Torre Abbey

Torre Abbey is a museum, art gallery and set of gardens on the seafront in Torquay, built on the site of a monastery founded in 1196. The museum describes it as Torbay’s most historic building, an ancient scheduled monument set in 18 acres of garden and parkland. It is run by Torbay Council, and a visit combines medieval remains, a country-house interior and award-winning planting.

The abbey and the house

Torre Abbey was the wealthiest English monastery of the Premonstratensian order, and the museum says the extent of its survival makes it the best-preserved medieval abbey in Devon and Cornwall. After Henry VIII closed the monastery in 1539, two of its ranges were converted into a private house. From 1662 that house was the home of the Cary family for nearly 300 years, and the council bought the property in 1930.

The Spanish Barn next to the house takes its name from the 397 prisoners from the Spanish Armada galleon Nuestra Senora del Rosario who were held there. It is used for events, weddings and exhibitions rather than as a standing display.

Inside the museum

The visit runs over four floors. It begins in the medieval undercrofts, then moves to the 800 Years Gallery, which tells the abbey’s story through video, talking portraits and interactive displays. The art galleries follow: the collection holds over 600 works from the 18th century to today, with pieces by William Holman Hunt, William Blake and Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones. Visiting exhibitions arrive several times a year, and the museum names the V&A, the Tate and the Arts Council Collection among its partners.

Children have dressing-up areas, interactive displays and a space called The Hidden House, plus free activity sheets from the main desk.

The gardens

The gardens are the other half of the visit. Exuberant borders of herbaceous perennials, roses and dahlias sit around the abbey ruins, and the glasshouses hold palm and cactus collections, including endangered palms from Kew Gardens and bananas. There is a walled garden, a medieval garden and a medieval children’s garden with turf seats, willow tunnels and sensory planting. The head gardener runs talks and tours, including an Agatha Christie-inspired Potent Plants tour. The grounds around the abbey are free to walk through all year.

Plan your visit

Check the website for current opening days, times and ticket prices before you go, and for whatever exhibition or event is on. The tearoom is seasonal, so check that too if lunch is part of the plan. Allow a morning or an afternoon, longer if you want the gardens properly.

Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum. Other dogs cannot enter the house or gardens, but they are welcome in the cafe and the free grounds.

Getting there

Torre Valley car park is the nearest, and Torquay station is within about five minutes’ walk. The Torquay Land Train stops at Torre Abbey, and seasonal ferries run to Torquay from Brixham, Paignton and Dartmouth between 1 April and 31 October. The abbey is on a cycle route with bike racks on site.

Nearby

Torre Abbey Sands is a few minutes away across the road, about a quarter of a mile, so the abbey pairs well with a beach hour. Cockington Court is a country park and craft centre on the edge of town, and Kents Cavern is the town’s prehistoric cave, around 1.7 miles in a straight line to the east.

Plan your stay

Self-catering and hotel stays in Torquay put the abbey, the seafront and the harbour within walking distance.