Woburn Abbey and Gardens
Woburn Abbey
Discover the splendour and history of Woburn Abbey and Gardens.
A house filled with history, Woburn Abbey is the family home of the 15th Duke and Duchess of Bedford. The Earls and Dukes of Bedford and their families have been at the centre of social and political events for almost 400 years.
Take your time to learn more about their lives and discover great tales of imprisonment, beheadings, love affairs, Royal Pardons, Prime Ministers, Grand Tours, political reforms, Royal state visits and much more.
Within the Abbey there are 22 rooms to explore over 3 floors, including the State Rooms, Gold and Silver Vaults and porcelain displays in the Crypt. We are proud of our world renowned art collection with more than 250 paintings including works by Rembrandt, Reynolds and Van Dyck. One of the highlights is the largest private collection of Venetian views by Canaletto in one room.
Your visit is not complete without a stroll through the beautiful, award-winning gardens. When the 6th Duke inherited the Abbey he commissioned Humphry Repton, the famous landscape gardener, to create designs for enhancing the gardens and deer park. Two hundred years later, many of the features you will find in the gardens are based on Repton’s designs, many of which have been restored to their former glory. Enjoy the fully restored views of the Chinese Diary, the earliest structure of its kind in the country and try to find your way around the Hornbeam Maze to reach the 1833 Chinese Pagoda.
The home of afternoon tea
We have a past Duchess of Bedford to thank for popularising this quintessential English tradition. Anna-Maria, wife of the 7th Duke, Duchess of Bedford in the 1830s, is credited with first making ‘Afternoon Tea’ into a formal social occasion. A Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria, Anna Maria began the custom of taking afternoon tea at around 5.00pm and it became fashionable at the Royal Palaces and at Woburn Abbey where she entertained her friends.
Indulge in a taste of history
The Duchess Tearoom offers a selection of hot and cold beverages and a choice of home-made cakes and biscuits and freshly prepared meals and snacks. Please telephone 01525 290333 to book your afternoon tea.
For more information visit www.woburnabbey.co.uk or call 01525 290333
Visitor information
Directions
Woburn Abbey is conveniently located approximately 10 minutes drive from the M1 motorway. If you are using a SatNav, please enter the postcode: MK17 9WA. There is plenty of parking for cars and coaches in our car park adjacent to the Abbey and Gardens.
The most convenient train station for Woburn Abbey is at Flitwick, where there is a taxi rank. Unfortunately there is no public transport to or from Woburn Abbey and Gardens.
By car. When you enter Woburn village, follow the sign to the Abbey down Park Road. You will pass between two gateposts with lions on top. After a couple of minutes you will cross a cattle grid. Turn right immediately after this. You are now on the entrance road to Woburn Abbey, Gardens and Deer Park.
Location