
Discover more at Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum
Find out when Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum are open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
There are lots of things at Lacock for families to enjoy all year round. With a busy programme of activities from family crafts to the magic of live theatre, find out more about what you could discover on your next visit.
Watch the seasons change at Lacock as autumn colour comes to life in the Woodland. Get on those wellies and stamp and squelch your way around the paths (puddles subject to availability!) before a cosy hot chocolate in the Stables Cafe. The abbey rooms are closed for the annual winter clean until March 1, so wrap up warm and enjoy a wintery walk around the abbey gardens. Take a peek into the abbey's medieval and Tudor periods with a walk around the Cloister and Courtyard, and don't forget to stock up on reading material for all the family in the secondhand bookshop.
The Fox Talbot Museum hosts a solo exhibition by artist and photographer, Ellen Carey, from 27 May 2023. Carey has been working with analogue processes since the 70s and was named by the Royal Photographic Society in 2019 as one of their Hundred Heroines of photography. Light Struck celebrates two centuries of photographic discovery, with Carey's pieces prompting questions of 'how is this made?' and 'what is photography in the 21st century'. Fox Talbot named his early experiments 'photogenic drawings' or 'light drawings' and Carey responds to this with a new piece in homage to his 19th century photogram 'Cascade of Spruce Needles'. The large format prints combine photogram with Polaroid technology and are created on a supersized instant camera in Carey's studio in the USA.
Light Struck runs in the Fox Talbot Museum until March 2024, with a programme of related events taking place throughout the year. Entry is included in general admission, free for National Trust members.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas begins at Lacock on 25 November and runs into the first week of January. The Great Hall reopens decked in boughs of holly, the willow reindeers are let loose to prance around the grounds and the village and Mother Christmas will be reading stories in the Christmas grotto. Pick up a reindeer trail sheet from Visitor Reception (£2 and includes a prize) and take part in activities dotted around the gardens. During the school holidays the Courtyard Tearoom is open for mince pies and hot chocolates, light lunches and cakes.
Booking is essential for Storytime with Mother Christmas. Find out all about Christmas at Lacock here.
Here's all the information you need at a glance to help plan your next day out to Lacock Abbey:
Lacock is a beautiful village with plenty to see and do (how many locations will you recognise from the Harry Potter films?). You might want to marvel at the majesty of the Tithe Barn, or head over to the children's play area in the village playing field, which is perfect for ball games.
There's a range of great village shops, including a National Trust shop in the High Street ,where there are family gifts and pocket-money toys available to take home and treasure.
If you’ve got the energy to stretch your legs a bit further, explore the countryside around and see the Abbey from a different angle on one of the walks.
Lacock Abbey is also a great place to tick off some of the National Trust's ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’. Here's some of the top activities to tick off your list:
Check out the full list of 50 things and see what else is waiting for your imagination .
Find out when Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum are open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Lacock Abbey's peaceful garden is a place to relax. Discover the Botanic Garden, greenhouse, orchard and woodland along with the sounds of nature at this green natural setting.
Explore the historic streets of Lacock, a quintessential English village with timber-framed cottages and local shops. With its central grid of four streets, Lacock today looks much as it did 200 years ago.
Learn about the history of photography at the Fox Talbot Museum, with a collection spanning photographic developments up to the present day.
The Stables café is ready to welcome you for refreshments, while the High Street Shop stocks a wide range of gifts and souvenirs.
There are lots of things to do when you visit one of our family-friendly places. Find inspiration for days out and discover a range of activities for everyone.
Fancy running free in the fresh air, learning new skills and trying new things? Grab your gear and start your adventure.
Ancient landscapes, world-famous gardens and outdoor adventures await in Wiltshire. Why not visit somewhere new with the family this autumn?