BEFORE YOU GO
Opening Times
What To See
Facilities
How to find us
Parking
Photography (and the use of drones)
Groups and School Visits
OPENING TIMES
In 2025 you can visit us from the 26th of February to the 2nd of November inclusive.
Our normal opening hours are:
10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Admission is free, but children under 16 years of age must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times
Dogs are welcome provided that they remain on a lead. Bowls of water are provided near the site guide’s office.
Access: We offer a warm welcome to all our visitors. To get the most out of your visit, please check out our Accessibility Guide. You can also download a plan which may help you get your bearings before you come. If you need further specific information, please get in touch with us by emailing or phone 07391 351757.
A dementia-friendly community is a city, town or village where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported.
WHAT TO SEE
Gisborough Priory is an English Heritage site managed by Gisborough Priory Project. The site consists of the ruins of the medieval Priory and also the Woodland Garden, which was once the formal gardens of Gisborough Hall.
We have a leaflet with a map of the site, which you are welcome to download to help you find your way around the site.
We also have an English Heritage Guide Book, priced at £4.00, which you can buy from the site guide. It has an excellent self-guided tour in it and we would strongly recommend it.
The medieval Priory consists of the magnificent East End, dating from 1300, along with the west cloister range and a gatehouse dating from around 1180.
The Woodland Garden is an integral part of our work on the site which you are also welcome to explore. It can be found on the other side of the ruins and gives a fascinating insight into the many ways the Chaloner family have used the gardens over the years.
You can see evidence of formal landscape gardening, kitchen gardening and the subsequent abandonment, which we are still trying to overcome.
We have used some of the borders to give some suggestion of what the gardens might have looked like in their various manifestations. Look out for a Georgian theme and a Kitchen Garden theme amongst others. If you find our Medieval themed borders as well then you will have explored the site very thoroughly!
The early spring brings snowdrops in the Monk’s Walk, followed a little later by the scent of wild garlic. We often have a special early opening day to see the snowdrops which is very popular.
Later on the fruit trees and roses come to the fore, but the Garden is a haven of peace and tranquility at any time of the year, and a good place to spot the local wildlife.
There is always a site guide on duty, who will be happy to answer any questions you have during your visit.
FACILITIES
Food and drink: We do not sell refreshments of any kind, but there are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby in Guisborough.
Alternatively you are very welcome to bring your own picnic, takeaway or coffee. The Woodland Garden has a picnic area, although picnics on the grass in the ruins are just as welcome, and there are plenty of benches, both in the Garden and around the Priory. We even have rubbish bins.
Toilets: There is a composting toilet in the south-west corner of the Woodland Garden. Public toilets are also available in the car parks on Northgate and Fountain Street, both around a five minute walk from the priory.
HOW TO FIND US
Gisborough Priory is at the east end of Westgate, the town’s main street, beside St Nicholas Church.
Postcode : TS14 6HG
Latitude : 54.535922 Longtitude : -1.045895
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Bus: Arriva services 5, 5A, 5B, 81, 93 and X93 stop in Guisborough town centre. The Priory is then a 5 minute walk. Arriva service 28 actually passes by Gisborough Priory.
Train: Nearest station is Marske, 4.5 miles away
Bicycle: Guisborough is on Route 168 of The National Cycle Network
PARKING
Although there is no parking on site there are several pay and display car parks around Guisborough town centre. The main car park (Fountain Street) is about 500 metres from the Priory. A small car park (Church Square), convenient for disabled visitors, is 10 metres from the gate but there is a charge and it is often full. Most car parks are free on Sundays. The closest car parks to the Priory are Church Square, Northgate and Walker’s Row.
The car park on Walker’s Row is free on Saturdays , Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Currently the cheapest car park is behind Belmont House (the former council offices on Rectory Lane) which charges £1.50 for up to four hours, or £2.50 all day, but payment is by card only. Charges apply seven days a week. Belmont House is closer to the town centre but Walker’s Row is closer to the Priory.
Please note, parking information is given in good faith and you must always check the restrictions for yourself before leaving your vehicle.
A parking disc scheme allows two hours’ free parking on Westgate – discs are available from Sunnyfield House on Westgate (the main shopping street).
For coach and minibus parking, please contact Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
PHOTOGRAPHY & DRONES
You are, of course, very welcome to take as many photographs as you wish when you visit us, provided it is for your own use or to upload to social media.
Wedding photography, either amateur or professional, must be booked in advance. Contact enquiries@GisboroughPrioryProject.org.uk for more information.
All commercial photography, including weddings and special events, must also be booked in advance. You can email enquiries@GisboroughPrioryProject.org.uk for more information.
Drones and filming are not permitted unless the relevant forms, available from English Heritage have been completed. Contact enquiries@GisboroughPrioryProject.org.uk for more information.
SCHOOL & GROUP VISITS
Schools and groups are also welcome to visit us by arrangement. Contact enquiries@GisboroughPrioryProject.org.uk for more information.