Dorchester Abbey
Dorchester Abbey
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Dorchester Abbey is a significant historic building, having been a place of worship, witness and pilgrimage for more than a millennium. It has a unique C13th sculptural stained glass Jesse Window, an C11th lead font and C14th wall paintings. A Museum and Tea Room is open from April to September. Tours available (see website for more details).
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
194 reviews
Excellent
123
Very good
62
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Theresa R
Crewkerne, UK5 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
I popped in on my way home as a break.
Lovely historic abbey with prone knights’ tombs, a modern installation and beautiful windows.
Out of season, so no one about but I was able to get information from their website and a leaflet.
Lovely historic abbey with prone knights’ tombs, a modern installation and beautiful windows.
Out of season, so no one about but I was able to get information from their website and a leaflet.
Written 3 February 2024
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.
xtacine
Los Angeles254 contributions
Jul 2022
There isn't much to "do" in Dorchester, but this Abbey was gorgeous! We happened upon the organ being played by a real master - such a treat!
Written 8 July 2022
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.
Sarah C
Ashtead, UK1,290 contributions
Nov 2021
Sadly we were here for a funeral but the surroundings, the atmosphere, both historic and spiritual, the lay staff and clergy managed to make a very sad occasion into an uplifting one.
I hope to return to explore more of the Abbey at some point.
I hope to return to explore more of the Abbey at some point.
Written 16 June 2022
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.
Dee J
Uckfield, UK5 contributions
Feb 2022
We were privileged to be welcomed into the Abbey where my mother was baptised 92 years ago and where her parents were married in 1924. Everyone was so warm and friendly. Would definitely go back x
Written 14 February 2022
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.
gregoryscat
Buckinghamshire, UK264 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
What a gem! A magnificent former abbey in the heart of this small picturesque town. Beautiful stained glass windows. We were lucky enough to meet one of the curates who was able to provide us with lots of information about the history. The little museum and tea room were not open when we visited. Limited opening. Worth checking days and times if you were counting on these. Fortunately we weren’t!
Written 27 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.
john11hartley
Fittleworth, UK79 contributions
May 2021
Once inside the scale of the building becomes apparent - more like the cathedrals & abbeys of northern France than what we are familiar with in England. For me the Jesse window was the stand-out feature, and what I had really come to see, but lots of other interest - the great East window, and more stained glass.
Written 2 June 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.
Chan G
Reading, UK257 contributions
Aug 2020
Amazing architecture, would of loved to visit inside but it was shut. The website said it would be open 10:30 - 12:30pm. The tearoom didn't open until 2:30pm so our plan was to sit inside the Abbey until then however that didn't happen!
We will have to re-visit another time :)
We will have to re-visit another time :)
Written 1 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.
Frank L
2 contributions
Aug 2020
Very interesting beautiful abbey in lovely peaceful grounds
Would like to visit again and fully explore.
Would like to visit again and fully explore.
Written 29 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.
lazenlondonuk
London Uk329 contributions
Jun 2020
Ok the Abbey is big not as big as some but The Abbey and surrounding graveyard IS Dorchester and closed currently.
Ive been to Dorchester a number of times even hitch hiking here as a boy.And Ive never really formed a firm impression of the place.On the surface it looks very picturesque cluttered even.It was Roman in some way but that fact has meant that
all manner of tourists hikers and the like and especially day tripper cars from The London side of Dorchester frequent the busy roads to come here and theres precious little-especially currently-for them to 'do'.
Houses over built anything Roman long ago as did private fishing lakes and fenced off areas of supposed 'temples'cursuses and villas.Nothing to see now.
Round the back of the village you can walk along a long narrow barbed wire flanked corridor through a private field with kissing gates unpassable for bicycles
to some kind of grass dunes at the river again barbed wire fenced off supposedly ancient.
Thats about it.You will be often walking single file thru cow pats to let hikers pass by.
But there is a good view of the hills opposite across the unpassable River Thames where all the ancient action is.
The local cottage owners tinkering in their gardens look thoroughly upset at the constant stream of hordes past their front gardens.
There may be the odd tea shop when it reopens.
Its all a bit depressing really leaving one rather underwhelmed.
Ive been to Dorchester a number of times even hitch hiking here as a boy.And Ive never really formed a firm impression of the place.On the surface it looks very picturesque cluttered even.It was Roman in some way but that fact has meant that
all manner of tourists hikers and the like and especially day tripper cars from The London side of Dorchester frequent the busy roads to come here and theres precious little-especially currently-for them to 'do'.
Houses over built anything Roman long ago as did private fishing lakes and fenced off areas of supposed 'temples'cursuses and villas.Nothing to see now.
Round the back of the village you can walk along a long narrow barbed wire flanked corridor through a private field with kissing gates unpassable for bicycles
to some kind of grass dunes at the river again barbed wire fenced off supposedly ancient.
Thats about it.You will be often walking single file thru cow pats to let hikers pass by.
But there is a good view of the hills opposite across the unpassable River Thames where all the ancient action is.
The local cottage owners tinkering in their gardens look thoroughly upset at the constant stream of hordes past their front gardens.
There may be the odd tea shop when it reopens.
Its all a bit depressing really leaving one rather underwhelmed.
Written 12 June 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.
Tracey
Forster, Australia366 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Lovely place to visit
Set in old English village where some of the midsomer murders series where filmed
Set in old English village where some of the midsomer murders series where filmed
Written 14 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.
Valerie D
5 contributions
I would like to know whether guided tours of the Abbey are available.I organise visits for a group of 52 NADFAS members and although I have not yet visited myself your website has interested me.
Regards
Valerie Douglas
Stephanie F
Dorchester-on-Thames, UK18 contributions
Yes! Contact the Parish Office: 01865 340007
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Frequently Asked Questions about Dorchester Abbey
- Dorchester Abbey is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Dorchester Abbey:
- (0.08 km) The George Hotel Dorchester-on-thames
- (0.22 km) The White Hart Hotel
- (0.07 km) Fleur De Lys Inn
- (3.17 km) The Grange Guest House
- (9.45 km) Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire
- Restaurants near Dorchester Abbey:
- (0.02 km) Dorchester Abbey Tea Room
- (0.14 km) White Hart Hotel Restaurant
- (0.07 km) The Fleur de Lys
- (0.51 km) Snug Cafe at Bishop's Court Farm
- (4.95 km) Home Sweet Home