Beaulieu Abbey — Attraction in New Forest

Spectacular and amazing Abbey Ruins within the Beaulieu estate. There is an informative video about the origins of the Abbey from King John and the Cistercian order who came from France, which is thoroughly informative and interesting and this history is laid out with the information panels. Within the main building there is a reconstruction model of what the Abbey may have looked like giving some idea of the scale of this wonderful place and there are informative displays about how the Monks lived with their diet and daily routine and how they would go to the infirmary if they were very ill. The information display also goes into how the Abbey was built and constructed giving you a clear and full idea of the work involved to build it. You can also wander around the amazing and spectacular ruins and marvel at the beautiful architecture and also see the grave of the last Lord Montagu before the current one. Overall a brilliant and nice place to visit and makes for a very interesting day out. Definitely worth a visit in...

A peaceful and evocative site just a short walk from the Palace House. Not much remains of this once impressive Cistercian abbey, but the outline of the buildings is still very visible. The sites of the chapter house and monks' living quarters are clearly marked and there's also a little herb garden. The church was closed when I visited but I spent an absorbing half-hour in the little museum with its artefacts, displays and lots of info about the abbey's history and the lives of the medieval monks. There's also an accessible downstairs toilet. There are some beautiful embroidered wall hangings worked by Lady Montagu in the Domus upstairs, where the medieval lay brothers had their...

Absolutely stunning setting for this little 13th century gem. In the grounds of the Beaulieu Motor Museum lies the serene Beaulieu Abbey and Beaulieu parish church (which used to be the Cistercian monks refectory) The gardens surrounding it are well stocked and very calming after the hubbub in the excellent museum. We spent a long time here in this quiet spot just absorbing the atmosphere and enjoying the plants and the history.

Some of the buildings there, the Abbey Domus upper floor for example, are not accessible to anyone in a wheelchair but that didn't put a dampener on my lovely time there. I would...