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.





Wood print art exhibition
See an exhibition of beautiful tree prints from artist printmaker Shona Branigan in the summer house opposite Fountains Hall.
Fri 27 May 2022
+ 30 other dates
10:00-16:00
Tree listening installation
Discover what happens behind the bark of a tree with the Tree Listening Installation.
Fri 27 May 2022
+ 65 other dates
10:00-16:30
Still Time to Wonder. A new exhibition by Joe Cornish
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.
Fri 27 May 2022
+ 157 other dates
10:00-17:00
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.
Fri 27 May 2022
+ 157 other dates
14:00-15:00
Waterlogged: an art trail with Henshaws
Explore a watery-themed trail with giant sculptures of pond snails, herons and more.
Sat 28 May 2022
+ 22 other dates
10:00-16:00
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 28 May 2022
+ 156 other dates
11:00-12:30
Family crafts: make a dragonfly
All ages will enjoy this activity. Learn how to make a mini dragonfly using a peg.
Sat 28 May 2022
+ 8 other dates
11:00-15:00
Mini raft building
Build a mini raft out of sticks and test how well it floats in the water gardens.
Mon 30 May 2022
14:00-15:30
Pond dipping
Have a go at pond dipping and see what mini beasts you discover.
Wed 01 Jun 2022
11:00-15:00
Nature Walk
Wow! I didn't know that... Join our knowledgeable volunteer Mike to discover fascinating nature facts.
Wed 01 Jun 2022
14:00-15:30
Mill Tour
Discover the history of the oldest building on the estate
Wed 08 Jun 2022
+ 1 other date
14:30-15:15
Learn how to teach River Dipping
If your school or community group would like to learn more about what lies beneath the surface of rivers, then this event will 'train the trainer' to be able to confidently lead a river dipping session. This is a Skell Valley Project event.
Thu 09 Jun 2022
16:00-18:00
Wood printing art workshop
Join artist printmaker Shona Branigan to create beautiful tree prints using fallen wood from the Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal estate.
Fri 10 Jun 2022
11:00-13:00
+ other times
Deer park walk
Spot the red, fallow and sika deer on a guided walk through the deer park.
Tue 21 Jun 2022
+ 5 other dates
13:30-15:30
An evening ‘in discussion’ with Joe Cornish, Fiona Reynolds & Mark Newman
Enjoy an evening of conversation on nature, beauty and history followed by an opportunity to see the landscape photography exhibition by Joe Cornish and a sunset stroll around the estate.
Thu 23 Jun 2022
19:00-21:00
Wood printing drop in activity
Have a go at tree printing with artist Shona Branigan.
Sat 25 Jun 2022
11:00-16:00
A Midsummer Night's Dream, in partnership with Ripon Theatre Festival
The grand finale of the Ripon Theatre Festival 2022. An outdoor production of Shakespeare's timeless comic masterpiece presented by renowned touring company, Illyria.
Sun 26 Jun 2022
19:00-22:00
Mass for the Feast of St Benedict
Join us for a special service to celebrate the life of St Benedict and his impact on monasticism and the wider Christian Church.
Mon 11 Jul 2022
12:00-12:45
Heritage Crafts Weekend
Celebrating local traditional crafts, see craft makers and demonstrations at Swanley Grange workshop and in the courtyard.
Sat 16 Jul 2022
+ 1 other date
10:00-16:00
River dipping
Come along to see what you can find in and around the River Skell with help from the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust team.
Wed 27 Jul 2022
11:00-15:00
Fountains by Floodlight
Celebrate 90 years of Fountains by Floodlight with an after-dark adventure...
Sat 01 Oct 2022
+ 6 other dates
17:00-21:00
Music and Lights
Get into the festive spirit with seasonal music and rainbow lighting in the abbey
Sat 19 Nov 2022
+ 20 other dates
14:00-17:00