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Meet the Living History Team!

When you come to visit Glastonbury Abbey, be sure to look out for some rather unusual characters around the ruins and especially in the 14th century Abbot's Kitchen! From March until the end of October we have a team of costumed Living History guides working in the grounds. Their job is to meet and greet visitors and to lead short walks around the main attractions of this ancient monastic Abbey. Or, if this sounds too strenuous, take a rest on the benches in the Abbot's kitchen and listen to the presentations about the life and times of the Abbey before it was brutally closed.

There are three Living History guides on duty each day. We can arrange talks and tours for booked groups to fit in with your itinerary. There are regular interactive shows in the Kitchen, and if there are no booked groups, these will be at 10:30, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00. Shows last around 30 minutes and are suitable for adults and for children who are able to listen quietly for half an hour!

We also lead short walks, lasting between 35–45 minutes through the ruins. Come and learn about the legends of the Abbey, the pilgrims who flocked to worship here, or discover the amazing connections between the Tales of King Arthur and Glastonbury Abbey! If you would like to be part of a short walk, please meet at the meeting point, just by the entrance from the Visitor Centre into the grounds, usually at 11:15, 13:15 and 15:15. If there is enough demand we will try to arrange talks at other times as well. Our Ticket Office staff can point you in the right direction.

Select one of the following podcast formats to hear one of our Living History Guides:

mp3 format (1.7 MB)  m4b format (7 MB)

Below are the characters you might meet if you visit in 2009, click on their images to find more.

In the Kitchen

Around the grounds