Plan your trip

We have a wide range of materials to support your visit and make school trip planning easy. You can find all our site-specific information and tools below, and further information on our what to expect page.

Download our free resources to help you make the most out of your visit and create unique learning experiences before, during and after your trip. We also offer free planning visits once you have made a booking, plus a 20% discount on the official English Heritage guidebook for your place of choice.

Once you book your visit you’ll be sent a visit permit, which you’ll need to bring with you on the day.

Visit our bookings page to start planning your trip!

• Facilities
  • PARKING: There is no parking on site. The nearest car park (charged) is just opposite on the Longport road. It is not managed by English Heritage.
  • TOILETS: Male, female and disabled toilets are situated inside the museum.
  • FOOD AND DRINK: 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: There is a gift shop selling a range of English Heritage gifts and books, plus a selection of light refreshments. We recommend bringing your students in small groups at a time.
  • MUSEUM: The museum contains artefacts and stone carvings found at the Abbey during excavations. There is a range of objects covering many centuries and a short video which gives brief details of the different phases of building on the site accompanied by reconstructions.
  • AUDIO GUIDE: Audio guide is available as a QR code download to a smartphone.
  • ACCESSIBILITY: There are disabled parking spaces available on the Longport road opposite the site. Visitors can be set down on the pavement next to the entrance. No special arrangements are required. Most of the site and building is accessible by wheelchair. Manual wheelchair users are advised to bring an assistant, and may need to be able to leave the wheelchair briefly. Please call site if you need further information. There are stairs down into the crypt, in the cloister and the Campanile mound. There are no ramps or lift access.

• Hazard Information

  A useful tool to help with your risk assessments. 

  • St. Augustine's Abbey Hazard Information.pdf (51.5 KB)

   

  You must meet the following ratios for leaders to students on the day of your visit when booking, and if your group is forming smaller groups while at the site:

  • Ages 4-5 (UK Reception) 1 leader for every 4 students (1:4)
  • Ages 5-7 (UK Key Stage 1) 1 leader for every 6 students (1:6)
  • Ages 7-11 (UK Key Stage 2) 1 leader for every 10 students (1:10) and
  • Ages 11-18 (UK Key Stages 3, 4, and 5) 1 leader for every 15 students (1:15)
  • For an adult learning group, consisting of individuals all over the age of 18, there are no ratios but there must be an appointed group leader
  • All ratios outlined above apply to home education groups
  • If your group consists of children aged 3 and/or 4, you must also refer to the Early Years and Foundation Stage Statutory Framework which sets out specific legal requirements for minimum ratios for this age group, to include requirements about the qualifications of the leaders
  • SEND groups must meet the minimum ratios above but may bring any additional leaders as required to adequately support their group

• Education Site Opening Times

  We offer free self-led education visits during school term time^*.

  ^*Free education visits are not offered on UK public holidays or during the operation of additional fee paying public events at English Heritage sites.

  • April-October: Monday-Sunday 10-5pm
  • 1 November-5 November: Monday-Sunday 10-4pm
  • 6 November-28 March: Saturday-Sunday 10-4pm