Dorchester on Thames is a charming, historic village that sits at the confluence of the rivers Thame and Thames, just 9 miles south of Oxford.
As well as being a marvellous place to live, it is also the ideal centre for exploring some of England’s finest countryside, loveliest villages, stateliest of homes and oldest seats of learning.
A small Oxfordshire village of just over one thousand inhabitants, Dorchester on Thames is located eight miles south-east of Oxford and close to the spot where the River Thame meets the River Thames. One of the oldest communities in the area, the village, local walks and Dorchester Abbey are popular with visitors.
Not to be confused with our Dorset namesake, Dorchester on Thames is perhaps best known for the magnificent Abbey Church of St Peter and St Paul.
Find out more about Dorchester from our village website here

All the events are in or near to Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester on Thames, OX10 7HH.
We are just 10miles south of Oxford, 18miles from Reading and 7miles from Abingdon.  Our nearest station is Didcot Parkway, but Oxford and Reading are also close by.  There are regular buses from Oxford and Reading, which stop on the bypass, just a 15min walk from the Abbey
If you drive please follow event parking signs and park considerately in our small village.

Please follow signs to the parking areas in the Recreation ground at the Oxford end of the village and/or ‘Abbey View’ to the South. Abbey view tends to be used only when the weather is dry.
The Abbey is a 5 – 10 minute walk from parking.
Should the parking be full or shut due to bad weather, visitors should park on the roads near the Recreation Ground and along the Henley Road as indicated by the green lines on the map.
Abingdon Road, High Street and Henley Road are the bus route through the village and must be kept clear at all times so that the buses can pass. Please do not park your vehicles where they may prevent the passage of emergency vehicles.
There are a limited number of disabled parking spaces available and some within the Abbey grounds which can which can be booked – please telephone our box office to make arrangements for these.

Disabled parking and access

Welcome to Dorchester Festival!

We are delighted that you are coming to our Festival and will do everything we can to make your visit enjoyable.

Access

The vast majority of our events are held in Dorchester Abbey or in the Festival Tent.
The Abbey has wide doors, a ramp and a disabled toilet in the Cloister Gallery (through the door half way down the Nave)
The Tent is behind the Abbey on grass with matting ensuring access in wet weather.  There is a disabled toilet behind the Abbey Guest House (the building next to the Abbey) at the back of the courtyard.

Parking

We have limited parking for the disabled, particularly next to the Abbey tower & tent, so you need to book a space either when you book your tickets or using the form below.  These spaces can be reached by driving up the Abbey path through the lych gate (watching out for other small Festival goers) then between the tower and the Guest House.  Please park carefully so that others can join you.

Event wheelchair spaces and seats with good access

We have specific areas in the Abbey for wheelchair users and are happy to reserve these with nearby seats for other members of your party.  We can also reserve seats with good access if you need an aisle seat, for example.  If you are booking seats for The Kings Singers there are specific seats on the seating plan annotated for wheelchair use.  At all other Abbey seated events spaces can be reserved either when you book your tickets or using the form below
Festival helpers will be expecting you at the door and show you to your seats.
If you are a registered carer and need to accompany another audience member you can get a carers discount on tickets for seated events without food. You are welcome to attend workshops and trails to provide support free of charge. Please contact festival@dorchester-abbey.org.uk for more information.