Forde Abbey

Forde Abbey is a well-known destination for friends and families, flower garden lovers and historiographers alike. Set throughout thirty acres of award-winning gardens, you'll find a little something of attraction all year round. To assist you make the most of your visit, we've featured a choice assortment of relevant information and links below. Nevertheless, 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, we'll be only too happy to help.

Please note, in summer the fountain is on three times daily, at: 12 noon, 1.30 pm and 3pm and will be on once a day throughout the Winter months at 12 noon.

Forde Abbey stands at the heart of a 1600 acre property. Even though small in comparison with many estate, it manages to feature a wide range of activities and does much to offer the 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.

We have a wide range of events in the diary in addition to tourist attractions in the garden to make your visit a great day out for all the family. Walk in the footsteps of the monks and go back in time with a range of habits to try on in the house for all ages. Discover our giant-sized labyrinth in the arboretum and try your hand at pizza making with our brand-new wood fired oven.

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, enjoying wildlife on the lake and don't forget to get a children's pack in the shop for tasks to do around the house and gardens. Take pleasure in lunch and home-baked treats in the tearoom and pick up pocket money gifts and mementos on sale in our gift shop.

There's considerable amounts of family friendly dates in the diary for 2018, including outdoor theatre, an Easter egg trail, forest fun sessions and much more aside from that. Have a look on our Events page for more info, follow us on Facebook, see what we get up to on Instagram and get monthly news and offers supplied to your inbox when you sign up to our 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 the butterflies and bees.

How To Find Us

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/idVZbMHwhFx