Falconry weekend

Elizabethan falconry at Buckland Abbey

Step back to the Elizabethan era and watch one of the favourite pastimes of the Tudor period with falconry on the Abbey lawn.

UPDATE: Sunday 4th July

Booking not necessary for Sunday 4th July. We are accepting walk up visitors.

Come and experience the sights, smells and sounds of Elizabethan entertainment by watching one of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite pastimes, falconry. 

The Falconry Weekend is on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th July, 2021. 

Birds of prey in flight over the Abbey lawn
Falconry display with handler
Birds of prey in flight over the Abbey lawn

There are three displays timed throughout both days on the Abbey lawn. Learn about the sport and passion of Henry VIII and Renaissance Kings and Queens who used the power of falconry for personal gain.

Tudor Cooking
Costumed characters cooking in the tudor kitchen
Tudor Cooking

The Abbey will also be bought to life with costumed volunteers and Tudor cooking in the Abbey garden.

Find out what food would have been cooked for Tudor banquets and discover the food that would have been served to Sir Francis Drake and Richard Grenville when they lived in the Abbey.

Hungry? Enjoy traditional spitroast pig from HungryHog SouthWest or head to the Ox Yard cafe for a cream tea and cake.

Pre-booking essential

Please pre-book your visit to the Falconry Weekend. We expect this weekend to be busy so you may be turned away without a booking. 

Pre-book your visit to the Falconry Weekend by clicking the link below:

Image of the abbey in the distance with autumn trees around it

Visiting Buckland Abbey: what you need to know 

If you're planning a visit to Buckland Abbey, read this article to find everything you need to know about travelling here, what's open and what to expect from your visit.

Abbey tours

At weekends the Abbey is open by tours only. 

At Visitor Welcome, you will be asked if you would like to join onto one of the tours running throughout the day. There is a maximum of visitors we can have per tour, so you may be offered an alternative time if the tour is full. 

You will only be able to visit the Abbey if you have booked onto one of these tours at Visitor Welcome. 

Please head to the Abbey at least 5 mins before your time slot. 

Please be prepared to queue outside as we are still limiting numbers indoors.