Photo: Jürgen Matern / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)
About this place
Founded in 1232 as an Augustinian nunnery, Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire has had a varied life across eight centuries.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII sold it to William Sharington, who converted the buildings into a country house while preserving much of the medieval cloister.
The National Trust has managed the property since 1944.
The abbey is also home to the Fox Talbot Museum, which marks the site where William Henry Fox Talbot made some of his earliest photographic experiments in the 1830s.
Read more on WikipediaFacilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Melksham Rail Station (2.7 miles)
Open year-round with seasonal variations; check the National Trust website for specific dates and times.
Nearby properties
Fox Talbot Museum
View Fox Talbot Museum on heritage mapGreat Chalfield Manor
View Great Chalfield Manor on heritage mapThe Courts Garden
View The Courts Garden on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Lacock Abbey (SN15) there are 4 historic properties, including 2 historic buildings and 2 historic houses, across Historic Houses and National Trust sites.
Within 10 miles of Lacock Abbey (SN15) there are 11 historic properties, including 6 historic buildings and 4 historic houses, across National Trust, Historic Houses and English Heritage sites.
Within 20 miles of Lacock Abbey (SN15) there are 52 historic properties, including 21 historic buildings, 13 historic houses and 7 churchs, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and National Trust sites.

Issue 11— July 2026