Group visits
Group bookings at Delapré Abbey
Step into history with our immersive, historian-led tours, designed to be so much more than a walk and talk. These are exclusive end-to-end experiences, crafted to delight, inform, and inspire.
Why come and see us?
Within the heart of Northampton, you and your group can explore the beautiful landscape of our Abbey and its gardens, whilst delving into 900 years of history.
The Abbey has an intriguing past for you to discover – from its origins as a Cluniac nunnery, to becoming a country house following Henry VIII’s dissolution of the Monasteries, and its time as the County Record Office before the recent restoration. It has witnessed key historic events, including the 1460 Battle of Northampton, and served as a resting place for Queen Eleanor’s funeral cortege.
Our tours offer insight into the Abbey’s 900-year history and those who resided in the Abbey over that time.
Group bookings
At a Glance
Groups over 20 will be split into two.
Knowledgeable volunteer historians available to lead the tour.
Pre-bookable one-course or two-course lunches, as well as cream teas, are available in one of our historic rooms.
Designated coach parking.
Fully accessible facilities throughout the house.
Available tours
Delapré Abbey: 900 Years of History Tour
This is the perfect introduction to Delapré Abbey’s remarkable past. From its founding as a Cluniac nunnery in 1145 to its transformation into a grand Georgian estate, this tour takes you through 900 years of drama, devotion, and reinvention.
Discover how the Abbey played host to Queen Eleanor’s funeral vigil, witnessed the Battle of Northampton, and survived Henry VIII’s dissolution as a private residence. Meet the Tate family—gunpowder plot investigators and political reformers—and the Bouveries, whose scandals, racehorses, and royal connections shaped the estate’s legacy.
You’ll explore the house’s evolving architecture, from Tudor kitchens to Victorian libraries, and hear how the Abbey was saved from demolition by the formidable Joan Wake, becoming the vibrant heritage site it is today.
Led by our volunteer historian guides, this tour is packed with stories, surprises, and stunning spaces. It’s the ultimate Delapré experience—perfect for first-time visitors and history lovers alike.
Delapré Abbey: 900 Years of History Tour - Available as a Talk**
Can’t make it to the Abbey? Let us bring the story to you.
Our popular Delapré Abbey: 900 Years of History tour is now available as a live talk, delivered by one of our expert volunteer historian guides. This engaging presentation covers the Abbey’s transformation from a medieval nunnery to a grand Georgian estate, its role in royal events, wartime service, and its dramatic rescue from demolition.
Perfect for history groups, societies, schools, or community events, this talk offers a rich and entertaining journey through centuries of faith, family, and fortune.
** Travel expenses apply in addition to the talk fee.
The Medieval Nunnery Tour
Meet Sister Clemencia and step into the year 1538, as Delapré Abbey’s nunnery faces its final days under Henry VIII’s dissolution. This immersive tour brings to life the Abbey’s monastic past, with stories of devotion, discipline, and defiance.
Hear how Cluniac nuns lived, prayed, and served for nearly 400 years. Discover royal connections—from Queen Eleanor’s funeral vigil to King Henry VI’s capture after the Battle of Northampton. Learn about excommunications, plague, and the Abbey’s role in caring for wounded soldiers.
This tour is a powerful blend of performance and storytelling, researched and delivered by our volunteer historian guides who’ve uncovered long-lost tales of abbesses, noble visitors, and spiritual resilience.
Scandalous Georgians Tour
Step into the glittering world of Georgian high society and uncover the jaw-dropping true story of Harriet Bouverie—Delapré’s very own scandalous heroine. This tour dives deep into the drama of Harriet’s life: her rise from a well-connected but penniless teenager to a central figure in the infamous Devonshire House Circle, surrounded by duchesses, libertines, and political firebrands.
Discover how Harriet’s affair with Lord Robert Spencer shocked the aristocracy, how she helped shape Whig politics, and how her story intertwines with the likes of Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire, Richard Sheridan, and Charles James Fox. Expect gossip, glamour, and a few outrageous tales—including bets made in balloons and scandalous scorecards in the press!
Researched and brought to life by our volunteer historian guides, this tour is a theatrical, witty, and eye-opening journey through the wild heart of the 18th century.
The Women of Delapré Tour
From medieval abbesses to Victorian philanthropists, this tour celebrates the extraordinary women who shaped Delapré Abbey’s history. Meet Clemencia Stock, the savvy abbess who negotiated with Henry VIII; Queen Eleanor of Castile, whose body rested here on its way to Westminster; and Mary Bouverie, a pioneering public servant who earned an OBE.
You’ll also hear the stories of servants, scandalous heiresses, and the indomitable Joan Wake, who saved the Abbey from ruin. Researched and passionately told by our volunteer historian guides, this tour is a tribute to the women whose lives were often overlooked—but whose impact was unforgettable.
Discover how Harriet’s affair with Lord Robert Spencer shocked the aristocracy, how she helped shape Whig politics, and how her story intertwines with the likes of Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire, Richard Sheridan, and Charles James Fox. Expect gossip, glamour, and a few outrageous tales—including bets made in balloons and scandalous scorecards in the press!
Researched and brought to life by our volunteer historian guides, this tour is a theatrical, witty, and eye-opening journey through the wild heart of the 18th century.
The Mysterious Lady in the Library Tour
Who is the elegant woman above the fireplace? This tour unravels the dramatic life of Elizabeth Linley Sheridan—opera star, political thinker, and wife of the flamboyant playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Discover how her portrait was smuggled over a garden wall to escape debt collectors, became a prized possession of the Bouverie family, and how it now hangs in Washington D.C. worth millions.
This theatrical experience includes courtroom drama, duels, elopement, and scandal—brought to life by our volunteer historian guides who uncovered the story during lockdown. It’s a gripping tale of fame, betrayal, and the enduring power of friendship.
Delapré Abbey Garden and Parkland History Tour
Wander through 900 years of landscape history in this lively outdoor tour. Begin at the site of the medieval nunnery and cemetery, then trace the transformation of the grounds through Georgian grandeur and Victorian innovation.
Wander through medieval herb beds, uncover royal secrets at the Queen Eleanor Cross, and meet a 500-year-old alder once used for clogs. Discover exotic fruits in restored greenhouses, mysterious figures like Sarah Wellington Gore, and the Lady and the Fish sculpture. Stories of war, a crashed Lancaster, and a mulberry tree mark Delapré’s turning points, while 200 unique oaks celebrate the Market Charter in a woodland planted by the people.
Led by our volunteer historian guides, this tour is full of quirky stories, rare trees, and hidden corners—including a pet cemetery, a handkerchief tree, and the arboretum planted by Admiral Hardy. It’s a fresh-air adventure through time, perfect for garden lovers and curious minds alike.
Delapré Abbey Medieval Garden Tour
Step into the layered history of Delapré Abbey with a tour that entwines medieval heritage, sacred architecture, and the mystical power of plants..
Your journey will begin in the Abbey’s ancient grounds, where ridge and furrow fields whisper of centuries-old farming traditions. From here, you will cross the threshold into the Abbey itself, where stone walls speak in symbols with carvings that reveal stories of faith, discipline, and the quiet rhythms of cloistered life. The tour culminates in the tranquil Walled Garden, where our replanted medieval herb garden invites you to explore the magical and medicinal lore of plants, where you can discover how herbs were used to heal bodies, protect souls, and play roles in rituals and remedies.
From folklore to pharmacy, this immersive experience offers a rich tapestry of stories that connect nature, belief, and the everyday lives of medieval people!
Pricing
Tour + 2-course lunch + refreshment – £35
Tour + 1-course lunch + refreshment – £28
Tour + Cream Tea with tea or coffee – £18
Tour only – £12
"We felt like VIPs, no kidding, and I can't tell you the number of people who came up to me afterwards to say what a wonderful outing it was, a few even saying that they thought it was our best outing ever."
Bonnie Killingback, Programme Organiser for the Wellingborough Civic Society
Tour with 78 Derngate
At Delapré Abbey, we have partnered with 78 Derngate to extend our group booking offer.
If you and your group are interesting in taking your history knowledge to the next level – take a trip down to 78 Derngate, the only house in England designed by world-renowned Architect and Artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Find out more about 78 Derngate here.
Groups can choose from one of two options when planning their day:
Option One
Guided tour of Delapré Abbey and 78 Derngate (with lunch):
Includes a 1-course lunch and refreshment – £34.00 per person.
Option Two
Guided tour of Delapré Abbey and 78 Derngate (with Cream Tea):
Includes Cream Tea in Delapré Abbey’s historic Dining Room – freshly prepared scone with clotted cream and preserves with tea/coffee – £28.00 per person.
To begin building your combined day at Delapré Abbey and 78 Derngate contact 01604 866712 or email info@delapreabbey.org.
Get in touch
To begin your booking, please email our team on info@delapreabbey.org and we will be pleased to contact you to discuss your individual needs.
Or get in touch using the form below:
