English Heritage

Thornton Abbey's enormous and ornate fortified gatehouse is the largest and amongst the finest in England. 

Thornton Abbey's impressive architecture reflects the abbey's history as one of Britain's richest Augustinian abbeys. The property is also amongst a handful of British abbeys that managed to survive the Suppression of the Monastries by becoming a secular college, until it was eventually closed in 1547. A house was then constructed behind the gatehouse in the 17th century, but sadly it was either dismantled or never completed.

Today you can discover the turbulent lives of its former residents and try to spot the local wildlife, the more modern inhabitants of the abbey ruins. To extend your visit to Thornton Abbey, why not also visit the nearby St Peter’s Church and unlock the Buried Lives exhibition.

Please note, livestock are likely to be present on the site and access path.

Don't Miss

• The delightful oak staircase and interior room
• A chance to enjoy a picnic in the grounds