Open Heritage Days Weekend

Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!

Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

Visit the remaining domestic buildings of the medieval Abingdon Abbey – and experience life in Iron Age Abingdon!

🕰️ Step back in time at the Abingdon Abbey Buildings! 🏰 Located in the heart of Abingdon, Oxfordshire, these historic gems offer a fascinating glimpse into life during the medieval and Iron Age periods.

🎟️ Booking: No pre-booking needed, just pop by!

𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝟭3 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 (𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 – 𝟭𝟲:𝟬𝟬)

Immerse yourself in the past with not one, but two incredible living history experiences!

⚔️ The Vicus & Pario Gallico: Journey to the Iron Age! This fantastic group will set up a Roman camp with interactive displays, ancient crafts, and thrilling demonstrations of military uniforms and weapons. Perfect for all ages!

🛠️ Heritage Crafts Demonstrations: Watch master craftspeople from the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre at Coleshill showcase the traditional techniques used to build our iconic historic buildings.

𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝟭4 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 (𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 – 𝟭𝟲:𝟬𝟬)

Enjoy a quieter day to explore the Buildings at your own pace with our informative leaflet. Don’t miss the short film in the Unicorn Theatre, capturing wonderful memories from the 1960s and 70s.

Throughout the weekend, you can explore with our informative guides and learn the incredible story of this place. The work of preservation continues, and your visit helps support it!

The Saxon Abbey of Abingdon was founded in the 7th century, sacked by the Danes in the 9th century, and re-dedicated as a Benedictine monastery in 953. It became one of the most cultured and wealthy monasteries of England and welcomed many royal visitors over the next 500 years, until being largely demolished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The domestic buildings were sold as commercial premises and over the next 400 years were successively a corn mill, a brewery and eventually slum dwellings. They were saved from demolition in 1944 by The Friends of Abingdon and after the first 10 years of repair and restoration they opened to the public; they have been open ever since, but the repair and restoration work continues. More information about the Buildings and their history can be found on our website.