About
Denny Abbey is unique in England for having housed three monastic orders in turn: Benedictine monks from about 1159, the Knights Templar from around 1170, who kept it as a home for aged and infirm brethren, and Franciscan nuns, the Poor Clares, until Henry VIII dissolved the nunnery in 1539. The church then became a farmhouse and the nuns' refectory a barn, so the building survives as an architectural jigsaw of blocked arches, windows and doorways, explained by panels illustrated by Anne Biggs. Look for the carved 12th-century capitals on the Templars' west doorway and the medieval tiled floor in the refectory. The neighbouring Farmland Museum, which runs the whole site, adds Fenland machinery, blacksmith's and wheelwright's workshops and a village shop display. Reviewers praise the helpful staff, the Docky Box cafe and the play area with its sit-on tractor. Dogs are welcome on short leads outside but not in the buildings. Coming from Cambridge, drive on to the roundabout rather than turning right across the A10.
Check today’s timesFrom English Heritage's calendar
- See notice
Opening times will be updated shortly
From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027.
PricingFree with English Heritage membershipEH memberFree entryNon-member£9.50
Free entry with English Heritage membership
Entry
Non-member prices
Adult£9.50
Child (5-17)£6.50
Concession£8.00
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children)£29.00
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children)£19.50
Pricing details
Farmland Museum walk-up price for 2026; tickets are sold on site only, not in advance. Each standard ticket is an annual pass for 12 months, excluding special event days. EH's catalogue lists lower peak gate prices (adult 8.50, child 5.50, concession 7.00, family 24.00), so the museum's current figures are used. Under 5s free; concessions are over-65s and students with ID.
ParkingFree parkingFree for all visitors
No charge for anyone.
Parking details
Free parking on a grass surface directly opposite the museum entrance; take the right-hand fork on approach. Limited parking for large vehicles must be booked with the Farmland Museum.
Driving arrival: Denny Abbey Car Park off the A10. From Cambridge, continue to the roundabout and turn back rather than turning right across the A10.
Reviews & Tips
No reviews yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
