Tours of Minster Abbey

Tours of the Ancient Abbey

As part of our work of hospitality we welcome the public to view the ancient monastic buildings and beautiful gardens. In these guided tours visitors are given an explanation of the historic background to this ancient site.

Those who come to the abbey for historic tours of the ancient buildings find it interesting to see that it is the home to an actual living community.

Thousands of visitors come to Minster Abbey each year, including groups of historians, archaeologists, students and school children from Kent, all over Britain and overseas.

Following the tour visitors are able to visit the abbey shop which sells cards, some hand-craft items made by the sisters, books and religious articles.

Public Toilet facilities with full disability access are provided.

The Gardens are not open to the public outside the specified tour times.

Some comments made by our visitors:

From a local school group

“Thank you for the tour of the abbey today! The children were so excited to discover that the abbey was in existence even before the Vikings came to this land. They were fascinated by the slit-windows and Norman windows and the old lighthouse tower.”

And from an architectural student

“It was wonderful to be shown around the abbey by one of the sisters. The history of the Abbey is amazing and observing the Saxon buildings is helpful for my studies in medieval architecture. Your beautiful chapel in the grounds adds a spiritual beauty. Thank you for your life of prayer, lived since the 7th century.”