Cleeve Abbey

Access at Cleeve Abbey

Access information for the site is listed below. For more information, or if you have particular access needs, please contact us before you visit. Please note that some facilities may require booking in advance.

BOOK AHEAD AND SAVE 15%

You can book online until 8.45am on the day of your visit. You can still buy a ticket when you arrive, but you won’t get the discount. 

Tickets are valid all day, so you can arrive at any time and stay for as long as you like within our opening hours.

Tickets are free for members. You can still book online if you’d like – just remember to bring your English Heritage membership card.

You can join as a member online or during your visit. 

We can’t wait to see you at Cleeve Abbey soon.

BOOK AHEAD AND SAVE 15%
Mobility / Older Visitors
Accessible Toilets
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Adult Changing Area
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Handrails
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Easy-use Cutlery
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Assistance Dogs Welcome
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Wheelchair Loan
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Site Folders
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Dog Bowl and Toileting
A dog bowl is available on request.
Wheelchair Access
There is disabled access to the grounds and ground floor of the Abbey (including the disabled toilet) only. There is one ramp, and two crossing points for wheelchairs where areas of foundation walls have been flattened to allow access. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access to the first floor, or to the two rooms on the second floor. There is however a non-audio touch screen tour on the ground floor for those who are not able to get upstairs. Please note: One wheelchair is available upon request.
Entrance / Set Down
Disabled visitors travelling in vehicles larger than a car or small minibus can be set down at the site entrance - there is no need to arrange this in advance. By prior arrangement, disabled drivers may park 20 meters from the admission point.
Disabled Parking
Four disabled bays located within Abbey grounds, 20m from the ticket office/entrance to the main Abbey buildings. Visitors need to drive through the gatehouse, only accessible by cars/small minibuses. Additional disabled parking can be found if required.
OnSite Transport
No
Stairs
There are four staircases throughout the site - two medieval in nature (e.g. uneven) and two modern. In addition, there is a small set of four steps (modern) between differing ground floor levels - these are also accompanied by handrails.
Lift Access
No
Seating And Restpoints
There are seven outside benches plus one picnic table (two benches in cloister, two near ticket office/shop, and remainder in the grounds around the Abbey buildings). There are also three backless benches in three of the first floor Abbey rooms.
Pathways Surface And Gradients
The pathways are mostly bonded gravel, although visitors will also need to walk across some grassed areas.
Blind / Visually Impaired
Accessible Toilets
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Handrails
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Assistance Dogs Welcome
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Braille Guides
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Braille Signage
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Torches
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Sensory Experiences
Sensory experiences include the sound of birdsong (if they are singing!), and the nearby steam railway.
Dog Bowl and Toileting
A dog bowl is available on request.
Handling Objects
No
Audio Tours
No
Site Tours
A guided tour is offered for groups. Please contact the site on 01984 640377 in advance for enquiries and bookings. Although there is no site folder, we do have a laminated A4 guide/plan of the Abbey showing the wheelchair access route.
Tactile Models
No
Areas Of Low Lighting
On some occasions, the cloister ground floor rooms could be considered as having low light.
Colour Contrasts
No
Large Print
No
Deaf / Hard of Hearing
Assistance Dogs Welcome
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Vibrating Fire Alarms
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Tour Transcripts
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Film Subtitles
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BSL Tours
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Audio Installation Transcripts
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Dog Bowl and Toileting
A dog bowl is available on request.
Induction Loops
There are portable and permanent induction loops around the shop counter area.
Learning Difficulties
Accessible Toilets
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Adult Changing Area
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Easy-use Cutlery
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Sensory Experiences
Sensory experiences include the sound of birdsong (if they are singing!), and the nearby steam railway.
Handling Objects
No
Easy Read Material
No
Large Print Material
No
Culinary / Dietary
Easy-use Cutlery
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Bottle / Food Warming
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High Chairs
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Special Diets
No
Health And Safety
Deep Water
Open and unfenced medieval drainage ditch with water in the grounds. The main entrance to the Abbey site involves crossing a bridge over a small river, with normally low levels of water, but when in spate the water can be quite deep and very fast flowing.
Trip Hazard
Trip hazards include historic steps, low uneven ruined walls, uneven surfaces and rabbit holes.
Sheer Drop
There is a one meter drop into the medieval drainage ditch.
Slip Hazard
There are some slip hazards on the site.
Steep Stairs
There are modern wooden spiral stairs leading to two rooms on the top floor. These are steep and narrow.
Beware Of Traffic
The path from the entrance of the site to ticket point/shop is shared by pedestrians and traffic accessing the disabled parking. It is also sometimes used by staff and contractor vehicles.
Uneven Ground
There are some areas of uneven ground on the site.
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