This site is part of the South West Heritage Trust.
Everything you need to know
At Avalon Archaeology history is brought to life through richly decorated archaeological reconstructions filled with hand-crafted furniture and authentic art. We are open for general visits, guided tours, group visits and special events.
Our Viking ship, named ‘Walrus’, is a full-scale replica of a Viking trading vessel, based on the Skudelev 3 wreck, excavated from Roskilde fjord in Denmark in 1962.
Our Longhall is based on the late 9th-century palace excavated in Cheddar (Somerset). The Longhall was probably owned by Saxon royalty, who would have slept and eaten there, and used it as a base for important formal functions.
Did you know you can now get married in the Longhall?
The Roman building is a reconstruction of a typical, winter dining room from a Somerset villa. It contains a full-floor mosaic, wall frescoes and a working hypocaust. Part of the stone wall is made with red sandstone reclaimed from a real Roman villa excavated in Bridgwater.
The World’s Oldest Excavation Hut >
Visit the world’s oldest excavation hut, it was used for Meare Lake Village excavations until 1956. Discover the displays of the Glastonbury Lake Village by artist Amédée Forestier, a reconstruction of the site office used by archaeologists, along with short films all on display.
Iron Age Roundhouse Reconstruction >
We are currently building a new reconstruction based on evidence from the Glastonbury Lake Village.
What’s On >
There’s something for everyone to enjoy from adult’s craft workshops to family-fun events. Browse our What’s On pages to find the full range.
Can I hire this space? >
The Saxon Longhall offers an atmospheric setting for celebrant-led wedding and handfasting ceremonies. Exclusive hire of this venue means we can create the perfect setting tailored directly to your needs.
Read our stories >
Read our stories and discover our latest news from across the South West Heritage Trust.
Normal Opening: Sundays
10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Saturday Opening 2026
We are open every Saturday in the school holidays:
14 Feb
21 Feb
4 April
11 April
18 April
23 May
30 May
25 July
1 Aug
8 Aug
15 Aug
22 Aug
29 Aug
24 October
31 October
19 December
See What’s OnYour admission entitles you to free entry for the remainder of the calendar year so you can come back as many times as you like!
Adult: £5.50
Concessions*: £4
Child (under 5): FREE
Child (aged 5-17) £4
Family (2 adults and up to four children aged 5 – 17) £14.50
Family (1 adult and up to four children aged 5 – 17) £9
*Students aged 18-25, those receiving Pension Credit, those receiving benefits (income support, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit.) Carers are not required to purchase an admission ticket.
Please note we are only able to take payment by card.
Events
Explore Somerset’s history and heritage at our Avalon Archaeology events. There’s something for everyone, whether it’s Viking craft workshops for adults, or family-friendly fun days with re-enactors.
Browse the eventsGuides
View the short guides to all the reconstructions found at Avalon Archaeology.
During your visit these guides can also be borrowed from the Welcome Hut and are available as regular and large print versions in English only.
Find out moreDoes my carer need a ticket?
No – if a disabled visitor requires another person as their carer to enable them to access our site then this person is eligible for free entry. Carers will not be issued an annual ticket.
How accessible is the site?
What is your policy on unaccompanied children?
Avalon Archaeology can be found within the Avalon Marshes Centre on the Somerset Levels. The entrance is on Shapwick Road between Shapwick and Westhay.
Parking at the Avalon Marshes Centre is free, but visitors are encouraged to make a voluntary donation.
Address: Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Somerset, BA6 9TT
Grid Ref: ST 42603 41456
Please watch this film for a first-person view of a visit to Avalon Archaeology. Be aware that since the film was made, a new path suitable for wheelchairs has been created to connect to all the buildings and the Viking ship.
Entrance and Arriving
There is a car park on site with 4 dedicated disabled parking bays, 2 of which are in front of the gates to Avalon Archaeology. The toilets are accessible by ramp and there is a dedicated disabled toilet which can be found adjacent to the site at the Avalon Marshes Centre.
The entrance to the site is wheelchair accessible and is approximately 20 metres from the car park along tarmac paths and wooden boardwalks.
Accessing the Reconstructions
The external spaces at the site are covered in gravel or bark chippings but all the buildings and the boat are accessible by a firm path route that is suitable for wheelchairs or people with mobility aids.
The Saxon longhall can be accessed through three 110-116cm wide doorways. It has level access from the gravel to the packed earth floor inside. Furniture in the room may make turning in larger electric wheelchairs difficult. Door 2 is now connected to the accessibility path. A raised dais to view a mural is accessible by a ramp.
The light levels are low and visitors are welcome to use a torch. There are columns in the centre of the room and occasionally an open fire to be aware of. There are benches and chairs where visitors can sit and rest.
The Roman villa can be accessed by two doorways 90cm wide, either by climbing three steps or by a high-grip wooden ramp 128cm wide. The doorway accessed by the ramp has a low entrance which is 170cm high and may require stooping. The ramp is now connected to the new accessibility path.
It has a mosaic tiled floor which provides a good level of grip. Furniture in the room may make turning in larger electric wheelchairs difficult. The light levels are low and visitors are welcome to use a torch.
The outdoor Viking ship can be accessed by a 100cm gap in the side of the ship (now connected to the accessability path) and has benches to sit on. It has a wooden floor which may be slippery when wet or covered in leaves. Space within the ship may make turning in larger electric wheelchairs difficult.
The roundhouse is still under construction but can be accessed through a 100cm doorway with level floor access and a gravel floor. The doorway is low, measuring 165cm. It will be completed during 2024 and during construction access may be limited to the inside of the building and there may be piles of building materials nearby.
Accessing the Excavation Hut and Archaeology Cinema
The Excavation Hut can be accessed through a 80cm wide doorway and has level access and a wooden boarded floor. The two internal doorways are 67cm wide and have wooden steps at the threshold. These rooms are not large enough for any wheelchair access.
The light levels in the cinema are very low. There is a bench for visitors to use. The films shown here can be watched on a wall-mounted tablet with headphones in the foyer of the Excavation Hut. Some, but not all, of these films contain subtitles.
The videos can also be watched on the South West Heritage Trust YouTube channel or below. To add automatic subtitles, click the ‘subtitles/closed captions’ option in the settings menu.
Parking
Parking at the Avalon Marshes Centre is free, but visitors are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to help support its upkeep. Suggested donation for 1 hour is £1.50 and £3 for all day and payments can be made via mobile phone or cash via donation boxes in the café or gallery. There is no coach parking at the Avalon Marshes Centre or Avalon Archaeology. If you intend to come by coach, please instruct your driver to drop off your visitors and park at The Albion Inn in Ashcott until you are ready to be collected. We can accommodate minibuses if booked in advance and we can reserve parking for you.
Walking and Cycling
The Bittern Trail is a walking and cycling link between Glastonbury and the site. It runs through the centre of Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall nature reserves. Please note dogs are not allowed on Shapwick Heath.
Route 3 of the National Cycle Network runs through the Avalon Marshes connecting Wells, Glastonbury, Bridgwater and Taunton. Route 33 passes through the west of the marshes and provides a link with Highbridge Station. Route 26 runs eastwards from Glastonbury and links with Castle Cary Station.
Ordnance Survey (OS) Landranger map 182 covers the whole of the Avalon Marshes and shows public roads, bridleways and restricted byways which are all open to bikes.
Can I take photographs?
Unless it is expressly prohibited, you are permitted to take personal photographs within the site provided that these are solely for private use and are not sold or used for any commercial or public purpose. Prior arrangements must be made if you wish to use a tripod. Be sensitive to the experience of other visitors, particularly when using flash photography.
Can I bring my dog?
Unfortunately, we do not allow dogs into the site except for assistance dogs. Dogs are welcome in the wider Avalon Marshes Centre and must be kept on a short lead at all times. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the main area of Shapwick Heath, which is the closest nature reserve to the site.
10.00 am to 5.00 pm seven days a week except for Christmas Day.
Avalon Archaeology is situated within the wider site of the Avalon Marshes Centre which offers a range of facilities including parking, toilets, Café, and a variety of useful information about the surrounding nature reserves.
Open 9.00 am to 9.00 pm seven days a week.
The toilets are accessible by ramp and there is a dedicated disabled toilet. They are adjacent to the site at the Avalon Marshes Centre.
Open 9.30 am to 5.00 pm seven days a week except for Christmas Day.
The onsite café is part of the Avalon Marshes Centre and serves hot and cold drinks, a range of breakfast options, a varied light lunch menu including freshly made soups, quiches, cream teas, a selection of homemade cakes and specials of the day.
10.00 am to 5.00 pm seven days a week except for Christmas Day.
The gallery and craft shop is part of the Avalon Marshes Centre and operated by Somerset Crafts, a group of local artists and craftsmen. It sells a wide range of original hand-crafted items, many drawing their inspiration from the wildlife and landscape of the Avalon Marshes.
Our booked guided tours last for approximately 1.5 hours. Tickets are £10.50 and must be booked in advance.
Discover more about the buildings, art and social life of the Iron Age, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods. Learn more about traditional craft skills and materials that were used and understand how far the archaeological, literary and historical evidence can take us and what aspects of these early times remain shrouded in mystery.
We also offer Family Discovery Tours, aimed at ages 7-11 which include a ‘strike a coin’ activity and are more interactive.
You can check availability on our Events Page.
We welcome group visits on our closed days (Monday to Saturday) giving you exclusive access to the site with a guided tour of the reconstructions. Times can be arranged to suit you and include evening visits in the lighter summer months. If you visit on a Wednesday our volunteers will be working on projects around the site.
The minimum group size is 10 and maximum is 30. It is £9.25 per person. Each visitor will receive free re-entry to the site during the remainder of the calendar year. It is possible to accommodate larger groups if your visit is combined with a visit to the Avalon Marshes Centre or near by nature reserves. Refreshments can be organised with the Marshes Hub Tea Stop.
Discover more about Iron Age, Saxon, Roman and Viking Somerset at special events taking place throughout the year.
Learn more about local history and archaeology at family-fun events. Look out for visiting reenactor groups, puppet shows, and arts and crafts.
For the adults there’s ancient craft workshops, performances, talks and more.
Advanced booking is essential for all private, out of hours and group visits via our website or in person at the museum.
Venue Hire and Weddings
The Saxon Longhall offers an atmospheric setting for celebrant-led weddings and handfasting ceremonies.
Avalon Archaeology is available for private hire for functions and events.
Hire this Venue
