Discover folly! at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Discover four interactive new art installations in this iconic World Heritage Site this summer. Explore the water garden as it was originally created; a playful water garden with dramatic views that criss-cross the landscape.

folly 2018 celebrates the lost follies of Studley Royal

What is folly! 2018? 

Striking, surprising, entertaining and unusual... folly! 2018 is a feast for the eyes with four new outdoor works adorning the views of this World Heritage Site.

Join the folly! family trail and let your creativity run wild!

folly! art in the garden family trail 

There's art in the garden but it's not paintings, and it's not in a gallery...The artworks are in the garden and they're just for fun - we call them follies. Use this map to explore!

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folly! 2016 

Featuring work by artist Mat Collishaw, one of the UK’s most thought provoking contemporary artists, two new installations were co-commissioned with London Gallery Blain|Southern to play with your senses and trick your eyes!

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Find out where it started with folly! 2015 

Visitors who peered inside the Octagon Tower, Temple of Piety and the Banqueting House in folly! 2015 were surprised to find extraordinary installations created by artists to re-animate these fanciful garden follies.

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Percy the Park Keeper's winter wander at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

This winter, treat your little ones to a world of adventures at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal on the Percy the Park Keeper's winter wander trail

Mon 06 Dec 2021

+ 23 other dates

10:00-16:00

Christmas crafts at Swanley Grange

Create a friend for Percy the Park Keeper in Swanley Grange: have fun creating pinecone snowy owls using wool and felt.

Sat 11 Dec 2021

+ 17 other dates

11:00-15:00

On the hoof

Trot along to the deer park, just past St Mary's Church to watch the wild deer munching through their winter feed. Can you spot the difference between the Red, Sika and Fallow deer? Our deer ranger will give you some pointers and you'll learn...

Sat 11 Dec 2021

+ 3 other dates

11:30-12:30

Garden and abbey tour

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.

Sat 11 Dec 2021

+ 30 other dates

11:30-13:00

Abbey tour

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.

Sat 11 Dec 2021

+ 30 other dates

13:30-14:30

Music & Lights at Christmas

See the abbey aglow in coloured lights and listen to the sound of festive music as you explore the ruins.

Sat 11 Dec 2021

+ 15 other dates

14:00-17:00

Carols by Candlelight

As Christmas fast approaches it’s nearly time for our annual 'Carols by Candlelight' services This year, we'll be limiting the number of visitors into the cellarium, so you’ll need to pick up a ticket to join in with the service.

Sun 12 Dec 2021

15:00-15:45

Boxing Day Pilgrimage

Join the service in Ripon Cathedral at 9.30am before joining on this ancient pilgrimage as it makes its way to the abbey where the service continues from approx. 12 noon.

Sun 26 Dec 2021

12:00-12:45