Minster Abbey [pictured on the left], the second oldest surviving abbey in the UK, is situated in Minster, the third largest town on Sheppey. The Abbey was founded in AD 664 by Queen Sexburgha on land that was given to her by the King of Kent, her son, Ercombert. Over the years, it has been damaged and demolished and rebuilt several times. Today, both the abbey and the gatehouse survive, the gatehouse being a local history museum.

Minster is the highest point on the island, and on a clear day, clear views of the bridge can be seen. There are lots of houses in Minster and a variety of shops, a church and a couple of schools.

Queenborough

Queenborough is the second largest town after Sheerness. In 1732, the artist Hogarth paid a visit to the island and stayed in Queenborough. The town is steeped in history, e.g., Nelson and his mistress, Lady Hamilton shared a house here when he was learning his sea skills. Today, Queenborough and its "neighbour" Rushenden are mainly industrialised, with many companies based there including Abbotts Laboratories, which makes pharmaceutical products and Jewsons. There is also Queenborough's Town Hall with the Guildhall Museum focusing on Queenborough's history.