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

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 Christmas carols in the abbey cellarium on Sunday 9 December. There's mulled wine and mince pies to tuck into, too.

Join us for these Christmas highlights

Couple watching the deer in Studley Royal deer park

See the deer having their winter feed

Come along to St. Mary's Church to see the deer having their winter feed.

Add your candlelight as you sing carols together in the cellarium

Sing together at Carols by Candlelight

Add your voice to hundreds of others in the abbey cellarium in Carols by Candlelight - the service that's become a true festive tradition at Fountains Abbey.

Visitors walking from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey

Boxing Day Pilgrimage

On Boxing Day you can follow in the monks' footsteps on our annual Boxing Day Pilgrimage.

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

Spend time with family this Christmas

If you're looking for a good day out with your family take a look at our family page for everything that's going on.

Festive family fun at Fountains Abbey

There's no other time quite like it - when the whole family comes together full of fun and festive cheer, winter wanders and good food. Can you see any frost covered spiders webs and the bright red holly berries in the trees as you follow the nativity trail?

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.

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. Whether you're wanting an ice-cream in summer or a Christmas lunch in December, come together over some tasty food on a good days exploring.

Treat yourself in the shop

Have you seen our new 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.

Follow us on Twitter

Keep up with the latest news and events from Fountains Abbey on Twitter.

Like us on Facebook

Find out all the latest news, behind the scenes photos and what events are on by giving us a Like on Facebook.

Like us here

Tag us on Instagram

We love photos - and especially photos of Fountains Abbey. If you snap some great pictures tag us or use #fountainsabbey. Follow us to keep up to date on what's going on around the estate.