Come to Launde Abbey as a day guest for some needed time-out and rest. Alternatively, come as a café visitor with friends and family, perhaps for a special occasion. Whatever the reason, here is some information to help make the most of your visit.
day guests
Booking as a day guest you will have access to the communal areas of the Main House as well as use of the main Chapel for private prayer. As part of your package you will receive a freshly prepared lunch with a choice of accompaniments from our salad bar, as well as a choice of desserts. Morning coffee is served with biscuits or a home-made cookie, and your afternoon cup of tea is served with home-made cake.
cafe visitors
As a café visitor we welcome you to explore the gardens and surrounding parkland before or after you enjoy freshly made food from our Dairy Tea Room Café menu. Café visitors are welcome to join the Abbey community for prayer services in the main Chapel which happen daily. However, please note that the Chapel is not accessible out of the prayer service times.
parking
We have plenty of parking space available across the site. Café visitors are requested to park on the marked area of grass at the front of the Main House. The parking areas nearer to the buildings are reserved for resident and day guests of the Abbey.
A number of disabled access parking bays are available located as close as possible to our Café & Reception area. Please simply display your blue badge.
the grounds
Day guests and café visitors are welcome to explore the grounds and surrounding parkland. Entry to our gardens and parkland is free (donations are welcome) and visitors are requested to leave the site at 5pm. We do ask that dogs be kept on leads at all times. No ball games or picnics are permitted within the Abbey grounds at any time in order to preserve the peace and sense of sanctuary.
Maps of circular walks exploring the parkland, woods and wider local area can be provided by Reception. We recommend visitors bring suitable outdoor footwear as conditions underfoot can be very wet.
Situated across the site is a self-guided ‘stations of the cross’ walk. All day guests and visitors are welcome to pick up a guide from Reception and follow the trail.
the main house
The Main House (as with the Chapel) is reserved for residents and day guests only. You are welcome to book as a day guest to have access to the Main House and communal spaces such as the Lounge or the Chapel for your own private prayer. We have a range of day guest options to choose from. Contact Reception on 01572 717254 or email [email protected] to learn more or make a booking.
visiting the chapel
Café visitors are welcome to join our community’s daily prayer services. For timings see our Daily Prayer page.
Access to the Chapel outside of these service times is restricted for private prayer of residents and day guests only.
refreshment options
Day guests have the choice when booking. To select either the lunch buffet option in the main dining room to eat with other day guests and residents of the Abbey, typically served at 12:45pm. (Depending on the package you select when booking your day visit you may also be served homemade biscuits with morning coffee and homemade cake with afternoon tea mid-afternoon, served in the Gallery.) Alternatively, you may opt instead to select from our Dairy Tea Room Café menu; in which case order and pay at the Café entrance at a time during the day that suits you.
Our Café is open daily, from 10am to 4:30pm, for walk-in visitors. Hot and cold drinks and homemade cakes can be purchased throughout. Our hot and cold food menu is served between 10am and 3pm.
conversation with a chaplain
If, as a day guest, you would like an opportunity to speak with a chaplain during your time at the Abbey, then please inform Reception when booking or upon arrival. An hour’s conversation is offered at no cost. We may not be able to attend to your request immediately, but we will do everything we can to help.
Visitors to the café and grounds can also request to speak with a chaplain but there is a fee for this provision. Please enquire at Reception for more information.
Visitors can also request prayer and our praying community will commit to holding the request in prayer during our morning services. The easiest way to do this is to submit your request online.
shepherd’s huts
Our Shepherd’s Huts are available to be booked by day guests. This is a perfect way to ensure seclusion for prayer, reflection, writing, reading or other activity.
We kindly request all visitors when exploring the grounds to respect the privacy and quiet of the Orchard Meadow area, in which the Shepherd’s Huts are situated, for the benefit of the day guests occupying them.
use of the library
Residents and day guests only are welcome to make use of the Abbey’s library. We kindly request that no books from the library be taken off the premises.