Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

summer strolls on East Green at Fountains Abbey

Important notice -

Our vehicle charging points will be out of use on Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 May because of essential electrical works at the visitor centre. Apologies for any inconvenience. The nearest charging points are at Booths in Ripon.

Ancient abbey ruins and an awe-inspiring water garden at this World Heritage Site

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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Things to see and do

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden   North Yorkshire

What to expect on your visit to Fountains Abbey

You no longer have to pre-book to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. With over 800 acres to explore as well as places to eat, shop and rest, there's lots you might like to know ahead of your visit.

What do I need to know before I visit...
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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

What's on

Things to do this spring at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

buttercups at fountains abbey

May half term at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal 

Grab a picnic and spend a full day running, jumping and exploring here at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Rosy cheeks and muddy knees are the aim of the day and families can spend hours together discovering the abbey ruin and pathways in the Studley water garden. You might even get a glimpse of a new baby deer in the deer park.

Riverbank & ruins by Joe Cornish - part of the 'Still Time to Wonder' exhibition at Fountains Abbey 2022

Still Time to Wonder. An exhibition of photographs by Joe Cornish  

Imagine a stillness which will likely never come to this special place again. Through the lens of Joe Cornish, explore the tactile beauty of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal over three years and during the silence of the coronavirus lockdown.

Joe Cornish in Studley Deer Park, North Yorkshire
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden   North Yorkshire

In discussion. An evening of nature, beauty and history.

Join the conversation on 23 June and listen to guest speakers Joe Cornish, renowned landscape photographer, Dame Fiona Reynolds, former Director General of the National Trust and Mark Newman, National Trust archaeologist and author of The Wonder of the North. After learning about the nature, beauty and history of this special place you'll be able to enjoy an evening stroll around the abbey and water gardens to snap your own photos and reflect on the discussion.

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Upcoming events

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Still Time to Wonder. A new exhibition by Joe Cornish

Thu 26 May 2022
10:00-17:00
Imagine a stillness which will likely never come to this place again. Through the lens of Joe Cornish, explore the tactile beauty of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal over three years and during the silence of the coronavirus lockdown.

Wood print art exhibition

Fri 27 May 2022
10:00-16:00
See an exhibition of beautiful tree prints from artist printmaker Shona Branigan in the summer house opposite Fountains Hall.

Tree listening installation

Fri 27 May 2022
10:00-16:30
Discover what happens behind the bark of a tree with the Tree Listening Installation.

Garden and Abbey Tour

Fri 27 May 2022
11:00-12:30
Fountains Abbey became the greatest folly of all when John Aislabie created his water garden at Studley Royal. See the abbey as the Georgians did on this guided tour.

Abbey tour

Fri 27 May 2022
14:00-15:00
If these walls could talk...unearth the monastic secrets of a great abbey and the daily routines of the monks who lived here on this guided tour.

Waterlogged: an art trail with Henshaws

Sat 28 May 2022
10:00-16:00
Explore a watery-themed trail with giant sculptures of pond snails, herons and more.
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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Our work

Photograph of a statue during summertime, in Studley Royal water Garden.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal: A World Heritage Site 

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal sits on the world stage. The 18th-century water garden, incorporating some of the largest Cistercian abbey ruins in Europe achieved the status of a World Heritage Site. Find out what exactly a World Heritage Site is and how that impacts the work we do.

River Skell runs alongside Fountains Abbey

The Skell Valley Project 

Following a successful bid for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Trust and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are now in the delivery phase of the Skell Valley Project. The £2.5 million scheme will start later in 2021 and run to 2024.

The ruins of Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire

Tracing Fountains Abbey’s past, present and future 

Discover the past, present and future of Fountains Abbey, as archaeologist Mark Newman takes us on a journey of his discoveries. From ancient floor tiles to monks graves and the new visitor centre at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden in North Yorkshire.

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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Things to see and do

The Witcher at Fountains Abbey fire

Fountains Abbey on film 

With atmospheric ruins, acres of playful gardens and brooding buildings this vast World Heritage site has been used as a location for film and TV for decades. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has been transformed into the cellars of the Houses of Parliament, a setting for a regency scandal and a very secret garden.... twice! Find out more about what's been filmed here.

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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Eating and shopping

Couple tucking into a burger at Fountains by Floodlight

Enjoy a tasty treat 

After an energetic walk or a short stroll why not enjoy a bite to eat with us. Our food hasn't travelled far and tastes all the better for it. Tuck into a scone, indulge in some cake or revive yourself with a hearty meal in the visitor centre restaurant.

Garden accessories on display

Treat yourself in the shop 

Find delicious chutneys, unique teas and find fresh blooms in the plant centre as well as gifts and seasonal products in our visitor centre shop.

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Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Places to stay

A view of Fountains Hall in summer

Holiday at Fountains Abbey 

From a mini-break to a family holiday or a group getaway in the great outdoors with the best of Yorkshire on your doorstep, stay in a Fountains Abbey holiday home this year.

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