Byland Abbey

Before you go: the practical facts

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Address

Byland Abbey, Byland, Coxwold, North Yorkshire, YO61 4BD, about 2 miles south of the A170.

Who runs it

English Heritage. The site is owned by the Newburgh estate and has been in state guardianship since 1920.

Opening

the abbey grounds are open every day of the year during reasonable daylight hours, so winter is no different from summer.

Museum and bookshop

open seasonally, Friday to Monday, 12pm to 4pm, from 1 April to the end of October. Closed through the winter of 2026 to 2027 and expected back from April 2027.

Admission

free for everyone, not just English Heritage members. Free guided tours run at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays during the season when volunteers are available, with no booking needed.

Parking

a small, free, triangular car park holds about nine cars. When it is full, there are lay-bys half a mile south towards Coxwold and more spaces behind the Abbey Inn.

Toilets

behind the Abbey Inn, opposite the car park.

Café

none on site.

Dogs

Byland is on English Heritage's list of dog-friendly places. Keep dogs on a lead near livestock.

Accessibility

the ruins are on grass with uneven ground and low walls. English Heritage does not publish step-free route details for Byland, so call 0370 333 1181 before visiting if you have access needs.

Public transport

bus routes 31X, M5 and M31 pass close by, with a stop near the entrance gate. The nearest railway station is Thirsk, about 10 miles away.

What you will see

The west front. The last part of the church to be finished, it still stands to near full height with three tall lancet windows above a trefoil-headed doorway. Above them is the shattered rim of the great rose window. English Heritage says Byland inspired the design of the rose window at York Minster.

The medieval floor tiles. Much of the church's 13th century tiled floor survives in the south transept. The tiles are covered for protection each autumn and uncovered in spring, so a winter visit means you will see the covers, not the tiles.

The great cloister. At about 44 metres (145 feet) square, it was one of the largest in England. Walk the west side to find the lane where the lay brothers sat in a row of niche seats.

The church. The nave ran to 12 bays, making the church the largest single building on the site. Its early Gothic style influenced church building across the north.

A short history

Byland's monks spent more than 40 years looking for a permanent home. The community began at Furness in 1128 as part of the Savigniac order. A group sent out to found Calder in 1134 was driven back by a Scottish raid in 1138, then refused readmission at Furness. After a spell at Hood, they moved to Old Byland in 1143, close to Rievaulx, and then to Stocking near Oldstead in 1147, the year the Savigniac order merged into the Cistercians.

From the late 1150s the monks drained marshy ground at the present site. The buildings were complete enough to move into by 1177, and the great church took at least another 15 years.

Scottish forces pillaged Byland and Rievaulx in 1322, and the Black Death of 1348 to 1349 cut numbers further. By 1391 there were only 11 monks and three lay brothers. The abbey was surrendered to the Crown on 30 November 1538, and in 1540 it was granted to Sir William Pickering. The Newburgh estate bought it in 1893, it passed into state guardianship in 1920, and a small site museum followed in the 1950s.

Tips and timing

• Because entry is free and the ruins are open in daylight all year, Byland works well as a short stop on a winter afternoon.
• The car park is tiny. Arrive early on summer weekends, or be ready to use the lay-bys.
• Visit between April and October if you want the museum, the guided tours and a chance of seeing the floor tiles.
• Combine it with Rievaulx Abbey, a short drive north, for a day comparing two great Cistercian houses.

Nearby

• Rievaulx Abbey
• Helmsley
• Abbeys and castles
• Parking

Byland Abbey FAQs

Is Byland Abbey free?

Yes. Entry is free for everyone, and the grounds are open in daylight every day of the year.

Is Byland Abbey open in winter?

Yes, the ruins are open daily in daylight through the winter. The museum and bookshop close from November and reopen in April.

Can you take dogs to Byland Abbey?

Yes. English Heritage lists Byland as dog-friendly. Keep dogs on a lead near livestock.

Is there parking at Byland Abbey?

There is a small free car park for about nine cars, with overflow lay-bys half a mile towards Coxwold.

Are there toilets at Byland Abbey?

Yes, behind the Abbey Inn, opposite the car park.

How long do you need at Byland Abbey?

Allow about an hour, or longer if the museum is open or you join a tour.

Sources checked 29 October 2026: English Heritage, Byland Abbey visitor, directions, history and description pages; English Heritage dog-friendly places.