Name: Hailes Abbey
Rating: 5.0

Hailes Abbey

Hailes Green, Hailes, Cheltenham GL54 5PB, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

Hailes Abbey was one of medieval England’s most renowned shrines. It became a major pilgrimage destination when, in 1270, the abbey was presented with a sensational relic – allegedly a phial of Christ’s blood. Pilgrims flocked to see it and financed the rebuilding of the abbey on a magnificent scale.

In the 1530s the relic was denounced as a fake, and Hailes Abbey was closed and plundered. Today, the on-site museum helps you imagine Hailes in all its glory. You’ll see lavish sculpture, heraldic floor tiles and one of the oldest surviving medieval spectacle frames.

Price starts from £8.80 for Adults, £5.00 for Children(5-17 years) and £13.80 for Family(1 adult, up to 3 children). If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Hailes Abbey: History and Stories: Set in tranquil Cotswolds countryside, Hailes Abbey was once one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in medieval England. Visitors flocked to see the Holy Blood of Hailes – a relic so prized it was mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales. The shrine to the Holy Blood was destroyed during Henry VIII’s Suppression of the Monasteries and the abbey soon fell into ruin.
Today the former splendour of Hailes Abbey is evoked by its beautiful surviving stonework and museum collection. On these web pages you can learn more about the history of the site, explore the highlights of the collection in 3D and watch experts discuss their favourite objects in the abbey’s museum.
The Treasures of Hailes Abbey: Step into the world of Hailes Abbey in medieval England. In this short video historian Michael Carter and curator Ian Leins take us behind the scenes at the abbey museum and pick three star objects which bring the stories of Hailes to life. The exquisite carving of Samson and the Lion on a stone ceiling boss hints at the splendour of the monastic architecture, while a fragment of bone spectacles helps us to imagine the lives of the monks who once worshipped and studied here.
Explore the Collection In 3D: Scroll through the images below to view the highlights of Hailes Abbey’s museum collection in 3D. Click the play button and use your cursor or touch screen to rotate the object and zoom in. For descriptions of each object, click the title in the top left of the screen (opens in new window).
Museum: The recently refurbished museum brings to life 300 years of piety, culture and tradition. Marvel at the sculptures, stonework and other site-finds on display - including an exceptionally rare fragment of a 14th-century monk's spectacles - giving you a unique insight into the abbey's history as both a monastic site and post-Dissolution home.

Facilities

Parking: There’s free parking near to the entrance to Hailes Abbey.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Advance online tickets:

Adult: £8.80 With donation & £8.00 Without donation.
Child (5–17 years): £5.00 With donation & £4.50 Without donation.
Concession: £7.70 With donation & £7.00 Without donation.
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £22.60 With donation & £20.50 Without donation.
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £13.80 With donation & £12.50 Without donation.
Members: Free.

On the day tickets:

Adult: £10.50 With donation & £9.50 Without donation.
Child (5–17 years): £6.10 With donation & £5.50 Without donation.
Concession: £9.40 With donation & £8.50 Without donation.
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £27.00 With donation & £24.50 Without donation.
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £16.50 With donation & £15.00 Without donation.
Members: Free.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hailes-abbey/prices-and-opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Hailes Abbey is closed until April 2026.

Address: Hailes Green, Hailes, Cheltenham GL54 5PB, UK

Post Code: GL54 5PB

Council: Tewkesbury

County: Gloucestershire

Road Access: Hailes Abbey is 2 miles north-east of Winchcombe off B4632. On the Cotswold Way National Trail.
Bus Access: Castleways service 606 from Cheltenham and occasional journeys on service 559 to within 1 mile.
Train Access: Cheltenham Spa Station is 10 miles away from Hailes Abbey.
Bicycle Access: Find your cycling route to Hailes Abbey at sustrans.org.uk, the National Cycle Network.
Parking: There’s free parking near to the entrance to Hailes Abbey.