Accommodation Available
Pilgrims are accommodated in a variety of buildings within the Shrine Grounds or in cottages just a short walk away. Our bedrooms are many and varied and come in all shapes and sizes from the “olde-worlde” to the more modern. We strive to make all of our accommodation, no matter what its age, as comfortable, warm and welcoming as we possibly can and have an ongoing programme of refurbishment to achieve this goal.
We have a very limited number of ground floor, en-suite rooms and rooms suitable for our disabled pilgrims, so priority is always given to those with medical and special needs. Unfortunately this means that we cannot guarantee en-suite rooms to all that would like them! (In the low season before Easter and after 31st October it might sometimes be possible to guarantee an en-suite room but it will be dependent on the number of pilgrims in residence).
Accommodation is offered in single, twin, double and family rooms. In order to maximise the number of pilgrims we can welcome to Walsingham, it is necessary to ask people to share rooms with their friends wherever possible. We encourage all of our pilgrims to enter into the “Spirit of Pilgrimage” when they come to visit the Shrine and recognise that those who have been allocated what might be perceived as the best rooms, are those who need them most! We, therefore, ask all our pilgrims and visitors to recognise that our allocation policy is made on the basis of need.
We do not claim to be a hotel but rather a warm and welcoming Pilgrim Hostel, maintaining the highest standards of hospitality. We strive, as far as we are able, to be fair to all pilgrim groups in our allocation and try our best to rotate those groups that come on pilgrimage regularly around the various buildings each year. All of our buildings have comfortable lounges, with TV and tea and coffee making facilities, and all rooms are provided with towels.
If you are interested in visiting the Shrine as an individual pilgrim or wish to organise a pilgrim group, our hospitality team are on hand to help you with your booking. Group bookings for the following year are welcomed from the beginning of April each year.
Richeldis House is named after the lady whose vision it was to build the first Shrine in Walsingham. This building is suitable for large groups. It has a television lounge, refreshment points and a beautiful upstairs lounge overlooking the main street. There is a lift in this building for those people who find climbing stairs a bit difficult or impossible.
St Joseph’s is our disabled facility and has easy access to all the ground floor rooms. There is also a lounge with television and refreshment points throughout the building.
St Anne’s is opposite the Refectory. It is ideal as a small retreat house or conference facility having a large sitting room and kitchen/dining room suitable for meetings. More details of St. Anne’s are available on request.
Stella Maris is our oldest building, right by the archway into the Shrine grounds. It was originally the Priory where the Sisters first welcomed pilgrims to stay with them. In this building one of the lounges is called the ‘Green Room’ where we welcome groups on their arrival and help them find their rooms. Pilgrims often come with groups from their Church, Fellowship or Cell, and we welcome individuals as well. In Stella Maris there is a television room and a smaller, quieter lounge.
The Milner Wing contains 26 en-suite bedrooms, with some rooms having disabled facilities. All the bedrooms are furnished and decorated to a high standard and are a wonderful addition to the hospitality facilities of the Shrine. Some rooms have views across the Shrine gardens and some look out across the Abbey grounds. There is a lift and also easy wheelchair access to the first floor bedrooms. At first floor level the Milner Wing connects with the Stella Maris accommodation. The Good Shepherd Sitting Room located in the tower can be used for meetings and informal get-togethers. The Shrine Hospitality and Membership Departments are located on the ground floor of the Milner Wing.
The area of the Shrine known as the College is home to St. Hugh’s Cottage, The College, and St Augustine’s House each of whichcontain en suite rooms (doubles, twin and singles) generally reserved for the use of priests and their immediate families. St Augustine’s – which also contains the Eric Kemp and the Marian Libraries – was refurbished a few years ago with study bedrooms for those priests engaged in research. The College, re-designed and upgraded in 2016, is now a far cry from the spartan monastic design it originally had. St Hugh’s is a self-contained cottage with three bedrooms and a sitting room.
Please telephone 01328 820239 or e-mail accom@olw-shrine.org.uk.
Fakenham (four miles away) has a fine selection of pubs and restaurants and the village of Walsingham itself has several different eating places - tea-shops, inns and a restaurant - plus a grocery store for essential food items.
When the Pilgrim Refectory is open, meals can be purchased there if required. Please inquire at the Reception Desk in the Milner Wing.
Please note, we cannot guarantee any specific room or building.