Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

summer strolls on East Green at Fountains Abbey

Important notice -

St Mary's Church will be closed on Saturday 13th August due to a private event. We apologise for any inconvenience.

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

More about this place

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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

Visitors (excluding organised group visits) 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

What's happening this summer at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

Summer fun in the Studley Water Garden - older children

Visiting Fountains Abbey this summer 

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.

Fountains by Floodlight at Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden   North Yorkshire

Discover Fountains by Floodlight this October

In 2022 we're celebrating 90 years of floodlighting the abbey ruins. This special event is open to members and non-members of the National Trust and everyone will need to book a ticket to attend. Tickets will be available on our website in September. Keep an eye on our social media channels for the most up to date information.

Find out more about Fountains by Floodlight 2022

Upcoming events

See all events

Nature detective spotter sheet

Tue 16 Aug 2022
10:00-16:30
Get ready to be a nature detective with a free spotter sheet...

Still Time to Wonder. A new exhibition by Joe Cornish

Tue 16 Aug 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.

James Owen Thomas art exhibition

Tue 16 Aug 2022
10:00-17:00
Visit Swanley Grange workshop to see artworks created by Nidderdale artist James Owen Thomas.

Mini tree sleuth trail

Tue 16 Aug 2022
11:00-12:30
Have fun learning how to use leafy clues to solve the mystery of which tree is which.

Garden and Abbey Tour

Tue 16 Aug 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.

Family crafts at Swanley Grange

Tue 16 Aug 2022
11:00-15:00
Get crafty in Swanley Grange during the summer holidays.
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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

Eating icecream in the sunshine

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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