Lanercost Priory is a ruined 12th-century Augustinian priory beside the River Irthing near Brampton in Cumbria, managed by English Heritage. This 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. Lanercost Priory closes entirely from November to March — there is no winter opening at all. The Super Saver rate also applies on Fridays and Saturdays, not Mondays to Fridays as at most English Heritage sites.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Lanercost, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 2HQ |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (late March to late October only; closed November to March) |
| Adult ticket | £6.88–£8.50 depending on date and day |
| Nearest bus | HW1 (Carlisle–Waltown); AD122 connects at Greenhead |
| Parking | Free car park adjacent to church; vehicle height restriction applies; free overflow parking at nearby tearoom |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
Lanercost Priory opening hours
Lanercost Priory is closed from early November to late March. There is no winter weekend opening, no half-term opening, and no Christmas-period opening. The 2026/27 schedule is:
- 28 March – 24 October: daily, 10am–5pm
- 25 October – 1 November: daily, 10am–4pm
- 2 November – 27 March 2027: closed
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The adjacent tearoom (not managed by English Heritage) is open every day except 25–26 December, including during the winter closure period. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Lanercost Priory ticket prices
At Lanercost the Super Saver rate applies on Fridays and Saturdays — the cheapest rate falls Sun–Thu 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. Visitors arriving by any bus receive 20% off walk-up admission. Not included in any city pass scheme. Ticket prices checked on official site and last updated in March 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 Lanercost Priory
Lanercost Priory is on a minor road through the village of Lanercost, 2 miles north-east of Brampton and 13 miles east of Carlisle.
By bus: The HW1 service (Reays Coaches, Carlisle–Waltown) stops at Lanercost; any bus ticket gives 20% off walk-up admission. The AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus (Hexham–Haltwhistle) connects with the HW1 at Greenhead. The 685 service (Carlisle–Newcastle via Brampton) stops ~2.5 miles away. Check timetables at traveline.info before travelling.
By car: Use postcode CA8 2HQ via Brampton. No ULEZ charges apply. Cycling routes via sustrans.org.uk.
Parking at Lanercost Priory
Free parking is available adjacent to the church, but a vehicle height restriction applies — tall vehicles, campervans, and most motorhomes cannot enter. Additional free parking is at the nearby tearoom (~100 metres from the entrance). There are no designated disabled parking bays on site. One free coach space is available; group operators should contact English Heritage in advance.
How long to spend at Lanercost Priory
English Heritage’s own group visits guidance gives an average visit of 1 hour. The priory ruins, church exterior, undercroft, and cloister area can all be seen within this time. Visitors walking sections of the adjacent Hadrian’s Wall Path should allow additional time.
Accessibility at Lanercost Priory
Full wheelchair access is not possible. A step at the entrance from the gift shop to the site is managed by portable ramps, but steps and uneven surfaces beyond restrict access to only part of the ruins. There are no designated disabled parking spaces. Pushchairs are permitted but face the same challenges.
There are no toilets on site. The nearest toilets are at the adjacent Lanercost Tearoom. Dogs on leads and assistance dogs are welcome; a water bowl is at the entrance. No bag storage is available.
Inside Lanercost Priory: what to see
Lanercost was founded around 1165 by Robert de Vaux and housed Augustinian canons for nearly 370 years until the Dissolution in 1536. Its border position brought repeated attacks, including a raid by Robert Bruce in 1311. King Edward I based himself here for five months in 1306–07 during his final campaign, dying at Burgh by Sands shortly after leaving. Stones from Hadrian’s Wall were reused in the priory’s construction — Roman inscriptions are visible if you look closely.
The east end of the priory church still stands to its full height and remains in use as the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene — an active Anglican church, free to enter and open daily, independent of the English Heritage site. The vaulted undercroft of the refectory is well preserved with original mason’s marks. After the Dissolution, the Dacre family converted the cloisters into a Tudor mansion; the Dacre Tower and Dacre Hall (with its Jacobean chimneypiece, not always accessible) survive from this phase. A vicar’s pele tower is visible from the exterior only. Information panels explain the priory’s history throughout.
There is no English Heritage café on site. The Lanercost Tearoom and Farm Shop immediately adjacent (tel: 016977 41267) is independently run and open every day except 25–26 December. A gift shop is in the ticket office next to the church.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Closed November to March | There is no winter opening at all — not at weekends, half-term, or Christmas. Check dates before travelling. |
| No toilets on site | Use the adjacent tearoom before entering. It is open daily except 25–26 December. |
| Height restriction on car park | Tall vehicles and motorhomes cannot enter the main car park. Use the tearoom car park instead (~100 metres from the entrance). |
| Super Saver is Fri–Sat | The cheapest rate falls Sun–Thu outside peak summer — the reverse of most English Heritage sites. |
| The church is free and open daily | St Mary Magdalene is an active parish church, free to enter and open daily independent of the paid English Heritage site. |
Frequently asked questions about Lanercost Priory
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Lanercost Priory open in winter? | No. The site closes at the start of November and does not reopen until late March. There is no winter, half-term, or Christmas opening. |
| Are there toilets at Lanercost Priory? | No. There are no toilets on the English Heritage site. Use the adjacent Lanercost Tearoom, open daily except 25–26 December. |
| Is Lanercost Priory accessible for wheelchair users? | Only partially. A portable ramp manages the entrance step, but uneven surfaces and further steps limit wheelchair access to part of the site. There are no disabled parking bays. |
| Is Lanercost Priory free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
| Is the church at Lanercost free to visit? | Yes. St Mary Magdalene is an active parish church, free to enter and open every day independently of the English Heritage site. |
Things to do near Lanercost Priory
Birdoswald Roman Fort (English Heritage), ~4 miles east, is a major Hadrian’s Wall fort with an interactive exhibition and café; members free. Carlisle Castle (English Heritage), ~13 miles west, is a well-preserved medieval fortress in Carlisle city centre; members free. Naworth Castle, ~2 miles south-east, is a privately owned fortified medieval castle open for guided tours on selected days. Hare Hill (English Heritage), ~4 miles north-east, preserves one of the tallest surviving sections of Hadrian’s Wall and is free to visit. The Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail passes close to the priory and links it on foot to Birdoswald and Gilsland to the east.
