English Heritage

What you need to know

We've made some changes to help keep you safe, and things might be a little different when you visit. Here's everything you need to know.

• Do we need to Book?

  Advance booking is now essential. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. Make sure you've read our ticketing FAQ before you book.

  Book tickets

  Booking FAQs

• What parts of the site are closed?

  All the interior spaces of 1066 Battle of Hastings & Battle Abbey are currently closed. This includes: 

  • Visitor centre exhibition 
  • Gatehouse Museum & Rooftop
  • The Abbey Shop

   

• What changes have you made to your facilities?
  • Abbey Shop - The Abbey shop will be open, with a one way system in place.
  • Abbey Cafe - The cafe will be open for takeaway service, with a new one way system in place. 
  • Playground - The play area is open. 
  • Toilets – Toilets will be available as usual. Additional hand sanitising stations will be available across the site. 

  Plan your Visit

• Visiting after 16 May

  Battle Abbey's interior spaces will open on 17 May, in line with government guidelines. At Battle Abbey this includes the Visitor Centre and Gatehouse Exhibition centre.

  The café will open with indoor and outdoor seating, and it will also offer takeaway.

  Face coverings are required within all of our interior spaces.
  We have additional Covid-secure measures in place including social distancing, enhanced cleaning and limits on visitor numbers.

• How are you keeping us safe?

  We've made a number of changes to help keep you safe. Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

  You can visit our reopening page for information on general safety measures we've taken to help keep you safe.

  General Safety Information

• Do I need to wear a face covering?

  Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas. We won't be able to provide you with a face covering, so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

• Is there somewhere to park my car?

  Yes - There is a large car park near the Abbey Gatehouse. Parking is free of charge for English Heritage members – please display your Member's car sticker. Parking charges apply to non-members. The fee is £4.00 for all day parking. You can buy a ticket from the machine at the car park or from our admissions point.

   

• I still have questions.

  The answers to all frequently asked questions can be found on our FAQ page.

  Read our FAQs