 Oct 2008

* House open Tuesday-Friday, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays between April-October.

Road Directions

Nearest major road is A30. Follow brown tourist signs from A30 Chard to Crewkerne or A358 Chard to Axminster.

Public Transport Directions

No suitable public transport.

 Facilities

Provider Preferences

• In countryside
• No Smoking Attraction

Accessibility

• Guide Dogs Permitted
• Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
• Ramp/Level Access
• Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Parking & Transport

• On site parking
• Parking (free)

Catering

• On-Site café/restaurant - Cafeteria style, South Undercroft seats 150 max. Open 22 Mar- 31 Oct, daily, from 1100. Light lunches, teas and cream teas.
• Picnic Site

Payment Methods

• Approx length of visit - 3 hours
• Delta accepted
• Groups Accepted - Essential to prebook.
• Maestro accepted
• MasterCard accepted
• Max group size - 250
• Min group size - 20
• Special group rates
• Sterling Travellers Cheques accepted
• Visa accepted

Establishment Features

• Dogs Accepted
• Printed Material in Foreign Languages - French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch
• Toilets

Languages spoken

• French spoken
• German spoken
• Spanish spoken

Printed Material in Foreign Languages

• Dutch printed material
• French printed material
• German printed material
• Spanish printed material

Tours and Demonstrations

• Guided Tours Available for Groups