Group Visits

Visiting groups are always very welcome. We offer guided tours and can organise talks and presentations on a range of subjects, tailored to your group's specific interests.

There are two types of group visits available to book with the Abbey. Choose between a 'self guided tour' or a 'guided tour' to help you get the most of your visit.

A self guided tour allows your party to be dropped to the Abbey and meander at their own pace, speaking with the stewards and Vergers and making the most of the information available within the Abbey and Big Story Exhibition, without being confined or structured around a more formal type of tour.

If you would prefer to have a guided tour of the Abbey, one of our expert volunteer tour guides can take you through the hidden intricacies and the history of the Abbey, its quirks and features and guide you seamlessly from one talking point to the next.

Guided tours of the Abbey usually take about an hour and we can cater for groups of up to 40 people, split into smaller groups. Prices start from £7.50 per person, which goes directly to Abbey funds, helping towards the upkeep and running of the Abbey.

Booking is essential for both types of tours and large groups; as we are a fully functioning and busy parish church as well as a heritage venue, booking ensures you arrive at a time when there will be no services taking place and reserve your time in the Abbey to ensure no services are booked into that slot, allowing your group to get the most out  their time here.

The Big Story is an interactive exhibition spread across two rooms and is available for both self guided and guided tours to enter free of charge. The Big Story showcases the history of the Abbey and its story.

Our Refectory Café can also cater for visiting groups by prior arrangement upon booking. Meals and refreshments can be enjoyed in the café itself, in the courtyard, or in one of the function rooms that make up our Priory Buildings.

The coach drop-off point for visitors is just outside the Abbey Gift Shop, which offers postcards, guidebooks, and a range of souvenirs of your visit.

 

We offer a special discount on guidebooks to groups who have booked a tour with us, please ask at booking for more details.

 

Both types of tour are booked by contacting  Cath on cath.newson@hexhamabbey.org.uk where availability and price can be discussed.