Access
Due to access restrictions in place as a precautionary measure while we undertake high level masonry inspections, there is currently no visitor access to the palace or refectory. Find out more about our conservation work.
The abbey nave and shop are open.
Parking
There is no visitor car park at the site. It is possible to drop visitors off near the entrance to the site.
There is on-street parking around 100m from the entrance to the abbey nave. There are no accessible bays.
Visiting the site
Visitors will be able to explore the medieval abbey nave freely, before moving through into the parish church – still an active church, it was built on the site of the east end of the earlier church. In this space, visitors will follow a one-way route that will be explained to them by a guide.
- The abbey nave is reached through the graveyard, which has tarmac paths
- The nave is entered through the south west door. There are three steep stone steps with a metal handrail. If you require level access to the nave, please contact us in advance to arrange this
- Face coverings must be worn within the space, unless visitors are exempt. Hand Sanitiser will be available
- Inside, the nave is on the level, with a floor of historic stone slabs. The nave is usually quiet and light levels can be low. The stained glass windows can look beautiful with light shining through them
- After exploring the nave, visitors may enter the abbey church, which is an active church run by the Church of Scotland. Access is up 6 stone steps with a handrail. There is no level access at present into the abbey church
- A guide will explain the one-way route through the abbey church to visitors
- The inside of the abbey church is well lit, with a mixture of natural and artificial lighting. It is mainly level. The flooring is a mixture of wooden boards with carpeted areas
- The wooden pews will be roped off, but plastic seating can be arranged by the guide if required – please make the guide aware
- Visitors then leave out the north east door, down 6 historic, shallow stone steps, without a handrail
Toilets
There are no visitor toilets available on site. The nearest toilets, including adapted toilets and a Changing Places toilet, are in Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries, approximately 100m from the site. Visitors to the Library and Galleries must currently pre-book, so please contact them in advance to ensure that you will be allowed access. It is free to enter.
Dogs
Assistance dogs are permitted at all our sites and within roofed areas. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and not left unattended at any time. Owners must pick up after their dogs.
Visitors' dogs are not permitted in roofed areas.
