This article was written for you by my son Ben who is autistic. He wanted to share his views from his visit to Newstead Abbey with you.
Ben also said how he feels it is a great place for other people with autism to visit so he hopes that this inspires them.
Nottinghamshire is famous for Robin Hood but there are so many other things to do in the county.
When I first visited I thought “wow, this place is truly amazing”. In this post, I will be telling you all about this lovely hidden gem.
The history of Newstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey is a 12th-century listed building that was once the ancestral home of Lord Byron the poet.
A man called Sir John Byron of Colwick in Nottinghamshire was granted it by Henry VIII on the 26th of May 1540. George Lord Byron was a mysterious intriguing fellow. He lived at the abbey from 1808 to 1814.
Visiting Newstead Abbey today
The abbey has a wealth of intriguing history filled with mystery and has had lots of owners, each leaving their unique mark on this abbey. The most famous owner was George Lord Byron, “ the bad, the mad and the dangerous”.
Even after all of those centuries, I think it is a really beautiful place with stunning gardens and a nice café where you can sit down and enjoy their lovely range of food and drinks.
My favourite is the freshly baked sausage rolls. Currently, they are £2.50, and I think they are worth every penny.
Will I have to pay to visit?
Usually, you don’t have to pay to visit the abbey in winter except for special events. In summer, cars are £6, admission to the house for adults is £10 and for under 16s, it is £6.
The annual pass which includes free parking, and access to the historic house and gardens, for 2 adults and 2 children is £50.
If you go once a week, it is good value. The annual pass isn’t valid for special events.
The facilities
The facilities at the abbey include toilets, car parking, an accessible café for wheelchair users, baby-friendly facilities and a play park. You can also visit the gift shop.
The prices in the gift shop are reasonable and there is a lot to choose from, from books to a teddy bear for the little ones.
What is my opinion of it?
I think Newstead Abbey is a lovely place. It is perfect for a lovely family day out and a tranquil place for people wanting to relax.
It is set in a glorious landscape of lovely scenery and it is great for all ages and abilities.
Where is Newstead Abbey?
Newstead Abbey is in Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire on the A60. From Chesterfield it is 23 miles, from Lincoln it is 41 miles, from Peterborough it is 65 miles and from Derby, it is 27 miles. From Nottingham, it is 11-12 miles.
The postcode is NG15 8NA and there is a train station nearby. You can also get a bus to the entrance from Nottingham on the Trent Barton Pronto service. The bus stop is about a 1-mile walk from the entrance to the abbey.
What other things are there?
There are peacocks on the abbey grounds too. When I went, I saw one open its feathers; it was really beautiful. There is also a pond and Boatswain’s tomb, which was Lord Byron’s dog.
There is also a nice little birdwatching hut to relax and maybe you could take a little picnic too because there is lots of space to relax and eat.
If you have little ones then it might be a good idea to plan ahead what they can do on their walk. Check out ways to keep kids busy on a walk and have lots of ideas ready!
A peacock video for you
If you visit let me know what you think in the comments below and don’t forget to check out Ben’s blog for more reviews and posts from him.
Newstead is great for adults as much as kids so if you are in the area check out the amazing Nottingham Spas why not pop and visit them too. There are lots of other things to do in Nottinghamshire with kids like Newark castle, farms and much more as this county has so much to do!
If you would like to stay in the area there are lots of budget places to visit in Nottinghamshire and even just over the border in Derbyshire, there are places like Chatsworth which is beautiful. There are some lovely Christmas Markets in Derbyshire including at Chatsworth so well worth a visit while you are in the area.
What a lovely review, all the info needed. Its very clear and a nice intro, I love the pictures.
That is a brilliant review Ben, you have described all I need to know to make my visit as pleasurable as yours. I love the photographs and I will be visiting soon, I may even try the sausage rolls.
Your write up will inspire other young people with autism to visit!
Keep writing
Most of the places you should be ok, it will be harder to push or manoeuvre at points but definitely still worth a visit. There is disabled parking nearer the abbey too