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The Great Britain Guide

Abbeys & priories · East of England

Bury St Edmunds Abbey

In or near Fornham St Martin.

Anglo-SaxonEnglish HeritageFree admission♿ Wheelchair accessible4.8 · 2,850 Google reviews

Bury St Edmunds Abbey — partly ruined abbey in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.

Bury St Edmunds Abbey, abbeys & priories in Suffolk

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
45 min–1.5 h
Nearest railway station
Bury St Edmunds · 1.2 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Wheelchair accessible

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Bury St Edmunds Abbey, the nearest railway station is Bury St Edmunds, located 1.2 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is IP33 1RS, and please note that entry is paid. The site is wheelchair accessible.

Directions on Google Maps →

Visit on english-heritage.org.uk

About

Bury St Edmunds Abbey is an abbey, priory, or monastic site in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1020. Owned by English Heritage. Managed by English Heritage. Wikidata describes it as: "partly ruined abbey in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK". Coordinates: 52.2441°, 0.7192°.

Photo gallery

From English Heritage

The extensive remains of one of the wealthiest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England, shrine of St Edmund.

Read more on the official property page.

From the Wikipedia article

The Abbey of Bury St Edmunds was once among the richest Benedictine monasteries in England, until its dissolution in 1539. It is in the town that grew up around it, Bury St Edmunds in the county of Suffolk, England. It was a centre of pilgrimage as the burial place of the Anglo-Saxon martyr-king Saint Edmund, killed by the Great Heathen Army of Danes in 869. The ruins of the abbey church and most other buildings are merely rubble cores, but two very large medieval gatehouses survive, as well as two secondary medieval churches built within the abbey complex.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

In the early 10th century the allegedly incorrupt (i.e. not decomposed) body of the martyred king, St Edmund, was translated from Hægelisdun to Beodricsworth, afterwards known as St Edmundsbury, a site that had probably had a monastery founded by St Sigeberht some three centuries earlier. At this time the early shrine was guarded by a group of secular priests, but in c. 1020, under the auspices of King Cnut and Ælfwine, the then Bishop of Elmham, they were replaced by monks from St Benet's Abbey and a Benedictine Abbey of St Edmundsbury was founded. Two of the monks from St Benet's Abbey became Bury's first two abbots: Ufi, prior of Holme, (d. 1044), who was consecrated abbot by the Bishop…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
52.2441, 0.7192
County
Suffolk
District
West Suffolk
Parish
Bury St Edmunds
Postcode
IP33 1RS
Parliamentary constituency
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Phone
01284 764667
Established
1020
Nearest railway station
Bury St Edmunds1.2 km
Opening
Mon - Sat 7.30am–8pm; Sun 9am–8pm

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Bury St Edmunds Abbey precincts (10) - geograph.org.uk - 6640993Flagship📷 4

Cathedrals · East of England

Bury St Edmunds Abbey

Bury St Edmunds Abbey is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.

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Bury St Edmunds, cathedral tower and abbey ruins - geograph.org.uk - 4354786📷 3

Abbeys & priories · East of England

Bury St Edmunds Abbey Ruins

Bury St Edmunds Abbey Ruins — a abbey in england-east, United Kingdom.

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Bury St Edmunds, cathedral tower and abbey ruins - geograph.org.uk - 4354786📷 3

Abbeys & priories · East of England

Ruins To East And North Of Abbey Church

Ruins To East And North Of Abbey Church — a Grade I-listed abbey in england-east, United Kingdom.

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Bury St Edmunds, cathedral tower and abbey ruins - geograph.org.uk - 4354786📷 3

Abbeys & priories · East of England

Ruins of Abbey Church of St Edmund

Ruins of Abbey Church of St Edmund — a Grade I-listed abbey in england-east, United Kingdom.

Grade I👶
A view of the Cathedral from Abbey Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 1448605📷 3

Gardens · East of England

Water Garden

Water Garden — a garden in england-east, United Kingdom.

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Bury St Edmund's Abbey: including the monks' cemetery and outer precinct and vineyard walls📷 3

Abbeys & priories · East of England

Bury St Edmund's Abbey: including the monks' cemetery and outer precinct and vineyard walls

Bury St Edmund's Abbey: including the monks' cemetery and outer precinct and vineyard walls — abbey in Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, England, UK.

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Where to eat & stay near Bury St Edmunds Abbey

Places to stay

Outside the Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds - geograph.org.uk - 8237388📷 5

Hotels · East of England

Angel Hotel

Angel Hotel — a hotel in england east.

visit-burystedmunds.co.uk
Sparhawk Street, Bury St.Edmunds - geograph.org.uk - 5371556📷 7

Hotels · East of England

Chantry Hotel

Chantry Hotel — a hotel in england east.

visit-burystedmunds.co.uk
Path from Layhill Covert - geograph.org.uk - 3007694📷 5

Hotels · East of England

Dragonfly Hotel

Dragonfly Hotel — a hotel in england east.

dragonflyburystedmunds.uk-hotel.info
Sign for the Tollgate public House, Bury St Edmunds - geograph.org.uk - 4885335📷 7

Hotels · East of England

Priory Hotel

Priory Hotel — a hotel in england east.

ipswich.uk
Thurston, Large development of 2,3,4 and 5 bedroomed houses - geograph.org.uk - 6520442📷 5

Caravan parks · East of England

Bright Meadow Caravan Park

Bright Meadow Caravan Park — a caravan park in england east.

West Stow village sign - geograph.org.uk - 6783805📷 5

Campsites · East of England

West Stow Pods

West Stow Pods — a campsite in england east.

Places to eat & drink

Mustow Street, Bury St.Edmunds - geograph.org.uk - 3401133📷 7

Restaurants · East of England

Cheers

Cheers — a restaurant in england east.

Freecheersrestaurants.co.uk
Skinner Street, Bury St Edmunds - geograph.org.uk - 2803079📷 7

Historic pubs · East of England

The Nutshell

The Nutshell in England East, United Kingdom.

Freethenutshellpub.co.uk
Close up, Elizabeth II postbox on Parkway, Bury St Edmunds - geograph.org.uk - 4873014📷 5

Historic pubs · East of England

The Elephant And Castle Public House

The Elephant And Castle Public House in England East, United Kingdom.

Bury St Edmunds buildings (224) - geograph.org.uk - 6697401📷 7

Historic pubs · East of England

The Market Tavern Public House

The Market Tavern Public House in England East, United Kingdom.

St John's church on St John's Street, Bury St Edmunds - geograph.org.uk - 7338662📷 6

Historic pubs · East of England

The Bushel Public House

The Bushel Public House in England East, United Kingdom.

St Edmunds Tavern sign - geograph.org.uk - 2675799📷 5

Historic pubs · East of England

The Rising Sun Public House

The Rising Sun Public House in England East, United Kingdom.

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Bedford Abbey is a abbey in the United Kingdom.

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Cambourne Church is a abbey in the United Kingdom.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Bury St Edmunds Abbey?
Bury St Edmunds Abbey is in Suffolk, East of England, United Kingdom (postcode IP33 1RS), in the parish of Bury St Edmunds.
What is Bury St Edmunds Abbey?
Bury St Edmunds Abbey — partly ruined abbey in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK.
How do I get to Bury St Edmunds Abbey?
The nearest railway station is Bury St Edmunds, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode IP33 1RS.
When was Bury St Edmunds Abbey built?
Built or established in 1020.
Who runs Bury St Edmunds Abbey?
Bury St Edmunds Abbey is operated by English Heritage.
How do I get to Bury St Edmunds Abbey?
The nearest railway station is Bury St Edmunds, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode IP33 1RS.