"The abbey" Top 5 Page for this destination Battle Things to Do Tip by Airpunk

Like I already described in my tip about the battlefield, you can't spereated the abbey from the battlefield. That means that the ticket you buy gives you access to the abbey and the battlefield. The abbey was ordered to be built by William the conqueror after his victory over Harold Godwinson. It is said the the main altar was built on the same spot where Harold was killed. Consecration of the abbey took place in 1076, but construction and expansion continued during the following centuries. Being the "king's favourite abbey", it enjoyed several privileges at first. But during the reign of Henry VIII it was demolished like many other clerical buildings. Since 1976 is is maintained by the English Heritage.

In the gate house, right to the entrance, you will find a small museum. It shows how the everyday life of the monks was in the abbey. The abbot's great hall, one of the few buildings to survive, is a school since 1918 and not open for visitors. After that, visitors normally start the tour around the battlefield which ends in the ruins of the abbey. This includes the abbey church,. the novices room, the "Harold Stone", the crypt and a couple of other places. The audioguide for this tour, which you will get for free with your admission ticket, also has information about the abbey ruins, but it focuses on the battle and the battlefield.

I spent three hours on the whole tour (abbey and battlefield), but you can reduce that depending on your interests and the way you take through the battlefield. For information about the battlefield, please check out my tip about the battlefield.

Directions: Around 600 meters away from the railway station, at the southern end of the "town center"
Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/battleabbey