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Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey

Glastonbury Abbey
4.5
Historic SitesAncient RuinsMysterious SitesReligious Sites
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
A hidden jewel in the heart of Somerset, Glastonbury Abbey is traditionally associated with the earliest days of Christianity in Britain and figures such as Joseph of Arimathea, St Patrick and St David. It is also the resting place for three Saxon kings and the legendary King Arthur. Set in 36 acres of parkland in the middle of the town, the histories, mysteries and myths of Glastonbury Abbey define it as a place of extraordinary spiritual significance. Open 364 days a year, welcoming dogs on short leads, with summer cafe, costumed guides, accredited museum and gift shop.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • J-from-Marysville
    Marysville, Ohio1,006 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very interesting, not very handicap accessible
    The story of this Abbey is very interesting. I was most interested in the King Arthur connection. He supposedly was buried there with his wife, removed from the cemetery and placed in a black marble tomb inside the Abbey, and then the tomb disappeared (with their remains) either shortly before or during the Henry VIII ransacking/destruction of the Abbey. The entire site is pleasant to walk around. Tours are available at certain times throughout the day. Or go on your own, there are plenty of informative signs around. Handicap access is challenging. The pathways are gravel and hard to push a wheelchair around on them. Overall, a worthwhile visit.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 October 2023
  • Tony McMahon
    London, United Kingdom393 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating ruined abbey with lots of history
    This abbey was once the most wealthy outside of London - but was reduced to ruins by King Henry VIII during the Protestant Reformation. It's a beautiful ruined abbey with interesting stories. Monks claimed King Arthur was buried there, and Saint Patrick. My only gripe is that too many walkways have been built inside the main abbey ruin. Compare this to places like Fountains and Rievaulx in Yorkshire. It's at risk of being turned into a theme park. Keep the sense of mystery by leaving it to speak for itself.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 March 2024
  • Philmex1
    Southampton, United Kingdom1,970 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peace and calm in Glastonbury
    We visited Glastonbury Abbey on the way back home to Southampton from Minehead. We didn't have a massive amount of time, so didn't got up to the Tor, but visited the abbey instead. We received a lovely welcome from the staff on duty in the ticket office and were pleased to get a 20% discount on our tickets for being members of English Heritage. Glastonbury Abbey must have been a stunning place before it suffered the fate of so many religious buildings during the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. The ruins are impressive and you still get a feeling of being in a big church when walking up the nave to the High Altar - well, I did anyway. The abbey is probably at its best in spring or summertime on a sunny day as there aren't many places to shelter. We were very fortunate to go there on a warm spring day with plenty of sunshine. The yellow stone looks amazing in sunlight. There are a couple of car parks in the centre of Glastonbury within walking distance of the abbey. Well worth a visit if staying in or near Glastonbury.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 14 April 2024
  • Sarah B
    Teignmouth, United Kingdom655 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent historical site of national importance, well presented and worth the entrance fee.
    The ruins of the once powerful and magnificent Glastonbury Abbey are extensive and impressive. The grounds themselves are beautiful and well worth a good walk round. The Abbot's Kitchen is the building that has best survived the ravages of time and Henry VIII and is brilliantly set up to show how things looked and worked in a Tudor kitchen. All the ecclesiastical ruins are well labelled and explained so you can get a clear picture of how they looked and what there function was. The museum is also excellent, with helpful staff. Very dog friendly for those of you visiting with a canine companion.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 23 July 2024
  • Geoff H
    Sissinghurst, United Kingdom17,884 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A magnificent ruin
    It's only a ruin but what a ruin!! Set in 36 acres of parkland it is magnificent. You can spend ages just walking round where you want, not being made to follow any specific path. There are information boards and, as well as the ruins, there's the Abbot's Kitchen, a museum and the site of King Arthur's tomb. There's also a small cafe. The ticket you buy enables you to come and go as many times as you want to during the day.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 July 2024
  • BackinBracknell
    Bracknell, United Kingdom1,590 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive Abbey ruins and mingled myths and legends
    There was much more to see of the ruins than I'd expected. Very impressive and it must have been a magnificent sight before it was destroyed by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries. There's a museum which explains the history and has many interesting artefacts. The grounds are extensive and it's a peaceful, calm place to relax away from the town. Staff could have been more professional. While we were waiting for the guided tour, one member of staff was complaining to us that the tour leader was late, and that if she didn't turn up he'd have to show us round, which he clearly didn't want to do. The actual tour guide did arrive a few minutes later and took us to the main things to see. However her knowledge wasn't great and when someone asked why was the abbey was destroyed, she was vague and said it was because Henry VIII was a "bad man" and wanted to be a "god" and she didn't mention anything about him breaking from the Catholic church because he wanted a divorce and that it led to the establishment of the Church of England. She also talked about things as facts, e.g. how the tomb of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere was really discovered here, and that Joseph of Arimathea brought the Holy Grail to Glastonbury Abbey and that the Holy Thorn Tree sprouted from Joseph of Arimathea’s staff. It's all stuff of mingled myths and legends so should have been presented as that, but at least the information in the museum gave a more balanced view!
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 August 2024
  • roscwmbran
    Cwmbran, United Kingdom581 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    good for an afternoon out
    Had an entrance fee of ÂŁ12. There is work going on and saint Patrick's Chapel was closed off, you could spend a day here. There are free guided tours on hour and an outside cafe.and a musuem and gardens to explore.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,866 reviews
Excellent
1,251
Very good
479
Average
96
Poor
20
Terrible
20

Ken W
Burgess Hill, UK484 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Amazed at how big the 35? acre site was and how beautifully it was kept. Loved the whole tranquil experience and would completely recommend a visit. I initially thought the entrance fee was a bit steep when I booked the visit a few weeks in advance, but it was definitely worth every penny.
Written 10 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mrsbsouthend
Rayleigh, UK789 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
We had the misfortunate to visit on a day that showcased the worst of British weather - the dreaded lashing rain! Anoraks and umbrella's at the ready we entered the Abbey gates, which were impressive in themselves.

In its time it was the largest and the tallest cathedral in the UK. Even its ruins were impressive. I particularly liked the information boards that showed you what it looked like and the history of the place. The gardens around it were absolutely beautiful, if not for the weather I could have cheerfully sat and enjoyed the views for much longer.

There is a little cafe with outdoor seating that looked charming, and the visitors centre which had further information. Toilets are available at the main entrance and the shop sold some very charming gifts if you were a tourist looking for something other that the crystals available outside! You can visit the shop without entering the Abbey.
Written 30 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yorkterrier01
York, UK2,603 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Oddly, for an abbey, this is independent and not part of a national body (such as English Heritage).

Despite the showery weather, I enjoyed my visit. The tour guide was very helpful explaining the history and wealth of the abbey before it was dissolved.

There is paid car parking external to the site but the town does get quite busy.

There is a marker for the grave of King Arther but whether he is there or it was to attract pilgrims in the past is down to debate
Written 24 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to send us your review, and we are so pleased you enjoyed your day. We are indeed an independent charity so rely entirely on visitor income and grant funding for everything we do. We do hope you will visit again in future.
Written 25 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

janeandsammypaws
Glastonbury, UK8 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Solo
As a local, I vist the Abbey daily and its well worth the visit. I was however disappointed with the level of customer service at the kiosk. I have paid membership which entitles all members to a discount for events and any beverages purchased. However, it seems a worker named Sam felt it necessary to deny me the discount for a cup of tea due to the fact she was clearing up and it was close to closing time. She was serving 2 other customers before me and it was only 3.45. Official closing time of the kiosk is 4pm. Her response response me when I said I was a member.." no discount when I'm close to closing up" ..I asked her why she was still open to the public and serving and if so, why as a full member am I to lose the discount. She said it was "company policy" and was very shirty in her tone of voice. It left me feeling totally disgusted with such poor service and with such an unfriendly unprofessional approach.
I declined the cup of tea and her response was..it's only 10p difference! I explained it wasn't about about ÂŁ, more to do with her unfair and miserable service. Extremely miserly and uncalled for. All members are entitled to discounts if a shop is open and serving you. It is a shame that she couldn't provide a friendly service with a smile because it makes people feel resentful.
Written 28 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AprilForbes
Salisbury, UK1,609 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Friends
I wasn't sure what to expect for a performance of HMS Pinafore (Opera Gilbert and Sullivan) in the abbey grounds.

It was a six man show and very entertaining, the cast certainly did it justice.

It was a lovely evening, which certainly helped and there was a nice turn out.

I would definitely recommend if you get the chance to see a production within this historical site.
Written 19 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Davanden
Alexandria, Virginia, USA370 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
The Abbey was the site of a thriving monastic community, until it was destroyed by Henry VIII in a cultural atrocity that must rank up there with the Taliban or DESH. The visitors’ center provided some background on the history of the abbey and how it looked when it was whole. Then we went outside to look at the remains. They are still inspiring, with wall and arches standing out in the open. There was a religious service going on in the vault of the (former) chapel, now open to the sky. It seemed to be a requiem.

This site has drawn artists for centuries, both painters and photographers. Some of the earliest photographers, such as Roger Fenton, who captured images in 1855. We did our best to emulate them, choosing our images to capture the sad beauty of the stones. The site includes a memorial stone to King Arthur, who is supposed to have been buried there.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

June A
Surrey, UK2,754 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
Despite making regular visits to Glastonbury since the late 90's, I have only viisited the Abbey a handful of times. Each time I have found it a serene and enticing place for wandering around and generally contemplating the nature of life. Last time I visited I found that a new exhibiton had opened detailing the history in a bit more detail. Volunteers were patrolling the grounds also offering their wisdom to those who wanted to listen - and partaking us with more interesting facts about life in the Abbey and how things were done - especially the cooking! Life here was hard work, but not as hard as for those who remained on the outside.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RealityCheck2013
Bristol, UK897 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
A nice area steeped in history and of course the highlight being the grave of King Arthur, all legend but the grounds and ruins are very nice to see and a sense of wonderment.
The walk around the gardens and viewing was about 2 hours and the entrance fee was ÂŁ8.60 per adult , but all in a good cause.
Well located in central Glastonbury which in itself is interesting with a number of alternative shops and characters.
Written 19 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sue H
hants UK5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020
This is worth allocating quite a lot of time to. Not only interesting range of buildings and ponds to see in the spacious grounds and a great little outdoor cafe to spend time in, but the feeling of peace and calm is fantastic. We didn't allocate enough time. We bought the local apple juice in the cafe - from this year's harvest - but it would have been good to have a picnic in the grounds, or sit and read about the Tor or other things - a deeply peaceful place to visit.
Written 23 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BrodyH
Bath, UK7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
This place has a real peaceful feel.
If you live locally, get yourself an annual membership, it's worth it.
If you're visiting the area, you really need to grab yourself a bite to eat on the high street and take a few hours out in the Abbey - they let you bring food and drink in. They also have blankets and encourage you to picnic with them in the summer.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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