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The Great Britain Guide

Cathedrals · London

Lesnes Abbey

In or near Darenth.

Free admission♿ Wheelchair: limited4.7 · 2,155 Google reviews

Lesnes Abbey is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.

Burial place of the heart of Roesia of Dover, Lesnes Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 2711099

Marathon — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1 h–2 h
Best time of year
Year-round
Nearest railway station
Abbey Wood · 0.7 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

Lesnes Abbey is located in Bexley, London, with the nearest railway station being Abbey Wood, approximately 0.7 km away. Admission is free, but please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is SE2 0AX.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Lesnes Abbey is a cathedral in england london, United Kingdom — the principal church of its diocese, dating from 1101. Cathedrals are seats of bishops in the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church, and other Christian denominations across Britain.

Photo gallery

Summary from the official site

Lesnes Abbey Woods features inspiring art installations, including wood sculptures and mosaics, set within a natural landscape. Visitors can explore the beautiful gateways and various artworks created by local artists, enhancing the experience of this historic site.

Read more on the official property page.

Protected designations

  • Site of Special Scientific Interest: Abbey Wood SSSI

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Lesnes Abbey is a former abbey, now ruined, in Abbey Wood, in the London Borough of Bexley, southeast London, England. It is a scheduled monument, and the abbey's ruins are listed at Grade II by Historic England. The adjacent Lesnes Abbey Woods are a Local Nature Reserve. Part of the wood is the Abbey Wood SSSI, a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest which is an important site for fossils of the early Tertiary period.

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

Background

History

After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the area of Lesnes, close to the town of Erith, passed into the possession of Bishop Odo, and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Loisnes in the Hundred of Litlelai. The year 1178 saw the foundation of the Abbey of St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr at Lesnes, on a site now located in the suburbs of southeast London to the north of the ancient but long-managed Lesnes Abbey Woods that are named after it, where the land rises above what would originally have been marshland. It was the home for a small group of canons regular related to the Arroussian Order, a more relaxed version of the Augustinian canons, and subject to many reports over the years…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.4885, 0.1292
District
Bexley
Parish
Bexley, unparished area
Postcode
SE2 0AX
Parliamentary constituency
Erith and Thamesmead
Established
1101
Nearest railway station
Abbey Wood0.7 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Lesnes Abbey📷 5

Abbeys & priories · London

Lesnes Abbey

Lesnes Abbey — former abbey, now ruined, in Abbey Wood, London Borough of Bexley, England, UK.

Free👶lesnesabbeywoods.org
Lesnes Abbey Woods📷 5

Parks · London

Lesnes Abbey Woods

Lesnes Abbey Woods — area of ancient woodland in southeast London, England.

Free🐕👶lesnesabbeywoods.org
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Abbeys & priories · London

Lesnes Abbey Mosaic

Lesnes Abbey Mosaic — Public artwork (mosaic).

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Archaeological sites · London

Fossil Pit

Fossil Pit — a archaeological in england-london, United Kingdom.

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Coryphodon

Coryphodon — a public art in england-london, United Kingdom.

Free🐕lesnesabbeywoods.org
Wood anemones in Lesnes Abbey Woods - geograph.org.uk - 2388617📷 5

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Lady of the Woods

Lady of the Woods — Public artwork (statue).

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Where to eat & stay near Lesnes Abbey

Places to stay

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Abbey Wood Caravan Club Site

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Hotels · London

Bexleyheath Marriott Hotel

Bexleyheath Marriott Hotel — a hotel in england london.

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Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn — a hotel in england london.

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Campsites · London

Woollett Hall Farm

Woollett Hall Farm — a campsite in england london.

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Hotels · London

Moxy London Excel

Moxy London Excel — a hotel in england london.

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Hotels · London

Hampton by Hilton London Docklands

Hampton by Hilton London Docklands — a hotel in england london. 3-star. Brand: Hampton.

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Places to eat & drink

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Restaurants · London

Crook Log

Crook Log — a restaurant in england london. Cuisine: british. Brand: Toby Carvery.

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Restaurants · London

The Old Stables

The Old Stables — a restaurant in england london.

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Cafés · London

Oxleas Wood Cafe

Oxleas Wood Cafe — a café in england london.

Freeoxleaswood.com
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Historic pubs · London

One Bell

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Cafés · London

Stables Café

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Lesnes Abbey?
Lesnes Abbey is in London, United Kingdom (postcode SE2 0AX), in the parish of Bexley, unparished area.
What is Lesnes Abbey?
Lesnes Abbey is a cathedral in the United Kingdom.
How do I get to Lesnes Abbey?
The nearest railway station is Abbey Wood, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can use postcode SE2 0AX.
When was Lesnes Abbey built?
Built or established in 1101.
Is Lesnes Abbey a protected site?
Yes — Lesnes Abbey is part of the Abbey Wood SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Is Lesnes Abbey free to visit?
Yes, Lesnes Abbey is free to enter.
How do I get to Lesnes Abbey?
The nearest railway station is Abbey Wood, about 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode SE2 0AX.