Forde Abbey
Forde Abbey is a popular venue for friends and families, flower garden lovers and historians alike. Set within thirty acres of prize-winning gardens, you'll find a little something of attraction all year round. To assist you take advantage of your visit, we've included a choice selection of relevant information and links below. However, if you have any particular questions, regardless if it's looking after a large group or food catering for specialist diets in our cafe, do please see the Contact Us page for information about how to get in touch, we'll be only too happy to help.
Please note, in summer the fountain is on three times everyday, at: 12 noon, 1.30 pm and 3pm and will be on once a day during the Winter months at 12 noon.
Forde Abbey stands at the heart of a 1600 acre estate. Although small in contrast with many estate, it manages to include a wide range of activities and does much to provide the best local produce to use in the house and the cafe. The Kennard family are first and foremost stewards of the land that borders the Abbey and take their accountability for it very seriously.
We have a wide variety of events in the diary as well as tourist attractions in the garden to ensure your visit a great day out for all the family. Walk in the footsteps of the monks and go back in time with a range of habits to try on in the house for any ages. Explore our giant-sized labyrinth in the arboretum and try your hand at pizza producing with our new wood fired stove.
Wide open lawns and the space and opportunity to explore makes Forde Abbey a great day out for all the whole family. Adventurers will love our willow labyrinth in the arboretum, watching wildlife on the lake and do not forget to get a children's pack in the shop for tasks to do around the house and gardens. Enjoy lunch and home-baked treats in the tearoom and purchase pocket money gifts and mementos on sale in our gift shop.
There's lots of family friendly dates in the diary for 2018, consisting of outdoor theatre, an Easter egg trail, forest fun sessions and much more besides. Have a look on our Events page for more information, follow us on Facebook, see what we get up to on Instagram and get month-to-month news and offers delivered to your inbox when you sign up to our e-newsletter on the homepage.
See how many wild flowers you can pinpoint in our wildflower swirls that come to life over the Summer months-- interlocking circular swirls to follow, and woven with a mix of blooms much loved by butterflies and bees.
The Best Ways To Find Us
From the M5:
Leave the motorway at Junction 25 (Taunton) and take the A358 to Chard.
From the A303:
Leave the A303 at the turning for Crewkerne and join the A356. At Crewkerne take the A30 towards Chard.
From Exeter:
Take the A30 to Honiton and then the A35 to Axminster. In Axminster take the A358 towards Chard.
Forde Abbey is located 4 miles south east of Chard in Somerset. There are brown tourist signs for Forde Abbey from the A30, A358 and B3165. It is advised that you follow the brown tourist signs and not your satnav as you get close to Forde Abbey.