John Wesley's Chapel 'The New Room'
About
The Chapel and Broadmead Courtyard at the New Room has reopened for private prayer and reflection. The new opening hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 3pm. For more information, please visit their website.
2017 saw the most substantial change to the New Room/John Wesley’s Chapel since the eighteenth century with the opening of the new three-storey visitor centre located within the Horsefair Courtyard of the New Room. The new building offers a 40-seater café and shop on the ground floor, library and archive facilities on the first floor and a conference/education centre on the second floor. All floors are served by a lift and stairs with a linked entrance to a new and expanded museum above the chapel.
The museum tells the story of the Wesleys and Bristol in the eighteenth century and how the movement grew and developed across the country. It features many original objects and furnishings from Wesley’s time at the New Room as well as newly commissioned interactive displays. There is also be a focus on the expansion of Methodism to America through the respective works of George Whitefield, Thomas Webb, Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke each of whom has a significant Bristol connection. To conclude the tour, legacy rooms within the museum prompt visitors to reflect on how many of the issues that Methodism addressed in the eighteenth century continue to challenge and demand responses from us today. Please note that admission charges apply for entry to the museum which also includes an audio guide.
Please visit www.newroombristol.org.uk or their Facebook page for more information.
Virtual Tour
Visit John Wesley's Chapel 'The New Room' virtually via their online tour and see inside this historic chapel. Click here for the virtual tour.
Groups:
An experienced guide can provide a talk explaining the significance of the New Room as the oldest Methodist building in the world and the work begun by John and Charles Wesley in Bristol. As part of the guided tour, you also visit the museum which is located above the chapel. Please allow two weeks notice for visits to the New Room and four weeks notice for visits to Charles Wesley’s House. A range of pre-order tour group lunch deals are available from their award-winning Fairtrade cafe, as well as cream teas and bespoke refreshments.
For more group information, please see here.
Book Tickets
Opening Times
Open (1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2021) |
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The above times should be used as an indicator during the recovery phase from the global pandemic.
Please double-check details by visiting the website via the link above before you visit
Awards
- Visit Britain
We're Good to Go 2020
Further Information
Accessibility
- Accessible to Wheelchair Users
- Guide Dogs Permitted
- Ramp/Level Access
Catering
- Picnic Site
Establishment Features
- Cater for groups
- Toilets
Key Features
- Film or TV location
- In town/city centre
- Indoor Attraction
- Max group size - 50
- Of historic, literary or architectural interest
Parking & Transport
- On Bus Route
Payment Methods
- Min group size - 10
Tours and Demonstrations
- Educational Visits Accepted
- Guided Tours Available for Groups
Venue Facilities
- Groups Accepted
TripAdvisor

- Travelers Choice 2020
- Excellent201
- Very Good90
- Average16
- Poor1
- Terrible1
Recent Reviews:
- ABZB2014London, United KingdomWell Worth A VisitWednesday, 16th September 2020I know next to nothing about the methodists but it was raining and I like visiting churches so it seemed like a good to have a quick visit. I loved the chapel, and you could walk around and imagine... Read full review
- ROBERTA ABristol, United KingdomLovely café' and friendly atmosphereThursday, 22nd October 2020I discovered this little oasis of peace almost by chance and ended up spending a couple of hours reading and relaxing in its café'. I would definitely recommend the delicious homemade cakes and the... Read full review
- SwedishtomcatDiss, United KingdomOldest Methodist chapel in the worldWednesday, 4th November 2020This historically-religious building, slap bang in the centre of Bristol’s shopping quarter, is where Methodism got its first foothold with a purpose-built chapel in 1739. There are a number of rooms... Read full review