Ampleforth Abbey
Ampleforth Abbey
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Ampleforth Abbey has been the home of a community of Benedictine monks for over 200 years. Whether you're visiting to discover magnificent architecture, to take a stroll in the rolling hills of our grounds, to attend a retreat, or to join the community for prayer in the Abbey Church, you are assured of a warm welcome here. Alban Roe House Visitor Centre contains the Tea Room, Visitor Experience and Abbey Shop, and from here you can explore the Abbey Church, gardens, trails and woodlands in the grounds. Admission to the Abbey and grounds is free and open to all, though we do welcome donations to support the work of the Abbey and the Benedictine Community.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
267 reviews
Excellent
194
Very good
61
Average
12
Poor
0
Terrible
0
billytee
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs35 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Just perfect. We’ve been waiting for 4 years for the refurbishment of this beautiful building in such a perfect setting. The tearoom and visitor centre are superb. Great selection of food and drinks served speedily and with attention to detail. We sat outside with superb views across the valley. I would put this on your bucket list of key places to see in the UK. Well worth visiting the huge church if it is open. Uplifting.
Written April 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We also love the views across the valley. The Abbey Church is open every day for visitors to explore or join the monks in office.
Written July 18, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joseph H
Ossett, UK646 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Visited here for a couple of hours on a Monday afternoon. Extremely impressive from the outside as well as on the inside. Very helpful and chatty members of staff in both the Visitor Centre and the shop.
Definitely worth a visit, but not a huge amount of history or beauty on the inside of the Abbey itself.
Definitely worth a visit, but not a huge amount of history or beauty on the inside of the Abbey itself.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DavidUK2010
York, UK329 contributions
Jun 2022
An interesting experience in a working Abbey. It looks very new even though over a hundred years old.
It was great to walk round an empty Abbey with no other person around. First time visitor and such remote area.
It was great to walk round an empty Abbey with no other person around. First time visitor and such remote area.
Written June 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin C
Boston, UK164 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Returned to Ampleforth after the disappointment of closure through lockdown. Alternative location in the Windmill is very safe and a lovely spot. Great menu despite not having the famous apple cake. I enjoyed the fresh ploughman's platter and all other meals were mouth watering
Written October 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review.
I'm so sorry the Apple Cake wasn't available when you visited. It is going to be a daily staple on our soon to be updated menu so should be available if you return.
I'm so glad you all enjoyed your meals, it's always to lovely to hear good feedback.
Written October 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ANNIE1408
Ampleforth, UK35 contributions
Oct 2013 • Family
The tea rooms serve excellent food and the staff are very pleasant. There is also St Albans sport centre where you can use the gym and pool, best to use the centre before going to the tea room!
The grounds of the Abbey are beautifully with plenty of walking available.
Would recommend this highly for people of all ages.
The grounds of the Abbey are beautifully with plenty of walking available.
Would recommend this highly for people of all ages.
Written April 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are delighted you enjoyed your visit.
Written April 29, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anthony B
Coventry, UK44 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
I'll make this clear,I am not religious at all. In fact I am a total atheist.
Yet the quiet, studious and friendly nature of this working Abbey struck a deep chord with me and my wife. We were left to walk around the abbey in peace. We could see the modern built Abbey church in all its sharp edged glory and magnificence. Looking like a cross between an ancient Abbey and a very modern church and evoking a feeling of Victorian neo-gothic in its architecture. The sheer peace of the pace was amazing. The staff, mostly lay helpers, cannot be faulted. They exude the kindness and honesty that jaded palettes like mine don't see often enough. The church itself is a wonder.
There is a tea room which is excellent, great quality food and nice tea. Do try their own Apple juice too, it's gorgeous.
Also, spend 10 minutes in the Visitor Centre to learn about the history of the abbey and the order that lives and works there.
I am no more religious now than before, but I have so much respect for this wonderful, humbling place.
Yet the quiet, studious and friendly nature of this working Abbey struck a deep chord with me and my wife. We were left to walk around the abbey in peace. We could see the modern built Abbey church in all its sharp edged glory and magnificence. Looking like a cross between an ancient Abbey and a very modern church and evoking a feeling of Victorian neo-gothic in its architecture. The sheer peace of the pace was amazing. The staff, mostly lay helpers, cannot be faulted. They exude the kindness and honesty that jaded palettes like mine don't see often enough. The church itself is a wonder.
There is a tea room which is excellent, great quality food and nice tea. Do try their own Apple juice too, it's gorgeous.
Also, spend 10 minutes in the Visitor Centre to learn about the history of the abbey and the order that lives and works there.
I am no more religious now than before, but I have so much respect for this wonderful, humbling place.
Written May 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony,
What a wonderfully sincere review - thank you so much for visiting and for taking the time to share your experience. We are delighted that you enjoyed your visit.
Written May 20, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sarah l
Doncaster, UK535 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Well worth a visit. There is plenty of information available in the Abbey and the tour is well worth it and it's free! The grounds are immaculate and vast. The views are wonderful and the shop is worth a visit. There is lots of religious matter available but the cider, the monks produce is gorgeous!
Written August 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sarah.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review. We are delighted you had such a lovely visit. The Thursday tour is such a good way of learning more about the Abbey and it can be really insightful given it's lead by a monk.
Written August 14, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
63Jack
York, UK143 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
We enjoyed an extremely pleasant walk of about 6 miles in the grounds of the Abbey using the free walk leaflet from the information centre.
We also used the tea room which was excellent with a good choice of hot and cold food and drinks.
Ampleforth is a lovely place to visit with ample safe parking and the views on our walk looking back towards the Abbey were amazing. Well worth a day out.
We also used the tea room which was excellent with a good choice of hot and cold food and drinks.
Ampleforth is a lovely place to visit with ample safe parking and the views on our walk looking back towards the Abbey were amazing. Well worth a day out.
Written March 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write about your visit to the Abbey. You picked a good day to do the walk as it was glorious here yesterday.
Written March 5, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Vicki B
Yorkshire, UK97 contributions
Jul 2013
Visited here and felt unwelcome except for in the visitors centre by a very nice monk. Nice views but couldn't really see any cider being made. Visitors centre small but interesting.
Written July 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fmck49
Glasgow, UK929 contributions
Nov 2012 • Couples
The tearoom here is excellent. We had the best ploughman's lunch ever. As a visitor attraction, I found it lacking however. With the exception of the very friendly woman in the Visitor Centre who provided us with a map of the grounds, although didn't provide any other helpful information, the other accessible areas were unmanned or not signposted, e.g. the shop was open but the attendants stayed in their office and didn't come out to help; we would have liked to visit the chapel but there was no signposting and no one to ask nearby. The grounds are lovely as are the views, and the tearoom is excellent for lunch, but otherwise it was a fairly impersonal experience and I felt like an intruder rather than a welcomed guest.
Written November 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We understand that not everyone wishes to share in an organised retreat and we welcome those who wish to come to Ampleforth for a quiet time of private reflection.
Perhaps you would value some time out, some space for yourself, a chance to rediscover a sense of peace and calm. Perhaps you would value an opportunity to have some time to reflect on the direction of your life, and to reconnect with yourself and with God. Perhaps you sense a need simply to be present for a while or to get some well-earned rest.
At whatever point you find yourself in life, you are very welcome to come and to spend some time with us at Ampleforth.
We will provide you with a private room, with food, with the opportunity to join the Community in prayer, and a beautiful peaceful setting within which to find your centre and renew your relationship with God.
Written September 22, 2017
Hello, I am wondering if it is possible to make a day trip to the Abbey from York using public transport. Looking at the Stephenson's bus schedule, it seems that the last bus from Ampleforth back to York stops in the town rather than at the Abbey. If we need to walk into town for the bus, there may not be time to attend the group tour at 2:15 pm (depending on how long the tour lasts) and still get the bus, which leaves Ampleforth Fairfax Close at 4:10 pm. How far is the town centre from the Abbey? Thank you.
Written August 18, 2016
AmpleforthAbbey
Ampleforth, United Kingdom
Thank you Cynthia for your question.
You can of course visit Ampleforth by bus and will be able to partake in the Abbey tour which takes place every Thursday at 2:15pm. The tour lasts approximately one hour, so you would have almost an hour to walk to Ampleforth village afterwards which is ample time. If you do wish to walk to the village please ensure that you follow the route along East Lane and not on the main road which can be quite dangerous for pedestrians. The bus also passes by The White Swan (located on the Main Street in the village, opposite the shop) where you are able to board and alight the bus if you do not wish to walk to Fairfax Close.
If you have any further queries at all please do not hesitate to contact Reception on 01439 766000.
We very much look forward to welcoming you soon.
Written August 23, 2016
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