Hailes Abbey

Hailes Abbey is a Cistercian abbey founded in 1246 by Richard of Cornwall and dissolved on Christmas Eve 1539, its ruins standing near Winchcombe in the Cotswolds. It never housed many monks, but pilgrims drawn to its relic, the Holy Blood of Hailes, said to be a phial of Christ's blood, paid for elaborate buildings. The National Trust owns the abbey but English Heritage maintains and runs it, so visiting details come from English Heritage; Trust membership is accepted, timed tickets must be booked in advance, and English Heritage has recently changed its openings, so check before setting out. What survives is mostly arches and low walls around the cloister, explained by a free audio guide and a museum of finds. Reviewers praise the friendly, knowledgeable desk staff and recommend the parish church across the road, which holds medieval stained glass from the abbey. Parking is free and dogs stay on a lead.