Find the festive spirit at Fountains

Enjoy Music and Lights at Fountains Abbey — See the abbey aglow with colourful lights

Enjoy a cup of mulled wine as you stroll through the grounds at Fountains Abbey this Christmas — Enjoy a mulled wine as you stroll through the grounds this Christmas

Walk through a colourfully lit abbey and Music and Lights this Christmas

Have a cup of tea in Studley Royal tea-room — Wrap your hands around a hot cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate in Studley Royal tearoom

Visitors in Fountains Abbey, lit up with coloured lights at Christmas time, North Yorkshire. Visitors in Fountains Abbey, lit up with coloured lights at Christmas time, North Yorkshire. — Carols at Fountains Abbey

It's the time of year when holly berries dot the trees and frosts blanket the grounds. Layer up and come together to relax, unwind and embrace this festive time of year at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal for a day out you'll remember forever.

Christmas starts here...

It starts as you follow the trail of trees down the drive... Snap a selfie with the Christmas tree in the courtyard and visit the bird hide to see which winter birds you can see on your way down to the abbey.

Pick up an audio guide from admissions, immerse yourself in the life of the monks in Porter's Lodge or join an abbey tour on weekends to learn all about the dramatic history of these ruins and the monks who searched for a simpler life.

Sing along with hundreds of others and Ripon City Band in Fountains Abbey this Christmas

Christmas is seeing the abbey glow...

Lit up with all the colours of the rainbow on weekends throughout December, the abbey is a sight to see. Walk beneath the cellarium's vaulted ceilings, under the grand columns of the nave and listen to the choir as they fill the ruins with festive song. Join in if you know the tune!

Come to hear the choir sing in the cellarium at Fountains Abbey — Come to hear the choir sing in the abbey cellarium

Hear the choirs sing in the abbey cellarium each weekend in the lead up to Christmas.

Fill the cellarium with song

Take part in Carols by Candlelight, a service that has now become truly part of the Fountains Abbey Christmas experience. Add your singing voice and candle light to hundreds of others as we come together to belt out a selection of favourite. There's mulled wine and mince pies to tuck into, too.

Walking by Fountains Abbey — Enjoying a winter stroll through Fountains Abbey

Mulled wine and mince pies

Catching up over a mulled wine on a crisp winter's day beats the pinging of a phone message any day. Sit down and have a natter with your favourites and see how many mince pies can you eat… You'll be hard pushed to stop nibbling at these tasty treats. Try them out with a steaming cup of tea or coffee in Studley tea-room as you overlook the lake with winter birds having a paddle. Or pop into Mill Café by the abbey for a light bite or warm drink with a view over the abbey.

Handing coffee over in the visitor centre restaurant at Fountains Abbey

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 traveled far and tastes all the better for it. Tuck into a scone, indulge in some cake or warm up with a hearty meal in the visitor centre restaurant.

Treat yourself in the shop

Have you seen our shop at the visitor centre yet? If not, pop in to say hello and to see the range of seasonal homewares, books and Christmas treats that deck the shelves.

Drinks from the National Trust shop — Drinks from the online shop

Whether you find the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones or a little something for the stocking, you know you can feel good about buying it here as the money you spend goes straight back into looking after Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

Christmas food and drink from the National Trust online shop

Spoilt for choice this Christmas

Take the stress out of Christmas shopping with a trip to the gift shop at Fountains Abbey. Whether you love books, beer or gardening, festive treats, local fayre or homewares there's lots to choose from for the perfect gift.

Next time stay a little longer...

Whether you're wanting a getaway for two or for the whole family look ahead to next year and book early to stay in one of the 14 cosy holiday cottages and have access to the estate after hours for extra exploring.

Stay with us

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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