Home > Things To Do in West Dorset > Forde Abbey and Gardens
Forde Abbey and Gardens
Enjoy England Excellence Silver Award Winner 2008 and South West Tourism 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 1650s 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
Open All Year
Garden Open 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2012
Monday 10:00 - 18:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 18:00
Thursday 10:00 - 18:00
Friday 10:00 - 18:00
Saturday 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday 10:00 - 18:00
House 01/04/2012 - 31/10/2012
Monday Closed
Tuesday 12:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 12:00 - 16:00
Thursday 12:00 - 16:00
Friday 12:00 - 16:00
Saturday Closed
Sunday 12:00 - 16:00
Bank Holiday 12:00 - 16:00
* 2012 - The House is open Tuesday-Friday, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 1st April 2012 until 31st October 2012 from 12 noon with last entry at 4pm. Last admission to the Gardens is at 4:30pm and they close at 6:00pm.
Events
Saturday, 11th February 2012 - Sunday, 12th February 2012
Saturday, 18th February 2012 - Sunday, 19th February 2012
Saturday, 25th February 2012 - Sunday, 26th February 2012
Sunday, 4th March 2012 - Sunday, 4th March 2012
Tickets Information
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff* |
|---|---|
| Adult - House & Garden | from £10.50 |
| Seniors - House & Gardens | from £9.50 |
| Adult - Garden only | from £8.50 |
| Seniors - Garden only | from £7.50 |
| Children under 15 | free |
For more information on ticket prices and discounts available, please visit our website.
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
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
Attraction Facilities
- Dogs on Lead Only
- Plant Sales
- Shop
Venue Facilities
- Wedding Venue
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
- Coach Parking
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Catering
- On-Site café/restaurant - Cafeteria style, South Undercroft seats 150 max. Open 1 Mar- 31 Oct, daily, from 1100. Light lunches, teas and cream teas.
- Picnic Site
Payment Methods
- Approx length of visit - 3 hours
- Blue Badge Guides admitted free
- Delta accepted
- Groups Accepted - Essential to prebook.
- Maestro accepted
- MasterCard accepted
- Max group size - 250
- Min group size - 15
- Open by appointment outside normal opening times
- Special group rates
- Sterling Travellers Cheques accepted
- Visa accepted
Establishment Features
- Available for wedding receptions
- Cater for groups
- Dogs Accepted
- Event venue
- Licenced for civil marriages
- Open all year
- Printed Material in Foreign Languages - French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch
- Tea / Coffee Shop
- 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
Additional Images
Click to enlarge images below:
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