Day Planner

What to do on site?
Which English Heritage properties are nearby?
Which other places of interest are nearby?

You reach Lindisfarne by driving across a causeway – a beautiful drive with stunning views and lots of wildlife but be aware of the twice daily incoming tide as you cross, you can find out tide times by calling the site in advance. The museum is approximately 500 metres from the car park and coach park on the Island. Disabled visitors may be set down outside Priory museum.

What to do on site?

Museum/Exhibition

Suggested time needed: 30-45 minutes

In our museum follow history from the Golden Age of Northumbria when 7th century Irish missionaries led by St Aidan and later the most famous monk-bishop Cuthbert founded the first monastery here. Learn about the Viking raiders in 793 who forced the monks to flee to the mainland to the disillusion of the Monasteries when the Priory was forced to close and eventually fall into ruin.

Shop

Suggested time needed: 15-30 minutes

Enjoy browsing through our shop which has a wide range of specialist books, postcards, Tapestries, English country wines, traditional food, drinks, gifts, jewellery and cds.

Priory Grounds

Suggested time needed: 30 minutes

The remains of the church built in beautiful pink sandstone, built between about 1125 and 1150 by monks from Durham in honour of St Cuthbert. Believed to be on the site of the Anglo-Saxon monastery founded in the 7th century and where Cuthbert was once buried.

As you enter through the magnificently carved West Doorway you can see Lindisfarne’s best known a most dramatic feature The ‘Rainbow Arch’. One of the ribs for the vault over the church crossing, it survived when the tower above collapsed in the 18th century.

Stroll around the Monastic buildings which formed the living quarters of the monks, the remote setting adds to the unique atmosphere of the Priory.

Facilities

Suggested time needed: 30 minutes

Baby Changing Facilities, Picnic Area, Tea Room, Shop, Family Learning.

Which English Heritage properties are nearby?

Etal Castle

Distance: 15 miles

Standing on the banks of the River Till, Etal Castle was built in the mid-14th century as a defence against Scots raiders. An award-winning exhibition tells the story of Flodden, and the history of Anglo-Scottish border warfare.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Distance: A beautiful 30 mile drive along the Northumberland coast.

Dramatic Dunstanburgh Castle, built in 1313 and the scene of much fighting during the Wars of the Roses, now stands in ruins, watching over a headland famous for its seabirds.

Which other places of interest are nearby?

St Mary’s Church

The Parish Church of St Mary’s lies very close to the Priory. The 12th Century Church which has since been altered and extended is still part of Island life and Church services are held every day.

Lindisfarne Castle

Perched on the top of Beblowe Crag, originally built in the 16th century with the stone taken from the disused Priory as a ‘daintie little fort’ to defend against the Scots. Run by the National Trust with Seasonal and limited opening hours to protect the property. The walled Castle garden begun in 1911 by Gertrude Jekyll, a well known designer of her day is also worth a visit.

Lindisfarne Centre

Houses the Visitor Information Centre and four interactive exhibitions on Island Life past and present. The Centre includes a facsimile of the Illuminated Lindisfarne Gospels including an electronic touch screen ‘Turning the Page’ allowing visitors to zoom in to the intricate designs.

St Cuthbert’s Isle

A small now overgrown island used as a retreat by both Aidan and Cuthbert. You can walk across rocks seaweed and rock pools and see the remains of a medieval chapel and a tall 20th century wooden cross. It is tidal please check tides.

English Heritage Properties nearby

Other nearby attractions