Discover more at Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum
Find out when Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum are open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Exploring the village at Lacock
Explore the historic streets of Lacock, a quintessential English village with timber-framed cottages and local shops. With its central grid of four streets, Lacock today looks much as it did 200 years ago.
Lacock village history
The name Lacock dates from Saxon times when the earliest permanent settlers lived by the Bide Brook, which runs through the middle of the village. They called it lacuc or 'little stream'.
Medieval Lacock
The medieval landscape was dominated by Melksham Forest, which came right up to the village and stretched for 33 miles to the south and east.
Settlement began around the church, reflected in the irregular line of Church Street. However, the rest is a medieval planned town, deliberately laid out on a grid of the other streets which can be seen today.
Explore Lacock village
There's lots to discover in Lacock village: quaint traditional stone cottages, the medieval tithe barn, and the village church.
History on the high street
Why not start your trip to Lacock by pausing at the window of the old shop at 2 High Street? In the late 19th century the building was used as a coffee tavern, then after the First World War it became a stationers and in 1966, incorporated the Post Office.
It remained in the same family until it closed in the early 1980s. Miss Butler, the last resident, arranged the shop window in the style of early 20th-century displays and it has been untouched ever since.
Lacock village on film and TV
Lacock village is a firm favourite for film and TV producers, most notably for its picturesque streets and historic cottages, untouched by modern alterations.
The village’s most famous appearances include Downton Abbey, the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice and Cranford. The films Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Wolfman were also filmed here.
To find out more about the filming locations in Lacock village, download the locations map below before your visit.
Your visit
Village leaflets, books and maps are available from visitor reception, when open, to help guide you around.
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Filming locations in Lacock village
Discover where famous TV shows and movies have been filmed around the village of Lacock.
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History of Lacock Abbey
In its 800 years of history, Lacock has been an Augustinian abbey, a Tudor family home, a birthplace of photography, and a film and TV location.
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Eating and shopping at Lacock Abbey
The Stables café is ready to welcome you for refreshments, while the High Street Shop stocks a wide range of gifts and souvenirs.
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Visiting the garden at Lacock Abbey
Lacock Abbey's peaceful garden is a place to relax. Discover the Botanic Garden, greenhouse, orchard and woodland along with the sounds of nature at this green natural setting.
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Treasures to see at Lacock Abbey
Three prized items in the collection at Lacock have been included in a special National Trust publication. Discover why they are so unique and where you can find them.
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Visiting Lacock Abbey with your dog
Lacock Abbey is a two pawprint rated place. Discover where you can go with your dog, what facilities are available for them and how to get the most from your visit.
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Family-friendly things to do at Lacock
Seasonal blooms, activity trails, medieval architecture and photographic discovery: have a fun-filled adventure at Lacock Abbey. Watch the gardens come to life, explore the nature and wildlife of the season and have a day of play in the parkland during the summer holidays. Explore the abbey rooms and discover the window with a unique link to the invention of photography, find out more in the Fox Talbot Museum and feel inspired by the latest exhibition.