7.1
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Free
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.1Founded in the 12th century, Croxden Abbey was home to around 70 Cistercian monks at its height. Its surviving church fragments, infirmary and abbot’s lodging hint at the scale of the medieval complex.
Croxden Abbey earns its place for the striking remains of a once substantial Cistercian community: towering fragments of the church, an infirmary and the abbot’s lodging still stand in a quiet rural setting. It is a focused heritage visit rather than a full-day destination on its own.
Atmospheric · Ancient-feeling · Peaceful
Find your way
Open mapCroxden, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
Explore the abbey ruins and interpretation panels, taking particular care on uneven ground and keeping off the walls. If you want to extend the outing, a sourced circular walk links the abbey with Hollington and the surrounding Staffordshire countryside.
Things to do
Explore the church remains
Look for the towering fragments of the 13th-century abbey church and the largely intact west wall described in the supplied research.
Part of a short visit
Find the infirmary and abbot’s lodging
The surviving remains include an infirmary and a 14th-century abbot’s lodging; look for how these sit alongside the church fragments.
Part of a short visit
Follow the interpretation panels
Use the on-site panels to understand the abbey’s architecture and history.
Part of a short visit
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour
Quick Escape: Explore the abbey ruins
- 01
Check English Heritage’s current opening hours before setting out.
- 02
Enter via Croxden Lane and explore the visible remains of the church, infirmary and abbot’s lodging.
- 03
Read the interpretation panels for context; keep off the abbey walls and take care on uneven ground.
Half day · Around 2–3 hours; the listed circular walk itself is estimated at 1–1.5 hours
Make a half day of it: Abbey and countryside circuit
- 01
Visit Croxden Abbey during its published opening hours.
- 02
If you want to continue on foot, use the sourced Croxden Abbey Circular route from Hollington through fields and country lanes to the abbey.
- 03
Allow for muddy or overgrown sections and gentle hills; take suitable footwear and map skills.
Verified history
Croxden was a 12th-century Cistercian abbey, home to around 70 monks at its peak. It was suppressed in 1538 and subsequently converted into a farm. The remains include fragments of the 13th-century church, an infirmary and a 14th-century abbot’s lodging. English Heritage provides interpretation panels at the site.
Hidden details
The abbot’s lodging — Look for the surviving remains of the 14th-century lodging, a specific part of the complex that can be easy to overlook among the larger church ruins.
The infirmary — The infirmary is among the remains identified by English Heritage; look for it as a distinct part of the former monastic complex.
When to go
· No best time of day is established by the supplied sources; visit during current opening hours.
English Heritage lists the site as open year-round but with different daily closing times by season. The sources do not establish a seasonal nature highlight.
The ruins sit on grassy ground that may be uneven, with slopes and steps. Take care in wet conditions; no more specific weather guidance is verified.
The route
- ascent
- 128 m
- surface
- Fields and country lanes; paths may be muddy or overgrown
- distance
- 4.8 km
- duration
- 1–1.5 hours
- difficulty
- Moderate (AllTrails rating)
- route shape
- Loop
- start point
- Hollington, according to the AllTrails route description; exact start point not independently verified.
- parking start
- The route source identifies Hollington but does not provide verified parking information. Croxden Abbey itself has very limited layby parking.
- shorter alternative
- A shorter visit to the abbey ruins alone; no shorter route variant is supplied.
- Croxden Abbey ruins
- Staffordshire countryside
- Gentle hills and countryside views
What to look for
Look for the towering fragments of the 13th-century church, the remains of the infirmary and the 14th-century abbot’s lodging. Use the interpretation panels to follow the abbey’s story.
The story
Archaeology
Best time to go
Open year-round according to English Heritage; check current seasonal hours. The grassy site may be uneven.
Choose a time within the current seasonal opening hours. The supplied sources do not establish a best time of day.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 10am-5pm
- Tuesday: 10am-5pm
- Wednesday: 10am-5pm
- Thursday: 10am-5pm
- Friday: 10am-5pm
- Saturday: 10am-5pm
- Sunday: 10am-5pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
English Heritage lists the abbey as free to enter and open daily. Opening hours vary by season: 10am–5pm April–October and 10am–4pm November–March. Check current details before travelling.
Check before visiting
Parking
Very limited parking in the layby at the site entrance. Do not park on grass verges or block access for local residents.
Toilets
English Heritage lists no toilet facility in the supplied site information; check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
No on-site café is verified. English Heritage says pubs and cafés can be found in the surrounding area.
Dogs
Check current site guidance before visiting; dog access is not verified in the supplied sources.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The ruins are on grass that may be uneven, with slopes and steps to reach parts of the site. English Heritage identifies uneven surfaces and sheer drops; wheelchair access is not verified.
Cost
Free
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Croxden Abbey
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
