Name: 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield
Rating: 5.0

1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield

High Street, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0AE, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

From the drama of 1066 to the peace of a ruined abbey, there’s plenty for the whole family at Battle Abbey, the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror’s Norman invaders met King Harold’s English army in this very place. Discover the story of the famous battle for yourself with interactive displays in the visitor centre. Then, accompanied by an audio tour, you can see where the Normans advanced against the English, and walk the battlefield, hunting out dramatic wooden figures.

The abbey was founded by William soon after the conquest, said to be in the exact spot where King Harold died. You can explore its ruins then climb to the gatehouse rooftop for panoramic views. Inside the gatehouse, an exhibition explores stories from the abbey’s history.

Price starts from £16.50 for Adults, £10.00 for Children(5-17 years) and £26.50 for Family(1 adult, up to 3 children). If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Start your adventure at the visitor Centre: Set the scene for the Battle of Hastings with our introductory film, vividly re-telling the story of the great battle. Start your tour of the site here and unlock the story of where you're standing.
Walk the 1066 Battlefield with your audio guide: Today peaceful with wildflowers and birdsong, this evocative landscape once played host to thousands of men, fighting for the future of king and country. Explore the battlefield and picture it full of life (and death) on the day that England’s history changed forever. Follow the full course of the battle with our audio guide. Little visitors should check out the special children's version. See the wood-carved sculpture trail.
Explore the Abbey Ruins: Explore the atmospheric ruins of William the Conqueror’s famous abbey. Stand on the very spot where King Harold is said to have died. Admire the stonework and acoustics of the 13th-century rib-vaulted dormitory range, including the Novices Common Room. Climb the staircase to explore the first floor too.
Visit the Gatehouse Exhibition: The abbey gatehouse houses an exhibition examining the important stories of the abbey in the years after 1066. Enjoy a multimedia guide, and examine original artefacts and recreated objects from our fascinating collection. Upstairs you can get a stunning panoramic view out across the town and the 1066 landscape.
Stroll the Walled garden: Take a stroll round the Duchess of Cleveland’s Victorian walled garden, recreated to provide a glimpse into a lesser known time in the abbey’s history.
Investigate the Ice House and Dairy: Explore this unique example of a gothic-style thatched dairy and underground ice house on your visit to Battle Abbey.
Discover magical creatures: Looking for an adventure with your little ones? Uncover English folklore with our Folktale Creature Trails, where children can discover magical creatures from English myths and legends.
Enjoy the Battle Abbey Playground: Adjacent to the cafe and picnic area is 1066 Battle of Hastings’ new natural play area. The playground is based on 11th-century life and designed to fire kids’ imaginations. Carved from wood, the play area features all sorts of fun play structures based on the theme of 1066, including climbable barrels, carts and an enormous wooden ox.
Gardens: Large open areas with wide pathways and seating throughout the site. Relax in the Duchess of Cleveland's Walled Garden among wild flowers and fruit trees.
Museum: The Abbey gatehouse contains historic exhibits discovered at the Abbey, and a multimedia guide is also available. Stunning rooftop views can be enjoyed from the top of the gatehouse.
Exhibition: The exhibition '1066: the Battle for England' brings the background and impact of this renowned conflict vividly to life. Drawing a striking picture from the English and Norman sides of the years that led up to the conflict.

Facilities

Parking: Parking, including disabled visitor parking, is available in the large car park near to the entrance castle. Parking is free for members, please scan you membership card at the machine. New members with a temporary card will need to collect a voucher from the shop during opening hours and validate it a the machine. Parking charges apply to non-members: £4. Maximum stay of 6 hours for all users of the car park.
Food And Drink: Contemporary café open all year round selling sandwiches, snacks, hot and cold drinks. Has both indoor and outdoor seating, and wonderful views of the historic gatehouse.
Toilets: Male and female toilets, including facilities for people with limited mobility, are located at the visitor centre.

What to see

Events:

Halloween Half-Term at Battle Abbey: Date: Sat 25 Oct - Sun 2 Nov 2025. Time: 10am - 4pm. Location: 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield. Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Battle Abbey this half-term. Follow the quest to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.
Revenants and Remains:
Medieval Monasteries and their Historical Tales of the Supernatural: Date: Sun 2 Nov. Time: 12pm - 1.30pm. Location: 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield. Join English Heritage historian Dr Michael Carter and Professor Dale Townshend at 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield to discover why medieval monks and nuns wrote so many ghost stories. You can expect tales of tormented souls returning from Purgatory, rotting revenants rising from their graves and devils and demons stalking the precincts of monasteries ready to tempt the unwary into sin and damnation.

For more upcoming events information please visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/1066-battle-of-hastings-abbey-and-battlefield/events/

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Advance online tickets:

Adult: £16.50 With donation & £15.00 Without donation.
Child (5–17 years): £10.00 With donation & £9.00 Without donation.
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £43.00 With donation & £39.00 Without donation.
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £26.50 With donation & £24.00 Without donation.
Concession: £14.50 With donation & £13.10 Without donation.
Member: Free.

On the day tickets:

Adult: £19.50 With donation & £17.70 Without donation.
Child (5–17 years): £12.00 With donation & £10.90 Without donation.
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £51.00 With donation & £46.30 Without donation.
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £31.50 With donation & £28.60 Without donation.
Concession: £17.50 With donation & £15.90 Without donation.
Member: Free.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/1066-battle-of-hastings-abbey-and-battlefield/prices-and-opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open Daily: 10am - 5pm (last entry at 4pm)

Address: High Street, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0AE, UK

Post Code: TN33 0AE

Council: Rother

County: East Sussex

Road Access: In Battle, at south end of High Street, take the A2100 off the A21.
Bus Access: Renown Coaches 95, 355; Stagecoach 304, 305 & 384; Battle Community Transport B67, B73, B75, B79
Train Access: Battle Station is a 15-minute walk away with train services operated by Southeastern.
Bicycle Access: National Route 2 passes through Hastings, about six miles from Battle Abbey. Find your cycling route to 1066 Battle of Hastings at sustrans.org.uk, the National Cycle Network.
Parking: Parking, including disabled visitor parking, is available in the large car park near to the entrance castle. Parking is free for members, please scan you membership card at the machine. New members with a temporary card will need to collect a voucher from the shop during opening hours and validate it a the machine. Parking charges apply to non-members: £4. Maximum stay of 6 hours for all users of the car park.