Torre Abbey
Abbey/Priory
The Kings Drive, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 5JE
From
£3.50
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An English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark Key Site.
Torre Abbey is Torbay's most historic building, an ancient scheduled monument dating back to 1196 set within 18 acres of garden and parkland.
The Abbey's story began with the arrival of an abbot and six canons at Torre, they had been sent from Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire following the gift of land from the Lord of the Manor of Torre, William Brewer. Rich fertile land, proximity to the sea and stone from a nearby headland provided the founding medieval Premonstratensian Monks with all the resources they needed to establish Torre Abbey.
Today the Abbey is a real hive of activity where world class exhibitions are shown side-by-side with creative work from local emerging talents. You can learn about the early years and the Georgian Cary Family who resided in the Abbey for hundreds of years. The fascinating Cary Family invited Horatio Nelson for a dinner party, this is recreated in the Dining Room.
With over 600 incredible works of art from the 18th century to the presen day, our 800 years of history gallery explores local history, heritage and stories through interactive displays, talking portraits and videos, which really makes the Abbey a truly unique place to visit.
Our award winning garden is famed for exuberant plantings of herbaceous perennials, roses and dahlias. Rare shrubs and trees flourish in the English Riviera climate. Our Palm and Cactus Houses contain tropical and sub-tropical plants including endangered palms from Kew Gardens.
All year round the gardens celebrate the achievements of Torquay's most famous resident 'Agatha Christie' through the Potent Plants Garden. You'll be surprised by the range of sinister but beautiful plants on show. Fans of the writer can also interpret the plants and clues in the four outside beds and solve the mystery of the missing story titles.
We are a family-friendly museum, all year round we offering special house and garden trails and quizzes, learning activities, dressing up and a wide range of workshops. Torre Abbey is accessible for prams and children, with a lift running to each floor, buggy parking and baby-changing faciltities. We welcome picnicking in our gardens, and have plenty of spots to enjoy alfresco dining.
Our gift shop is open during Abbey opening hours, selling everything from locally produced gin, preserves and sweets, to traditional toys, plants, gardening accessories, mugs and annual memberships.
During August we hold our Outdoor Cinema Festival, showing a range of cult classics, blockbuster movies and family favourites under the stars in our romantic ruins. For each screening our licensed pop-up bar is open selling a range of refreshments and movie snacks.
For full details on all of our exhibitions, events and workshops visit our website.
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.00 per ticket |
| Children & teens (Up to 19 years) | £3.50 per ticket |
| Family (2 adults, including children) | £20.00 per ticket |
| Family (1 adult, including children) | £12.00 per ticket |
Adult Annual Membership (unlimited access for 12 months) £18.00
Family Membership (2 adults, including children) £30.00
Family Membership (1 adult, including children) £20.00
We're Good to Go 2020| Open all year (2 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2020) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday | Closed* | |
| Tuesday - Wednesday | 10:00 | - 17:00* |
| Thursday | Closed* | |
| Friday - Saturday | 10:00 | - 17:00* |
| Sunday | Closed* | |
* We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only (with Friday mornings for vulnerable visitors only. Pre Booking is highly recommended, but you can ask on our front desk if we have slots free on the day.
Dates and times marked with a '*' are provisional and may be subject to change
'Lockdown' - Young People's Photography ExhibitionBack in February we teamed up with the Royal Photographic Society South West Branch to launch a photography competition for young people, completely unaware of how the world was about to change. As we went into a national lockdown, we adapted the competition and asked our young audiences to use…
POSTPONED UNTIL 2021 - Abbey Christmas - Torre AbbeyHive Events Presents ‘Abbey Christmas’ a spectacular Christmas event taking place in the beautiful historic grounds of the Torre Abbey Museum in the heart of the English Riviera. This amazing new event will have host of activities for all ages which will include the first REAL ICE RINK to have been…
POSTPONED UNTIL 2021 - Winter Fest - Torre AbbeyThis Christmas, Torre Abbey will be hosting its fourth Winter Fest event in the historic setting of the museum. We are now looking for local artists and makers to join us, selling some truly unique Christmas gifts. This promises to be charming event in the heart of Torquay and the perfect…
Wreath Making Kits -Torre AbbeyOur ever popular Wreath Making workshops are unable to go ahead on site this year however we will be providing kits and an online tutorial (from our Head Gardener, Ali Marshall) to enable you to make your items in the comfort of your own home.
Current guidelines permitting, you could have your own…
Workshops - Torre AbbeyJoin us this Christmas at Torre Abbey to create a unique willow artwork for your home or garden with Willow Artist and Sculptor Victoria Westaway.
Victoria has created sculptures for both RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower shows, she exhibits nationally, works to commission and loves sharing…
Abbey Advent - Torre AbbeyOur adventure begins with a fun stained-glass lantern-making workshop, to create lights out of recycled materials to help guide us on our magical journey. You can then venture outside into the gardens of the abbey (don’t forget warm clothes and woolly hats) to see our 25 colourful fairy-tale…
Jerwood Makers OpenJerwood Makers Open was established in 2010 to promote the significance of making and materials within the visual arts arena, seeking to support exceptional skill and imagination. It supports artists to freely develop creative ideas central to their individual practices. It looks broadly at how…
Torre Abbey Spring Open Art Exhibition: Chasing RainbowsRainbows are not just a beautiful natural phenomenon, they represent peace and hope and the metaphorical promise of sunshine after the rain. In 2020 they were used as a powerful emblem of solidarity with our NHS and key workers, while throughout history they have been given a spiritual meaning in…
Journey: Mayflower 400 - Torre AbbeySuitable for all ages
Entry to this event is included with normal admission
Journeys: Mayflower 400
The Tamar Valley Printmakers (UK) and the Cape Cod Printmakers (USA) are presenting a new body of artistic work inspired by the journey taken by the Mayflower 400 years ago.
Each artists will use…
Torquay Gin and Fizz FestivalWelcome to the Torquay Gin & Fizz Festival 2021
The Gin & Fizz Festival is an event brand that represents craft gin from across the Uk. Our shows tour the country from the Scottish Borders all the way down to Cornwall bringing our unique event to venues and locations big and small. Expect the best…
Torre Abbey Open Air Cinema FestivalBack bigger and better than ever in 2021! Returning for a fourth year the screening of iconic and blockbuster movies in our stunning gardens and amongst the Abbey ruins.
We know the good old British weather can sometimes let us down which is why this time, if it's raining we will be hosting…
International Agatha Christie Events at Torre AbbeyThe aim of the Festival is to demonstrate that great art is for everyone and widen participation in the arts, while satisfying the traditional demands of the loyal Agatha Christie fan-base.
International Agatha Christie FestivalAgatha Christie is Torquay's most well-known resident and the best selling author of all time. Every year Torquay celebrates the life and work of its most famous resident with a Festival, supported by the Arts Council of England, and this year is no exception.
Torre Abbey is 10 minutes drive from most areas of Torquay, 20 minutes from Paignton and 50 minutes from Plymouth and Exeter. From Exeter and the east:From Exeter and the east, follow signs for Torquay A380, then Torquay Seafront A3022. You will arrive at a 5 roads junction with the gates to the Abbey ahead of you. There is no parking in the grounds but you can take 2nd exit, Chestnut Avenue for parking at the front of the Riviera International Centre OR sharp right, Walnut Road for Torre Valley car park. Both are just 2 minutes walk from the Abbey and are pay and display. From Babbacombe, Paignton and other areas of Torbay:Follow the seafront and turn into Rathmore Road, immediately next to the Grand Hotel. Follow this road with the station on you left and you will reach the five roads junction – sharp left for Walnut Road, Torre Valley car park and straight across for Chestnut Avenue, Riviera Centre car park.
--- By Bus -----------The Abbey is 5 minutes walk from all seafront bus routes. In summer the Torquay road train will call in to the Abbey grounds. --- By Train -----------Torre Abbey is 10 minutes walk from Torquay Rail Station (not Torre). From the station head NE along the seafront then approach the Abbey along The King’s Drive.
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