Torre Abbey in Devon, the ancient scheduled monument and art collection set within 18 acres of garden and parkland, is welcoming coach group visits.
Located in Torquay, Torre Abbey is the Torbay area’s most historic building, dating back to 1196, and the site is the best-preserved medieval abbey in Devon and Cornwall.
During a tour of the Abbey, visitors will learn how the abbey was turned into a private residence following the Dissolution of the Monasteries. A visit begins by exploring the Medieval Undercrofts before heading to the 800 Years Gallery to explore the history of the abbey.
Visitors can then see Torre Abbey’s art galleries with the permanent collection featuring 600 works by artists including William Holman Hunt, William Blake, and Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones.
The abbey also provides an ideal setting for Torbay’s collection of paintings and antiques, most of which have been donated by local people. Several times a year, Torre Abbey welcomes visiting art exhibitions from partners including the V&A, the Tate, and the Arts Council Collection.
Moving outside, the extensive gardens include plantings of herbaceous perennials, roses, and dahlias, set within the landscape around the abbey ruins. The gardens also feature heated glasshouses containing tropical and desert plants.
Groups of 10 people or more gain entry for £8 per person, or £11 including a tour, and refreshment packages are also available. Free entry to the house and gardens is also provided to drivers and group leaders. Over 90% of the main building is accessible via wheelchair or mobility scooters, and lifts operate to all floors, with stair lifts also in place alongside short flights of stairs. Drivers can drop passengers off close to the main entrance, and free coach parking is available nearby at the rear of Torquay train station.
