Visiting Us
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Opening Times
Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum is open every Thursday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 10am to 4pm.
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
As a seasonal museum, the site closes at the end of the autumn half term holiday and re-opens in late-March. The site is fully closed to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays all year round.
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Admission Prices
All standard admission tickets are Annual Passes, allowing free repeat entry for 12 months at all times when the site is open to the public.
Standard museum admission tickets are Annual Passes, allowing repeat visits at no extra cost for 12 months from the date of purchase at times when the museum is open to the public. See below for full terms and conditions.
Annual Pass Terms and Conditions
- The Annual Pass allows entry to the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey at times when it is open to the public for 12 months from the date of purchase.
- The Annual Pass does not permit entry on special event days. All special events will be advertised as such on our website. In 2025 the special event days are Sunday 25th May and Monday 26th May.
- On special event days, Annual Pass holders must pay full event admission. Annual Passes will not be issued.
- The Pass is non-transferable and may only be used by the individual or family named on the card.
- The Pass must be produced to gain entry to the museum. Without the pass, visitors will be asked to pay full standard admission and this will not be refunded.
- The Pass may not be used in conjunction with any other concessions, discounts, or for commercial/business use.
- The museum reserves the right to refuse admission.
If you are a UK taxpayer, please complete a Gift Aid form when purchasing your ticket. This allows us to reclaim tax on admission, providing us with an extra 25% income at absolutely no additional cost to you, and is a vital income stream for our independent museum.
You can also download a Gift Aid Donation Form to complete in advance and bring along with you.
Denny Abbey, Walnut Tree Cottage and the Nuns’ Refectory are managed by the Farmland Museum on behalf of English Heritage. English Heritage Members are entitled to free admission to the whole site (including the Farmland Museum) on production of a valid English Heritage Membership Card.
Corporate English Heritage Membership schemes usually don’t include free access to Denny Abbey and The Farmland Museum. Please check your organisation’s terms and conditions before visiting.
On special event days, English Heritage Members pay a reduced admission fee of £5 adult, £3 child. In 2025, the special event days are Sunday 25th and Monday 26th May.
The café and shop are run by the Farmland Museum Trust and not by English Heritage, so Members’ discount is not available.
It is not possible to become an English Heritage member at this site.
Concessions includes those over 65 and students with a valid student ID card.
Finding Us
Denny Abbey and The Farmland Museum is located just off the A10, half way between Cambridge and Ely.
Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum
Ely Road
Waterbeach, Cambridge
CB25 9PQ
We are best accessed by road.
From Cambridge, take the A10 towards Ely, following the brown museum signs. If using the A14, exit at Junction 33 (Milton Interchange), to take the A10. Upon arrival at the site, please do not turn right across the A10 – drive to the roundabout and turn right, allowing you to easily turn left into the museum.
From Ely, take the A10 towards Cambridge. Once past Chittering, go straight across the roundabout and the entrance is on the left-hand side.
If using a SatNav, please enter our postcode CB25 9PQ.
On approach to the museum, please take the right-hand fork in the road to access our car park.
Car parking is free on a grass surface. The car park is directly opposite the museum entrance.
Cyclists, please be aware that there are no dedicated cycle paths on the A10 as you approach the site and a cattle grid to cross on entering from the A10. Cycles can be secured against a wooden fence.
The driveway is shared with the neighbouring farm. Please be aware that tractors and other farm machinery may be on this road.
The number 9 bus between Cambridge and Littleport stops closest to our museum.
The “Research Park Entrance” bus stop is located on the A10, a 15-minute walk from the Museum entrance but please be aware this walk takes you along the side of the A10 where there are no footpaths.
For full running times and further information, please visit the Stagecoach website.
When arriving at the museum on foot, please be aware of farm traffic using the main access road.
Accessibility
Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum is for everyone. We have a range of resources and facilities to support your visit and help make it as accessible and enjoyable as possible.
Wheelchair access is possible throughout most of the museum, but visitors should be aware that the main access routes around the museum and abbey grounds are on gravel paths and across closely-mown grass. The first floor of Denny Abbey is inaccessible to wheelchair users but all interpretation is available from the kiosk for those who cannot access the stairs. The first floor of Walnut Tree Cottage, containing two 1940s-furnished bedrooms, is also inaccessible to wheelchair users.
Our main car park is in a field and the ground is not flat. Those visitors who require disabled parking, please call the site in advance or speak to the staff member in the shop upon arrival and we can direct you to a suitable space to park. Disabled visitors can be dropped off outside the main entrance.
There is one accessible toilet in the main toilet block at the centre of the site.
To help you get the most out of your visit, we have introduced Explorer and Sensory Bags. These contain resources and items that might support you or your child as you explore the museum and are free to borrow.
We are grateful to Arts Council England, Cambridgeshire County Council and Museums in Cambridgeshire for their support to provide this valuable resource. Please ask a member of staff if you would like to see the bag, find out more or borrow one.
Benches, including wheelchair-accessible picnic tables, are located at regular intervals around the site.
Large print guides and café menus are available upon request.
Transcripts are available where there is audio content as part of a display.
The Docky Box Café
The Docky Box Café, named after the Fen dialect term for “lunch box”, proudly serves up an array of homemade, locally sourced, and sustainable dishes catering to all dietary needs.
Open inside the museum every Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm, we offer a cosy spot to enjoy hot and cold beverages, scrumptious cakes and light-bite lunches, with hot food being served until 3.30pm. Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere, featuring works from local artists and a calendar full of exciting events.
The Gift Shop
Our gift shop showcases an inspiring collection of artwork and handcrafted pieces by talented local artists, celebrating the creativity of our Fenland community. Find fun and educational children’s toys and books, along with beautifully designed greeting cards and gifts for every occasion. Whether you’re searching for a special keepsake, a thoughtful gift, or a little something for yourself, our shop offers something for everyone.
Group Visits and Tours
Spend a morning, afternoon or evening with your group at this fascinating site. There is so much to see and do for all ages. We have great facilities for groups of all sizes including:
- Parking for cars, minibuses and coaches.
- A selection of catering options.
- Beautiful grounds, with plenty of picnic tables.
- Meeting space for up to 25 people.
- Knowledgeable tour guides to show you around.
We offer a 10% discount on standard admission prices for groups of 8 or more paying visitors, when booked in advance and when visiting on a day we are normally open to the public.
English Heritage Members and Farmland Museum Annual Pass Holders who wish to use their membership for free admission with a group may do so, but will not be counted towards group numbers for discount.
Groups may choose to explore the site by themselves or can book a guided tour of Denny Abbey.
Our guided tours of Denny Abbey last approximately 1 hour and cost an additional £25 per tour. Guided tours accommodate a maximum of 12 people, so groups larger than 12 must book more than one tour.
Refreshments can be pre-booked and groups have a variety of options to choose from, ranging from a hot drink and biscuits, to a cream tea or lunch from our Docky Box Cafe.
Evening visits also include a guided tour and we can provide a range of catering options. Contact Us for a chat about this. Our stunning, peaceful grounds are a lovely place for groups to spend a summer evening.
If your group would like to do something a bit special and have the whole site to yourselves, perhaps with lunch or afternoon tea, it is possible to book this on a day we are closed to the public (Monday to Wednesday). Contact Us for a chat about your specific requirements.
Visiting us with dogs
Well-behaved dogs are very welcome to visit Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum. We have plenty of space to roam.
We simply ask that they are kept on a short lead and leave nothing behind but paw prints!
There are bowls of water around the site – if empty please ask a member of staff or a volunteer to fill them up.
The only spaces we ask that dogs aren’t taken into are upstairs in Denny Abbey or Walnut Tree Cottage.
Facilities
The Docky Box Cafe
Children’s play area*
Gift shop
Second-hand bookshop
Baby changing facilities
Picnic areas
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Venue hire
Interactive exhibits
Coach and minibus space *
Guidebooks*
Ride-on pedal tractors
We very much welcome groups at our museum. If you’re planning to arrive by coach or minibus, please email or call us in advance. Coach parking is available within the main museum site, but advance notice of arrival is essential. Contact Us
Young visitors can enjoy their time by exploring the play area, complete with a slide, climbing frame, and a real Fordson tractor to sit on. They can also step into the role of a shopkeeper with the toys in the playshed.
Plus, there are ride-on pedal tractors and even a life-sized model cow they can “milk”!
Guidebooks can be purchased from our museum gift shop on arrival. They tell the detailed story of Denny Abbey’s many and varied inhabitants. They are also available to purchase directly from English Heritage should you be unable to visit us in person.
A guide to machinery is available to download above or can be picked up at the admissions desk.