Forde Abbey is a well-known venue for friends and families, garden lovers and historians alike. Set within thirty acres of prize-winning gardens, you’ll find a little something of attraction throughout the year. To assist you make the most of your visit, we’ve featured a choice selection of information and links below. However, if you have any particular inquiries, whether it’s taking care of a large group or food catering for dedicated diets in our cafe, do please see the Contact Us page for information about how to get in touch, they will be only too happy to help.
Please note, in season the fountain is on three times everyday, at: 12 noon, 1.30 pm and 3pm and will be on once a day during the Winter months at 12 noon.
Forde Abbey stands at the heart of a 1600 acre estate. Even though small in comparison with many estate, it manages to include a wide variety of activities and does much to offer the very best local fruit and vegetables to use in the house and the tearoom. The Kennard family are first and foremost stewards of the land that borders the Abbey and take their responsibility for it very seriously.
You will find a wide variety of events in the diary as well as attractions in the garden to make your visit a great day out for all the family. Take a walk in the footsteps of the monks and step back in time with a range of habits to try on in the house for any ages. Explore our giant-sized labyrinth in the arboretum and try your hand at pizza making with our new wood fired stove.
Wide open lawns and the space and opportunity to explore makes Forde Abbey a fantastic day out for all the family. Adventurers will love our willow labyrinth in the arboretum, watching wildlife on the lake and do not forget to get a children’s pack in the shop for tasks to do around the house and gardens. Enjoy lunch and home-baked treats in the tearoom and pick up pocket money gifts and mementos on sale in our gift shop.
There’s lots of family friendly dates in the diary the year round, including outdoor theatre, an Easter egg trail, forest fun sessions and much more aside from that. Have a look on our their events page for more info, follow them on Facebook, see what they get up to on Instagram and get month-to-month news and offers supplied to your inbox when you sign up to their newsletter on the homepage.
See the number of wild flowers you can pinpoint in our wildflower swirls that come to life over the Summer months– interlocking circular swirls to follow, and woven with a mix of blooms much loved by butterflies and bees.
The Best Ways To Find Forde Abbey
From the M5:
Leave the motorway at Junction 25 (Taunton) and take the A358 to Chard.
From the A303:
Leave the A303 at the turning for Crewkerne and join the A356. At Crewkerne take the A30 towards Chard.
From Exeter:
Take the A30 to Honiton and then the A35 to Axminster. In Axminster take the A358 towards Chard.
Forde Abbey is located 4 miles south east of Chard in Somerset. There are brown tourist signs for Forde Abbey from the A30, A358 and B3165. It is advised that you follow the brown tourist signs and not your satnav as you get close to Forde Abbey.
Forde Abbey Estate,
Chard
TA20 4LU
01460 220231
https://goo.gl/maps/sSxSdkifb5K2
