Whalley Abbey
Whalley Abbey
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
83 within 3 miles
Attractions
65 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Chris4 contributionsBeautiful, peaceful place.Beautiful, peaceful place. It’s a retreat in all sense of the word. The grounds, staff and overall experience were wonderful. Very reasonable price too, 5 minutes walk to the village where there are restaurants, pubs and shops. Loved it. Highly recommend. We were here for 2 nights bed and breakfast. Would definitely go again. Thank you to all the staff who I didn’t get to thank personally.Visited May 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten May 21, 2023
- R383ccaCgbEngland, United Kingdom405 contributionsHistory at its finestSteeped in history, these ruins are set within beautiful gardens. Sign posts give away enough information about the lives of people who used the area many years ago. Its the perfect spot to walk around and is very peaceful and ideal for those wanting a quiet walk/sit down. There is also free parking. Highly recommend to those visiting the area for the first timeVisited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 9, 2023
- Andrew LLeigh, United Kingdom3,589 contributionsHenry VIIIs faultImagine what all these buildings would have looked like if Henry VIII had not got a roving eye ! You get a good impression here from the substantial ruins and helpful signage around the abbey site. Some lovely gardens to relax in as well. Cafe looked good especially the bacon butties people were eating on the outside tables. Peaceful place to visit and take in the historyVisited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 20, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
200 reviews
Excellent
102
Very good
79
Average
11
Poor
3
Terrible
5
Martina
11 contributions
Mar 2020
Paid for an event and wanted everything to be perfect. the food was very tasty, plenty of it and well worth the money. However, the man in charge of the day was miserable and very unhelpful. There is no bar it was tea and coffee. After mixing with my guests and ensuring they were served and relaxed, I asked for a cup of tea. This was met with a long face, no manners, no smile from a very disgruntled impolite man who made me feel very awkward and embarrassed. He spoilt the event as everyone commented on him saying 'does he know you're paying the bill'
Written November 18, 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.
Anita
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK801 contributions
Jul 2022
Beautiful tranquil area and quite a large site for abbey ruins . Lovely gardens and gatehouse. A cafe is available on site. There is a small entrance fee on site and if a volunteer isn't around then you can scan the QR code and pay although this may take a few minutes to do. Only £3 each but well worth it. You can also stay at the abbey too. Worth walking down the road to visit the other gatehouse which is looked after by English Heritage. Very peaceful.
Written August 2, 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.
bdon257
Morpeth, UK4,987 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Two of us visited this Magnificent gatehouse and gardens of the Abbey house with the extensive remains of this medieval abbey. The grounds are well maintained and a number of borders with flowering plants and shrubs can be enjoyed. A courtyard coffee shop with outdoor seating is available for refreshments.
Written June 21, 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.
Andrew L
Leigh, UK3,589 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Imagine what all these buildings would have looked like if Henry VIII had not got a roving eye ! You get a good impression here from the substantial ruins and helpful signage around the abbey site. Some lovely gardens to relax in as well. Cafe looked good especially the bacon butties people were eating on the outside tables. Peaceful place to visit and take in the history
Written September 20, 2023
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.
Chris
4 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Beautiful, peaceful place. It’s a retreat in all sense of the word. The grounds, staff and overall experience were wonderful. Very reasonable price too, 5 minutes walk to the village where there are restaurants, pubs and shops. Loved it. Highly recommend. We were here for 2 nights bed and breakfast. Would definitely go again. Thank you to all the staff who I didn’t get to thank personally.
Written May 21, 2023
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.
bunnySouthport
Southport, UK945 contributions
May 2020
We went here during the Corona Virus whilst obeying social distancing. It was a beautiful place to visit to see the history from different periods. Although the main grounds were closed you could walk quite a bit around it with nice gardens , great plants and a wonderful walk down the river
Written May 18, 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.
R383ccaCgb
England, UK405 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Steeped in history, these ruins are set within beautiful gardens. Sign posts give away enough information about the lives of people who used the area many years ago. Its the perfect spot to walk around and is very peaceful and ideal for those wanting a quiet walk/sit down. There is also free parking. Highly recommend to those visiting the area for the first time
Written September 9, 2023
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.
Ruth H
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Very disappointed it wasn’t dog friendly!
So as a result we were not allowed to go in. We had driven a long way with friends especially to visit the Abbey! I had checked to see if it was dog friendly but hadn’t found any information.
So as a result we were not allowed to go in. We had driven a long way with friends especially to visit the Abbey! I had checked to see if it was dog friendly but hadn’t found any information.
Written September 28, 2023
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.
Charlotte W
13 contributions
Oct 2019
We are incredibly fortunate to live within a three minute walk from Whalley Abbey and despite having lived here for over twenty years, the appeal of visiting the grounds never gets old.
Noted two “terrible” reviews and read out of interest – both disgruntled dog owners who had assumed it was dog friendly and not taken time to check in advance. Granted it must be annoying particularly if you have travelled but given the majority of public places such as this only allow guide dogs admission, it's hardly anyone else's fault if people don't use common sense, enquire in advance and just rock up assuming they can bring dogs with them.
The grounds are stunning and admission so cheap at £2 per person and just £4.50 for a family ticket of 2 adults and 2 children with an honesty box in place for visitors out of hours. There is no time restriction so once inside the grounds you're free to roam, sit and sunbathe / picnic and spend the whole day as you like. The main entrance gates remain open and during the summer months it's surprising how long you can spend relaxing, playing games or letting the kids play and if you bring a picnic and comfy blanket, you have a full day out for less than a fiver.
One of the biggest appeal is walking through the grounds particularly with young children who can follow the woodland trails alongside the river, enjoy the open grounds with ruins that make for excellent spots when playing hide and seek / army or whatever other game you come up with and invent on the spot and there are an abundance of places you can sit down with a blanket and unwrap a picnic either on the tables and benches, inside the woodland, up overlooking the main walls or sat on the beautiful gardens.
We used to take our children regularly when they were small toddlers and enjoy wellie walks, mini-beast hunts and finding / collecting all sorts and when we've had nieces, nephews and friend's with young children come to stay, we always make a wander down to the Abbey one of the first on our list.
At this time of year it's a great place to take your kids collecting conkers, pine cones and leaves and when it snows, the grounds are absolutely stunning with a fresh untouched blanket of snow that's almost guaranteed to be free from litter, dog poo or other nasties and means kids can enjoy building snowmen or making snow angels.
The venue does have toilets, a cafe and over the years has become a popular conference centre and wedding venue. During the summer there are live open air shows / plays which we haven't seen personally but look good and I imagine really offer a great family day out (have seen advertisements previously for “The Gruffalo” and “We're going on a Bear Hunt”)
The woodland trail and gardens with fish pond are child friendly but obviously require adult supervision as the river that runs directly behind is easily accessible and a steep drop. Same with the gardens – there's a small wooden bridge and seating area that does as much as it can to keep guests safe but that doesn't mean small kids can be allowed to go off and explore alone. Goes without saying really but given that a couple of people have given “terrible” reviews for not being allowed access with dogs – there will be some that assume they can just let their kids go off and do what they like because it's deemed a “family friendly” area. It's a great place for young families to visit but given that it's also an ancient ruin largely untouched or altered, it's not safe in the sense a purpose built children's play centre will be.
Just outside the abbey within a minute's walk is St Mary's Church which is a gorgeous Grade 1 listened building with a beautiful graveyard, three Anglo-saxon crosses dating from 10th or 11th century and should (I think) form more a part of the Abbey itself as it's relevant and was originally part and parcel.
Not sure exactly of the days and times they practise in the church, the bell-ringers are heard frequently particularly during the summer evenings and always very friendly, welcoming and more than happy to let visitors watch them inside the main church.
Years ago we were treated to a little trip all the way up to the very top and balanced on wooden beams to actually stand within a few feet of the bells themselves. Pretty sure that's not something they can or will do nowadays mind but they will certainly welcome you inside and upstairs to watch them in the tower.
Just a few feet from the main Churchyard is a great pub “The Dog” that serves great home-cooked food, has a brilliant selection of ales and is family friendly and dog friendly. Probably one of the friendliest pubs in the Ribble Valley to be honest it's as laid back and welcoming as it gets so when you're done wandering the Abbey and have had your fill of graves and bell ringers, I can't recommend finishing off with a pint and some pub grub in there.
Noted two “terrible” reviews and read out of interest – both disgruntled dog owners who had assumed it was dog friendly and not taken time to check in advance. Granted it must be annoying particularly if you have travelled but given the majority of public places such as this only allow guide dogs admission, it's hardly anyone else's fault if people don't use common sense, enquire in advance and just rock up assuming they can bring dogs with them.
The grounds are stunning and admission so cheap at £2 per person and just £4.50 for a family ticket of 2 adults and 2 children with an honesty box in place for visitors out of hours. There is no time restriction so once inside the grounds you're free to roam, sit and sunbathe / picnic and spend the whole day as you like. The main entrance gates remain open and during the summer months it's surprising how long you can spend relaxing, playing games or letting the kids play and if you bring a picnic and comfy blanket, you have a full day out for less than a fiver.
One of the biggest appeal is walking through the grounds particularly with young children who can follow the woodland trails alongside the river, enjoy the open grounds with ruins that make for excellent spots when playing hide and seek / army or whatever other game you come up with and invent on the spot and there are an abundance of places you can sit down with a blanket and unwrap a picnic either on the tables and benches, inside the woodland, up overlooking the main walls or sat on the beautiful gardens.
We used to take our children regularly when they were small toddlers and enjoy wellie walks, mini-beast hunts and finding / collecting all sorts and when we've had nieces, nephews and friend's with young children come to stay, we always make a wander down to the Abbey one of the first on our list.
At this time of year it's a great place to take your kids collecting conkers, pine cones and leaves and when it snows, the grounds are absolutely stunning with a fresh untouched blanket of snow that's almost guaranteed to be free from litter, dog poo or other nasties and means kids can enjoy building snowmen or making snow angels.
The venue does have toilets, a cafe and over the years has become a popular conference centre and wedding venue. During the summer there are live open air shows / plays which we haven't seen personally but look good and I imagine really offer a great family day out (have seen advertisements previously for “The Gruffalo” and “We're going on a Bear Hunt”)
The woodland trail and gardens with fish pond are child friendly but obviously require adult supervision as the river that runs directly behind is easily accessible and a steep drop. Same with the gardens – there's a small wooden bridge and seating area that does as much as it can to keep guests safe but that doesn't mean small kids can be allowed to go off and explore alone. Goes without saying really but given that a couple of people have given “terrible” reviews for not being allowed access with dogs – there will be some that assume they can just let their kids go off and do what they like because it's deemed a “family friendly” area. It's a great place for young families to visit but given that it's also an ancient ruin largely untouched or altered, it's not safe in the sense a purpose built children's play centre will be.
Just outside the abbey within a minute's walk is St Mary's Church which is a gorgeous Grade 1 listened building with a beautiful graveyard, three Anglo-saxon crosses dating from 10th or 11th century and should (I think) form more a part of the Abbey itself as it's relevant and was originally part and parcel.
Not sure exactly of the days and times they practise in the church, the bell-ringers are heard frequently particularly during the summer evenings and always very friendly, welcoming and more than happy to let visitors watch them inside the main church.
Years ago we were treated to a little trip all the way up to the very top and balanced on wooden beams to actually stand within a few feet of the bells themselves. Pretty sure that's not something they can or will do nowadays mind but they will certainly welcome you inside and upstairs to watch them in the tower.
Just a few feet from the main Churchyard is a great pub “The Dog” that serves great home-cooked food, has a brilliant selection of ales and is family friendly and dog friendly. Probably one of the friendliest pubs in the Ribble Valley to be honest it's as laid back and welcoming as it gets so when you're done wandering the Abbey and have had your fill of graves and bell ringers, I can't recommend finishing off with a pint and some pub grub in there.
Written October 21, 2019
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.
raziel62152
Manchester, UK3 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Went to Whalley all the way from Manchester especially to visit the Abbey but could not go in because Dogs are not allowed,we have been to lots of ruins and always been able to take our dog in
Written April 9, 2017
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.
Ali F
Leyland, UK10 contributions
Are dogs allowed ?
milligan1959
Ripponden, UK1,199 contributions
Sorry but cant help, it was quiet on our visit and dont remember seeing any dogs, or signs in the grounds or reception.
Entry Fees
It’s £2 for adults and 50p for children aged 5-16.
Seniors have reduced fee of £1.25. Pay in office up house front steps if kiosk is not staffed.
This small fee gives you access to all the Abbey ruins, gardens and a short river/woodland walk.
Main house not generally open to visitors as it’s a residential conference centre.
Quite a bargain.
Jo L
Peterborough, UK2 contributions
How far from the station
SUE Grant/Whitehead
Clitheroe, UK46 contributions
Depending on your age & fitness level & you knew the quickest route certainly less than 10 minutes. You need to ask for Broad Lane, or from train station cross the road, at the end of Broad Lane, turn left & your walking towards the Abbey which is on the right. My husband reckons only 6 minutes.
how much is the entrance fee please, and also the opening times
Missyxxx
Leeds, UK472 contributions
It was free to look round outside but a very small charge to go inside the building like £2 or £3 it doesn't say on the website so do call 😀
how much is the entrance fee please
daisy m
Preston, UK106 contributions
I`m not sure, as the day we went the cafe was undergoing renovations, so closed. There was no one around to pay so we just wandered round the gardens for a short while before going into Whalley to find tea rooms and loos. Sorry i can`t help.
Becca R
Orrell, England, United Kingdom
What are the opening times right now for the Abbey?
Wontolla1
Manchester, UK400 contributions
Hi.
The opening times shown at the shop are 0900 - 1700hrs daily.
Charges are Adults £2.00
Children Free
Concession Free
Group Free
Senior Citizen Free
It also states "Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis"
I could not verify these prices as no one was around to ask so a phone call may be required!
It is a beautiful peaceful place on the banks of the River Calder, the gardens in spring are glorious!
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingWhalley Abbey - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Whalley Abbey
- Whalley Abbey is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Whalley Abbey:
- (0.01 mi) Whalley Abbey
- (0.10 mi) 3 POOLE END, pet friendly, with open fire in Whalley
- (0.12 mi) 'Oh So Snug' Bijou 1- Bedroom cottage, Heart of Whalley, Clitheroe Lancashire
- (0.12 mi) 'Oh So Snug' Bijou 1-bedroom cottage, in the heart of Whalley, Clitheroe
- (0.15 mi) The Swan Hotel Whalley
- Restaurants near Whalley Abbey:
- (0.03 mi) Cafe Autisan
- (0.13 mi) Tapas 47 Whalley
- (0.13 mi) Forum Bar + Kitchen
- (0.14 mi) Amico Mio
- (0.17 mi) King Street Kitchen
- Attractions near Whalley Abbey:
- (0.07 mi) The Salvage House
- (0.07 mi) Whalley Abbey Gatehouse
- (0.15 mi) Whalley Wine Shop
- (0.13 mi) The de Lacy Arms
- (0.13 mi) Church Of Saint Mary, Whalley