Museums & Galleries · Cheltenham
Hailes Abbey
📍 GL54 5PB
Photo: pam fray (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- See lavish medieval sculpture and heraldic floor tiles
- View one of the oldest surviving medieval spectacle frames
- On-site museum brings the abbey's history to life
- Learn the story of the alleged phial of Christ's blood
- Guided tours available on selected days
Hailes Abbey was once one of medieval England's most celebrated pilgrimage sites, drawn to fame in 1270 when it received a relic said to be a phial of Christ's blood; pilgrims' donations funded a grand rebuilding, before the relic was denounced as fake and the abbey closed in the 1530s. Today you can explore the site's on-site museum, with lavish sculpture, heraldic floor tiles and one of the oldest surviving medieval spectacle frames, and join a guided tour on selected days. It suits history lovers and those keen on quieter, atmospheric ruins. It's located in Stanway, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, with Ashchurch for Tewkesbury station 8 miles away, and there are 14 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays for those wanting to make a longer visit.
Practical details
- Open
- Open first weekend of every month for tours
From the attraction's own website on 27 Sep 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Gift Shop
- ✓ Guided Tours
- ✓ Pet Friendly
- ✓ WiFi
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Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near Hailes Abbey
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.1 mi
1.8 mi
1.9 mi
2.5 mi
3 mi
4.1 mi
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🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Hailes Abbey into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Ashchurch for Tewkesbury 8 miles
- Cheltenham Spa 8.9 miles
- Evesham 9 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page