Just across the river from Marlow, Bisham Abbey is a Grade I listed manor house with a history stretching back to the Knights Templar in the 13th century. It later became a Benedictine priory, was dissolved by Henry VIII, and passed through the hands of several prominent families including the Hobys and the Vansittarts. The building is an atmospheric mix of medieval, Tudor, and later additions, set in grounds that run down to the Thames.
Since 1947, Bisham Abbey has served as one of Sport England's national sports centres — the England football team and other national squads have trained here over the decades. The abbey itself is not routinely open to the public, though occasional heritage open days allow visits. Even from the outside, the setting is striking: the approach from Marlow Bridge along the Berkshire bank gives a good view of the building through the trees. The abbey's ghost story — involving Lady Hoby and a fatally blotted copybook — is one of the best-known in the Thames Valley.