Parking
No parking on site. The nearest car park (charged) is just opposite on the Longport road. Not managed by English Heritage.
Food and Drink
The gift shop sells a variety of hot and cold drinks, snacks, sweets and ice creams.
Picnic Area
You are welcome to bring a picnic to eat in the grounds. There are benches throughout the Abbey ruins as well as seating and tables outside the museum building.
Shop
Shop sells a large range of English Heritage gifts and books, plus a selection of light refreshments.
Toilets
Male, female and disabled toilets are situated inside the museum.
Dogs
Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds. Assistance dogs welcome across the site.
Museum
Museum contains artefacts and stone carvings found at the Abbey during excavations. There is a wide range of objects covering many centuries, including a skeleton and the costumes worn by actors playing King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha of Kent in a celebration of St Augustine's arrival in Kent. There is a short video which gives brief details of the different phases of building on the site accompanied by reconstructions.
Exhibition
The exhibition follows the story of the abbey and its inhabitants from St Augustine's mission to England to the excavations of the site in the last century.
Gardens
The ruins of the abbey and its buildings are set in peaceful grounds. While the majority of the site is only accessible by grass paths there are some gravel pathways within the complex of the ruins. There is also a beautiful view from the Campanile mound on the site which overlooks the abbey and Canterbury Cathedral is just visible in the distance.
There is plenty of room for children to explore but parents should be aware that the ruins are hazardous with some sheer drops. No ball games allowed. Please do not climb on the ruins.
Audio Tours
- Audio Tour Availability
- Audio tour is included in the admission price. It describes the history of the site from St Augustine's arrival in Kent and the founding of the monastery, to the Dissolution under Henry VIII, the abbey's decline and then its revival in the 19th century.
Family Friendly
- Baby Changing Facilities
- Baby changing facilities are available.
- Pushchairs Allowed
- Push chairs are welcome. However, please note that the rough terrain and steps in some parts of the site can make access difficult.
Education
- Family Learning
- Children's activity booklet (available on admission) which gives them a variety of challenges as they go around the site.
- Interpretation for Children
- The interpretation panels displayed around the ruins have information aimed at children.
International
- Foreign Language Audio Tours
- The audio tour is available in French and Japanese.
Commercial Photography and Filming
English Heritage welcomes all photographers to our sites and we hope you will share your pictures with us on Flickr and Facebook.
We do have some restrictions at certain locations, so if photography is your main reason for visiting, please call the site ahead of your visit to check if any parts of the site are restricted.
If you are interested in using English Heritage sites for commercial photography this must be arranged in advance. Please go to: Sarah Eastel Locations (http://www.film-locations.co.uk) for more information.
