Bury St Edmunds' Abbey Ruins: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Overview

Once the greatest medieval monastery in England, the abbey at Bury St Edmunds now stands in ruins, with its vast monastic complex forming a beautiful public garden. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll explore the remains of the abbey church and its surrounding buildings, piecing together the history of this much-overlooked heritage site. The tour starts on Chequer Square, and you'll walk through the remains of the monastic complex. Starting with the Norman Tower, one of the best-preserved 12th-century buildings in England, and the former monastery's west front, we'll uncover the shape, style, and scale of this now long-lost structure. The tour continues through the medieval Abbey Gate, with its richly decorated Gothic façade, before visiting St Edmundsbury Cathedral, a masterpiece of 21st-century Gothic architecture. Finally, the tour ends at St Mary's church, which contains the tomb of Mary Tudor, Queen of France and sister of Henry VIII.