Launde Abbey is the Leicester Diocese Retreat & Conference Centre set in beautiful parkland of 450 acres on the border of Leicestershire & Rutland. It has 39 available rooms with 67 beds, full conference facilities, residential and visitors dining facilities, extensive cultivated gardens and the 12th Century Chapel. The Chapel is all that remains of the Augustinian Priory that was founded here in 1119AD. Together the Launde Community recites the Daily Offices and celebrates a daily Eucharist keeping alive the monastic tradition started here so long ago. Others from the wider Launde community come to say the Midday Office on certain days of the week. This provides the unique ethos of spirituality sought out by many people who come here. Guests are welcomed to join the regular prayer life of the Community.

The Launde Abbey Community is joined by a daily staff of 20. This staff "family" looked after 7131 overnight guests last year. The grounds and gardens have been extensively upgraded. Much of the summer salads were grown and served straight from the large Victorian walled garden. The parkland is managed through the Countryside Association Scheme. We have an excellent working relationship with our neighbouring farmers. During the year we host a wide variety of Diocesan and church groups from the wider churches in Britain for their own programmes of spiritual development. This includes a large number of clergy who come as part of their ‘cell’ groups to refresh and renew their ministry. We run our own programme of Retreats, Quiet Days and Conferences. We greatly enjoy the annual summer school for the Leicester Cathedral Choirboys and a number of local schools and churches use the Abbey for confirmation weekends and other activities as we can offer cross-curricular studies.

"The Friends of Launde" are an independent charity whose sole aim is to support the work of Launde Abbey with practical help and financial grants from their fundraising activities. They hold the famous Launde Open Days over the weekend of the August Bank holiday to raise money for the work of the Abbey. This is a major event and well worth visiting. "The Stretchers of Launde" are like our "third order." They all undertake to support the life and work of Launde Abbey by their prayers. They meet regularly at Launde Abbey and keep a prayer cycle for all the events that take place here.