Cleeve Abbey is a 12th-century Cistercian monastery near Washford in Somerset, with some of the best-preserved monastic buildings in Britain. This 2026 visitor guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. Cleeve Abbey is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year — even in summer — and entirely from November to March. The Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays, not Mondays to Fridays.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Abbey Road, Washford, Watchet, Somerset TA23 0PS |
| Opening hours | Wed–Sun only, 10am–5pm (late March to late October); closed November to March |
| Adult ticket | £6.88–£8.50 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Washford (West Somerset Steam Railway, ~5-minute walk) |
| Parking | Free car park ~70 metres from entrance; visitors must cross a road to reach the site |
| Time needed | 1.5–2 hours |
Cleeve Abbey opening hours
Cleeve Abbey is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year and closed entirely from November to March. The 2026/27 schedule is: 28 Mar – 24 Oct, Wed–Sun and bank holidays, 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, Wed–Sun, 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 27 Mar 2027, closed. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Cleeve Abbey ticket prices
At Cleeve Abbey the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays outside peak summer, the reverse of most English Heritage sites. English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID.
Super Saver — Fri–Sat, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £6.88 |
| Concession | £6.12 |
| Child | £3.40 |
Saver — Sun–Thu, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Fri–Sat, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £7.65 |
| Concession | £6.88 |
| Child | £3.82 |
Standard — Sun–Thu, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount. Cleeve Abbey is not included in any city pass scheme. Ticket prices last confirmed on official site and updated in April 2026.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to get to Cleeve Abbey
Cleeve Abbey is on Abbey Road in Washford, approximately 2 miles south-west of Watchet and 10 miles west of Bridgwater, on the eastern fringe of Exmoor.
By steam railway: Washford station on the West Somerset Steam Railway is approximately a 5-minute walk from the abbey. Visitors arriving by steam train may be eligible for a discount — ask at the ticket desk. The West Somerset Railway is a seasonal heritage line running between Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) and Minehead; check timetables at westsomersetrailway.co.uk.
By bus: Services along the A39 between Bridgwater and Minehead stop near Washford. Check traveline.info for current routes.
By car: Use postcode TA23 0PS; signposted from the A39 at Washford. No ULEZ charges apply.
Parking at Cleeve Abbey
A free car park with approximately 50 spaces is 70 metres from the site entrance. Visitors must cross a road (a lane) to reach the entrance, and the path is also used by staff and contractor vehicles. The entrance is a further 150 metres from the admission point via a tarmac and cobbled bridge.
Disabled parking is within the abbey grounds, 20 metres from the ticket office, but requires driving through the gatehouse — accessible only by cars and small minibuses. Four disabled bays are available. Coaches use the main car park; typically space for around two coaches at a time.
How long to spend at Cleeve Abbey
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours at Cleeve Abbey. The cloister, refectory, dormitory, painted chamber, tiled floor shelter, and exhibition can all be seen within this time. Allow additional time if visiting the education room with children or browsing the secondhand bookshop.
Accessibility at Cleeve Abbey
The ground floor exhibition is accessible via a ramp. Most ground-floor areas are accessible, though pathways are mostly bonded gravel with some grassed areas. Four staircases cross the site — two medieval (uneven) and two modern — plus a small modern set of four steps, all with handrails. First-floor rooms (including the wall paintings exhibition) require staircases; steep wooden spiral stairs access two top-floor rooms.
An unfenced medieval drainage ditch in the grounds has a one-metre drop; the entrance bridge crosses a small river that can run fast in spate. Toilets including accessible toilets with baby-changing are on the main site. Seating is available throughout. Dogs on leads are welcome in all areas. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Inside Cleeve Abbey: what to see
Cleeve was founded in 1198 as a Cistercian monastery and housed monks for 339 years until the Dissolution in 1537. The church no longer survives (its foundations are visible in the grass), but the conventual buildings — the monks’ living quarters — are among the best-preserved in Britain, with roofs largely intact.
The undisputed highlight is the 13th-century tiled floor of the earliest refectory (c.1270) — one of the finest surviving examples of medieval encaustic tilework in England, now housed in a purpose-built timber shelter with seating, viewing platforms, an exhibition, and a touchscreen virtual tour. An education room allows children to try tile-stamping, dress up in monks’ robes, and use interactive story bags.
The Refectory (the later dining hall) has a carved oak roof with angel corbels and 22 projecting angels connected by a vine trail; a carved Green Man is hidden among the timbers. The dormitory is one of the finest surviving monastic dormitories in Britain. The painted chamber contains a 15th-century wall painting from the Gesta Romanorum and medieval graffiti of a monk’s head near the gallery door. The cloister, still enclosed on all four sides, retains a rare trefoil-headed arched recess marking the abbot’s seat.
There is no café. A vending machine sells hot drinks; the shop sells cold drinks, confectionery, ice cream, and a secondhand bookshop is within the buildings. Bring a picnic — seven benches and extensive grassed grounds make outdoor eating straightforward.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Closed Monday and Tuesday | The abbey is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year, including in summer. Check before travelling. |
| Closed November to March | No winter opening of any kind. Closes end of October; reopens late March. |
| No café — bring a picnic | Only a vending machine and shop snacks are available. The grounds have tables and extensive grass for picnicking. |
| Disabled parking through the gatehouse | Drivers must access disabled bays by driving through the abbey gatehouse — only possible in cars and small minibuses. |
| West Somerset Steam Railway discount | Arriving by steam train from Washford station (5-minute walk) may give a discount — ask at the ticket desk on arrival. |
Frequently asked questions about Cleeve Abbey
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Cleeve Abbey open on Mondays? | No. The abbey is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year — including in summer. It opens Wednesday to Sunday and on bank holidays. |
| Is Cleeve Abbey open in winter? | No. It closes at the end of October and does not reopen until late March. There is no winter opening. |
| Is there a café at Cleeve Abbey? | No. A vending machine provides hot drinks; the shop sells cold drinks and snacks. Bring a picnic — the grounds are well suited for outdoor eating. |
| Is Cleeve Abbey suitable for children? | Yes. Tile-stamping, monk dressing-up, story bags, and the open grassed grounds all suit children. No specific play area, but the grassed areas are good for play. |
| Is Cleeve Abbey free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Cleeve Abbey
Dunster Castle (National Trust), ~4 miles south-west, is a medieval castle with a 17th-century country house interior and formal gardens; charges for entry. Dunster village has independent shops and a historic octagonal yarn market. Minehead, ~8 miles west at the end of the West Somerset Railway, is a seaside town with a beach. Watchet, ~2 miles north, is a small harbour town with a marina and free local museum. Exmoor National Park is immediately accessible from Washford, with walking, cycling, and wildlife across moorland and coastline.
More Somerset travel
Other Somerset travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to visiting Shepton Mallet Prison.
- Key details for visiting No. 1 Royal Crescent in Bath.
- Visitor guide to the Jane Austen Centre in Bath.
- What to look out for at Wells Cathedral.
- Learn the witch legend at the Wookey Hole Caves.
