Name: Bath Abbey
Rating: 5.0

Bath Abbey

9 Kingston Buildings, Kingston Rd, Bath BA1 1LT, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

The Bath Abbey is a stunning place of worship and heritage site located in the heart of Bath. It offers a peaceful space filled with history, architecture, and spiritual significance. Visitors can explore its rich past while enjoying a calm and inspiring atmosphere.

Visitors can explore the Discovery Museum with interactive exhibits, historical artefacts, and immersive displays about the Abbey’s history. Activities include viewing memorials and ledgerstones, exploring chapels, admiring stained glass windows, joining Tower Tours, and enjoying family-friendly experiences like dressing up and activity trails. The Abbey also features iconic elements such as the fan vaulted ceiling, West Front, and spaces for reflection and prayer.

Ticket prices start from £9.00 for adults, £7.50 for students, and £5.00 for children for Abbey and Museum entry, while Tower Tours are priced from £18.00 for adults, £15.00 for students, and £12.00 for 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

Discovery Museum: The Discovery Museum is Bath Abbey's interactive heritage centre. An entertaining experience designed to bring the Abbey’s history to life. Objects from the Abbey’s archives are on display in this custom-built area constructed within the ancient vaults beneath the Abbey building. Fascinating videos, replica period costumes and exciting interactive exhibits will immerse visitors in the history of this extraordinary building and explore the stories of people connected to the Abbey. Alongside an extensive timeline of the Abbey’s history, historical artefacts, some of which have never been seen by the public, are on display.
Footprint: The Abbey's floor was collapsing but thanks to the Footprint Project the entire floor has now been repaired and stabilised.
Memorials: There are 1500 memorials on the Abbey's wall and in the floor (ledger stones). Most commemorate people from the 1700s and 1800s. Some interesting names are highlighted with information panels. You can also type names into www.bathabbeymemorials.org.uk to find out more.
Waller Tomb: Sir William Waller’s memorial to his first wife Jane (d. 1633). William Waller fought for parliament in the English Civil War (1642-51). After the Battle of Lansdown (near Bath) in 1643, Waller’s troops sheltered in the Abbey. We hope you know God’s protection, whatever lies ahead.
Ledgerstones: The Abbey floor is made up of 891 flat grave stones called ledgerstones. As part of the Footprint project all of the ledgerstones have been restored and re-laid thanks to the skill of local craftspeople.
King Edgar Window: This window shows the crowning of Edgar as the first king of all England at the Saxon monastery here in 973. He is known as King Edgar the Peaceful. We invite you to be thankful that we live in a country that is at peace today.
The Great East Window: Completed in 1873 and repaired after World War II, it tells the story of Jesus in 56 scenes.
Birde’s Chantry Chapel: Built by Prior William Birde (d. 1525) as a place for prayers to be chanted for his soul. It continues to be a place of quiet, reflection, and prayer. We invite you to enter and be still in this holy space.
Fan Vaulted Ceiling: Created in the 1500s by the king’s master masons, the stone vaults form beautiful fan shapes to draw us up to God. The Nave ceiling is a copy made in the 1860s, can you spot any differences?
West Window: Completed in 1894, the window tells the stories of the first five books of the Bible. The panels in the bottom left show God’s Creation of Eve and Noah’s Ark. We invite you to be thankful for the beauty of creation today.
The West Front: Represents the dream of Bishop Oliver King that led him to replace the ruined Norman Cathedral with the present Abbey in 1499. Towards the top of the window is a carved dove, representing God’s Holy Spirit.
Join a tour: If you'd like to explore the Abbey further, why not join a Tower Tour to see behind the scenes of our tower?
Fun for Kids! 5 years and under: Borrow a free Little Explorer backpack full of fun items to help you explore the Abbey. A Sensory Explorer back pack for children with SEND is also available. 6 - 11 years: Free 'Alex's Abbey Adventure' Trailsheet and pencil at the Welcome Desk.

Facilities

Parking: The nearest short stay car park is a five-minute walk away at the Podium in Northgate Street, BA1 5AL, or the Southgate Car Park in St. James Parade, BA1 1TP.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Bath Abbey and Discovery Museum Tickets

Adults: £9.00
Students: £7.50 (With valid student ID card)
Children (5 -15): £5.00

Bath Abbey Tower Tour Tickets

Adults: £18.00
Students: £15.00 (With valid student ID card)
Children (5 -15): £12.00

Pricing URL: https://www.bathabbey.org/visiting/opening-times-getting-here-parking/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Monday - Friday: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm.
Saturday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.
Sunday: 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm.

Address: 9 Kingston Buildings, Kingston Rd, Bath BA1 1LT, UK

Post Code: BA1 1LT

Council: Bath and North East

County: Somerset

By Car: From the M4 - Leave the M4 at Junction 18 and take the A46 towards Bath. From Bristol - Take the A4 into Bath. From Salisbury - Take the A36 into Bath. From the South West - The straightforward route would be via the M5 and M4 approaching Bath from the north and using the Lansdown Park and Ride. The nearest short stay car park is a five-minute walk away at the Podium in Northgate Street, BA1 5AL, or the Southgate Car Park in St. James Parade, BA1 1TP.
On foot: Bath is well suited to pedestrians and most hotels and guest houses are within easy reach of the city centre.
By Train: The station is called Bath Spa. There are frequent high-speed connections to London Paddington. For a slower service that is likely to be cheaper, try London Waterloo. Major cities such as Birmingham and Manchester have frequent services via Bristol. The south coast ports of Southampton and Portsmouth have direct services by train. Bath Abbey is less than ten minutes walk from the station.
By Bike: There is a cycle rack to park bikes located to the east of the Abbey at Orange Grove.
Parking: The nearest short stay car park is a five-minute walk away at the Podium in Northgate Street, BA1 5AL, or the Southgate Car Park in St. James Parade, BA1 1TP.