Plan Your visit
Opening times, tickets and visitor essentials
GARDEN OPENING
1st March to end of October, open daily.
February, November and December: Wednesdays to Sundays.
10:00–17:00, last entry 16:00.
HOUSE OPENING
April to end October Tuesdays - Fridays and Sundays.
Plus Bank Holiday Mondays.
12.00 - 15.30pm.
ADMISSION
House & gardens £19.
Gardens only £15.
Children £6.
We also offer an annual membership.
FINDING US
Forde Abbey Estate, Chard, Somerset, TA20 4LU.
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GOOD TO KNOW
Dogs are welcome in the gardens on a short lead.
Accessible routes are available throughout much of the gardens.
Groups are warmly welcomed, and our cafe is happy to cater for a range of dietary requirements.
Become a member
Discover something new every season
Every season brings something new to discover at Forde Abbey. Membership gives you unlimited visits throughout the year and access to many local partner gardens, so you can enjoy the gardens as they change throughout the year
Visit the Gift Shop or call the office on 01460 220231 to buy a membership.
Unlimited entry for a year
Bring the family through every season
Partner garden access
Member previews and events
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, Pottery and a Café serving lunch, light bites, cakes and bakes.
The Abbot's Table Café, Plant Nursery, Gift shop and pottery are free to visit and there are toilets in the café.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome in the gardens on a short lead, and only assistance dogs are allowed in the house and the Abbot's Table Café.
Take home
The Plant Nursery
Inspired by our award-winning gardens, the Forde Abbey Plant Nursery offers a carefully selected range of quality plants, including many grown on site, helping you bring a little of Forde Abbey into your own garden.
Food & Drink
The Abbot’s Table Café
Inspired by the seasons and the surrounding estate, The Abbot’s Table serves freshly prepared lunches, homemade cakes and expertly brewed coffee, using ingredients from our own gardens and estate whenever nature allows.
SHOPPING
Gift Shop
Discover a thoughtfully curated collection of gifts, homewares, books, and locally made products, carefully chosen to reflect the beauty, craftsmanship and character of Forde Abbey.
Annual Exhibition
Eeles Pottery
Discover the timeless craftsmanship of the Eeles family, one of the West Country’s most celebrated pottery dynasties. Explore a beautiful collection of handmade ceramics in the historic Old Potting Shed.
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 the entrance to the gift shop is graveled and 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
Address
Forde Abbey House and Gardens, Chard, TA20 4LU.
What3words
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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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