29 Aug 2025

Downside Abbey is taking part in Heritage Open Day, 2025!

Downside Abbey (the Basilica of St Gregory the Great) is one of only four minor basilicas in the UK and is one of England’s great neo-Gothic churches. The Grade 1 listed building is the work of several distinguished architects including Thomas Garner, Sir Ninian Comper and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. 

The buildings and grounds were developed by the Community of St Gregory the Great (originally founded in Douai in 1606) after it settled in Somerset in 1814.

On Thursday 18th September, as part of Heritage Open Days, we are running free guided tours, each of which will last approx. 1 hour.

1) Guided tours of the Abbey Church will take place at 1015 and 1315. (For visitors who would prefer not to join a tour, the church will be open between 1000 and 1600 and guidebooks will be available to purchase).

2) Guided tours of the monastery gardens will commence at 1145 and 1445. The gardens have been exclusively for the use of the monastic community, but we are sharing them with visitors as part of Heritage Open Days.

Please note: the gardens are only accessible on a tour.

For further information visit the Heritage Open Days website.