VISITOR & ADMISSION INFO
THE ABBEY AND GARDENS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR WINTER.
WE WILL REOPEN IN SPRING 2025 FOR SNOWDROP WEEKENDS.
We’ll continue to share updates on the website. In the meanwhile, please join us on Instagram and Facebook for seasonal postcards from the garden.
Please note the House is not open on a Saturday and Monday.
Opening Times
| Area | Dates | Times |
| Snowdrop Weekends | Weekends in Feb | 10:30am - 3pm (weather permitting) |
| Gardens | Mar 1st - Oct 31st | 10:30am - 5pm (last entry 4pm) |
| House | Apr 1st - Oct 31st | 12pm - 4:30pm (last entry 3:30pm) |
| Coffee Shop | Mar 1st - Oct 31st | 10:45am - 4:45pm |
| Gift Shop | Mar 1st - Oct 31st | 10:30am - 5pm |
| Plant Nursery | Mar 1st - Oct 31st | 10:30am - 5pm (Free entry) |
| Eeles Pottery | Mar 1st - Oct 31st | 11:30am - 5pm |
| Ticket type | Gardens | House & Gardens |
| Adult | £15.00 | £19.00 |
| Child (5-15yrs) | £6.00 | £6.00 |
| Group Ticket (min. 15) | £12.50 | £15.00 |
| Forde Abbey & HH Members | Free* Booking not required | Free* Booking not required |
| RHS Members |
Free* access for the month of March. Mondays only Apr – Oct |
There is an additional charge to visit the House. |
*not applicable on days with special events and group visits, please bring your membership card and you will be issued a ticket.
Memberships
Become a member of Forde Abbey and enjoy unlimited access during normal opening hours.
Membership cards are great value, with a couple only needing to visit twice to make it worth their while. Membership card holders also enjoy 50% off the usual entry price to Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Garden, Hestercombe, The Bishop’s Palace, Dartington Hall, Kilver Court & Gardens and 10% discount on items bought in the Forde Abbey Gift Shop (excludes plants and the Coffee Shop).
The membership is valid for a year from the date of purchase. This allows you unlimited access to the house and gardens during our opening hours.
Single Membership : £35
Double Membership : £65
Family Membership
(2 adults and up to 4 children) : £75
Child Membership (5yrs - 15yrs) : £5
Standard Terms & Conditions
Membership Cards are not valid for some special events. (The list of special events may change throughout the year as new events are added to our calendar www.fordeabbey.co.uk/events/. If in doubt, please contact us before your visit.) Lost cards will incur a small replacement charge. We reserve the right to change the opening times without notice. The membership card can be used only by the named holder and remains the property of Forde Abbey, who reserve the right to withdraw the card at any time.
Groups
Groups and coaches are always welcome at Forde Abbey, where the house, gardens, coffee shop, pottery exhibition, plant centre and gift shop provide enough activities for a full day out.
Facilities
Free parking, Gift Shop, Plant Nursery and a Coffee Shop serving light bites, snacks and cakes.
The Coffee Shop and WC’s are accessible to Forde Abbey Members and visitors to the Gardens only.
Dogs
Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the gardens and in the Coffee Shop on a short lead, and only assistance dogs in the house. There is always a bowl of water for thirsty dogs at the Coffee Shop.
Gift Shop
Browse a broad range of gifts including; toys, books, toiletries, unusual decorative items, Forde Abbey souvenirs and condiments.
The Abbey Coffee Shop
Serving teas, coffees, cold drinks, ice creams, cakes, cream teas and light bites.
Eeles Pottery
Each year the Eeles Family exhibit and sell beautiful and unique examples of their work at Forde Abbey. Situated in the North Undercroft, it is manned by members of the Eeles Family.
Accessibility
House
For visitors with impaired vision, the information cards in each room of the House are also available in a large print version from the steward in the Great Hall as you enter the house. If you would like to explore the house using touch, please ask the steward at the front desk for the ‘white handkerchief.’ This will identify you to each of the room stewards and they will then allow you to touch all of the exhibits and the furniture.
Unfortunately, the upstairs rooms in the house are not suitable for people in wheelchairs. However, visitors are able to view these rooms on the computerised slide-show set up in the Great Hall. This shows many of the features of the rooms upstairs, with descriptions, and is completely automated. We do not charge entry for people in wheelchairs.
If you are able to negotiate the shallow stairs to the upper floor there are easily identifiable chairs throughout the house that you may use to rest on at any time. These chairs are the same in each of the rooms and the room stewards will be able to point you in the right direction if you are in any doubt.
Garden
Much of the garden is accessible to people in wheelchairs, although there are some sloping gravel paths and lawns, and the Bog Garden may present some difficulties. On arrival, the most suitable paths for wheelchair users will be indicated to you. If you have any other disability, please ask staff for advice. There are benches around the gardens to rest. For advise before your visit regarding accessibility, please telephone the Gift Shop between the opening hours of 10.30am – 5pm; 01460 221699.
There are loo facilities for the disabled.
How to find us
Forde Abbey House and Gardens, Chard, TA20 4LU.
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 situated 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.
Using Public Transport
Getting to Forde Abbey by public transport is a challenge but not impossible. However, combining a trip to Forde Abbey with a walking tour of the area, whether a short one day excursion or as part of a longer holiday, is always a very enjoyable experience and public transport can be used both to get to the area and for travelling locally. There is a series of well signposted and maintained footpaths nearby and Forde Abbey itself acts as the starting point for the 90 mile long Jubilee Trail.
For more information on using local transport and for timetables please click on the links below.
South Western Railway – Both Crewkerne (5 miles) and Axminster (8 miles) are on the mainline from London Waterloo to Exeter.
First Group offers a nationwide bus network.
Traveline offers impartial information on using public transport and includes a useful journey planner using trains, buses and coaches.
Sustrans is a very useful resource for both cyclists and walkers.
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