Lacock Abbey in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England, was founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery of the Augustinian order.
Lacock Abbey is packed with history if you are looking for a family day out near Bath. It started as an abbey and nunnery, then became a Tudor family home. The last owners were the Talbots, a caring close-knit family that loved their home in Lacock. You might know it as the birthplace of photography. In the South Gallery is the spot where William Henry Fox Talbot took the first photographic negative and during your visit you can learn more about the man behind the camera. Talbot was a loving family father, and cared hugely for the abbey.
The abbey’s wooded grounds are the perfect destination for taking a relaxed walk all year round; with carpets of snowdrops and crocuses in spring, fragrant rose and bright borders in summer, colourful tree tops in autumn, and crisp walks past frozen ponds in winter.
There’s also lots to discover in Lacock village; quaint cottages, the medieval tithe barn, old lock-up, village church and a variety of local shops. Lacock is no stranger to the screen, with scenes from productions including ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Cranford’, ‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Wolf Hall’, ‘The Hollow Crown’ and ‘Harry Potter’ being filmed in the abbey and village.
Local attractions and things to do in the area may not be open all year round and may require pre-booking. Please check the attraction website before visiting to avoid disappointment.
