Stoneleigh Abbey
A magnificent stately home built on the remains of a 12th-century Cistercian abbey. Visited by King Charles I, Queen Victoria, and Jane Austen
Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LF
There are three disabled parking bays available a short distance from the Ticket Office in our lower car park.
Please be aware that there are steps leading down into the Ticket Office with a hand support rail. The side gate can be opened if necessary.
A route without steps is available to the House and to the Orangery Tea Room. The distance from the Ticket Office to the Orangery is roughly 200 yards.
There are disabled toilets and baby change facilities available in the West Wing. The Orangery and visitor toilets at the entrance next to the ticket office both have disabled toilets.
A lift is available to all floors of the house that are open for public viewing.
There is a good colour contrast between the floor and walls for those with visual impairment.
Assistance dogs are welcome, provided that they are wearing the appropriate coat, lead, or harness. No other dogs are permitted in the house or grounds.
Stoneleigh Abbey was founded by the Cistercians in 1154, but very little trace remains of the original Abbey buildings except for the 14th-century gatehouse. As one of the seats of the Leigh family, Stoneleigh Abbey played host to several people of note, including King Charles I, Queen Victoria, and novelist Jane Austen.
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the estate was acquired by Sir Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London in 1558. And a house was built on the site of the monastic buildings. It was the home of the Leigh family from 1561 to 1990.
Between 1714 and 1726, a new palatial four-storey fifteen-bay west wing was built to designs by architect, Francis Smith of Warwick, and provides an impressive range of state apartments.
After many tragic events including a fire in 1960, the house was left in a run-down state, that could no longer be looked after by the Leigh family so was sold to a preservation charitable trust. But when this also failed, the Abbey was saved by a new independent charitable Trust set up by Chairman Mr Tony Bird OBE, a local businessman with the vision, knowledge and enthusiasm to bring Stoneleigh Abbey back to life.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
Opening Times
Grounds
The grounds are open Sunday to Thursday, 10:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:00. The grounds are closed Fridays and Saturdays for private events. Please note that the grounds will also be closed on Sunday 24th May 2026, Sunday 14th June 2026, and Sunday 30th August 2026 for private events. On Thursday 28th May 2026, the grounds close at 3pm, with last entry at 1pm.
Guided House Tours
General Tours
Guided house tours run Sunday to Thursday. During the winter months, tours are available at 11am, 12 noon, and 2pm, each lasting approximately one hour. Please note that tour times are subject to change. There will be no tours at 2pm or 3pm on Thursday 28th May 2026.
Accessibility Notice: There will be no lift or disabled access to the first floor from Monday 2nd February 2025 until 24th February 2025 due to essential lift repairs.
Jane Austen Guided Tour
A specialist Jane Austen guided tour runs at 2pm on Wednesdays. Tour times are subject to change.
Repton Walks
The Repton Walks are accessible during grounds opening hours (Sunday–Thursday, 10:00–17:00). Please be aware that the Repton Walks are locked at 4pm on Thursday afternoons.
Historic Houses members visit the grounds only for free.
Ticket prices for non-members:
Adult Grounds Entry £8
Adult Grounds and Tour £16
Child Grounds Entry £2.00
Child Grounds and Tour £5.50
Under 4s Free
(The house can only be visited by taking the guided tour)
Contact
There are three disabled parking bays available a short distance from the Ticket Office in our lower car park.
Please be aware that there are steps leading down into the Ticket Office with a hand support rail. The side gate can be opened if necessary.
A route without steps is available to the House and to the Orangery Tea Room. The distance from the Ticket Office to the Orangery is roughly 200 yards.
There are disabled toilets and baby change facilities available in the West Wing. The Orangery and visitor toilets at the entrance next to the ticket office both have disabled toilets.
A lift is available to all floors of the house that are open for public viewing.
There is a good colour contrast between the floor and walls for those with visual impairment.
Assistance dogs are welcome, provided that they are wearing the appropriate coat, lead, or harness. No other dogs are permitted in the house or grounds.