Family-friendly things to do at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
There are acres of space where little legs can explore and imaginations run riot here at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Find out more about what to expect if you’re planning a visit with babies and children.
Planning your family visit
Fountains Abbey is open all year round (closed Fridays in November, December & January) and there’s no need to book in advance - just come along and spend a full day exploring, running and playing.
- There are accessible toilets and a dedicated baby change at the visitor centre, by Fountains Hall and at the Studley end of the estate.
- There are accessible concrete paths on a circular walk around the estate. Paths inside the abbey ruins and deer park vary from gravel to grass and hard standing. You can find a map here.
- Children under five are welcome to bring balance bikes and bikes with stabilisers to help them get around. Larger bikes and e-scooters are only allowed on the long drive through the deer park.
Stories of Colour and Light
Ocotber half term
Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, 9.30am - 4.30pm
This October, discover the Stories of Colour and Light at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Celebrate the changing season with an autumn adventure where vibrant colours, fascinating stories and family-friendly activities await around every corner.
Follow a self-guided trail through the estate and discover activity points inspired by autumn colour, nature and the stories hidden within the trees. Along the way, get hands-on with crafts, meet costumed re-enactors and have a go at traditional apple pressing. Whether you're crunching through fallen leaves, discovering fascinating stories, or simply enjoying time together outdoors, there's plenty to keep the whole family entertained this half term.
Re-enactors: On Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 October, 10am - 4pm, meet costumed re-enactors and enjoy demonstrations and workshops inspired by illuminated manuscripts, bringing the stories, skills and creativity of the medieval monastic community to life.
Craft Workshop: From Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, 11am - 3pm, join artist Alice Dunsmore for autumn craft workshops and create leaf fairies, toadstools and seasonal decorations using natural materials gathered from across the site.
Apple pressing: On Tuesday 27 October,11-1pm, have a go at traditional apple pressing using apples harvested from the estate.
Fountains by Floodlight
Selected evenings in October, 5 - 9pm
Watch as night falls over the abbey and the ruins start to glow with light. Bring a torch and chase your shadows as you experience the abbey like never before. Head to the cellarium and hear live music flood through the ruin as darkness continues to fall. Take a visit to the Street Food Market and fill those grumbling tummies...
Pikachu's Art Adventure
Saturday 3 October to Sunday 1 November, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Pokémon returns to Fountains Abbey this October! This autumn, explore The Pikachu Art Adventure and discover 30 new Pikachu TCG artworks hidden around the property. Track down every card, uncover fun facts about Pikachu, explore the wide range of styles that bring Pokémon's most iconic characters to life. Collect an exclusive stamp as a memento of your adventure and design your own Pikachu Pokémon card inspired by Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
A festive adventure
28 November - 3 January, 9.30am - 3.30pm (4pm during the school holidays)
Wrap up warm and head out on a festive family adventure this Christmas. From festive trails and sparkling abbey lights to live music and opportunities to spot deer in the park.
Deer walks
Selected Saturdays and Sundays, 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Join our wildlife volunteers on a walk to find some deer. Spot the deer in the distance, hold a pair of real antlers and pick up a pair of binoculars to get a better view of these amazing animals. In spring you could spot wobbly newborn calves, and in autumn you might be able to hear the dramatic rutting season, when the stags show off their strength. Our wildlife volunteers will be on hand to answer any burning questions.
These walks last two hours and run every month. Click the button below to find out more.
Become an abbey adventurer
Don your adventure cap and set out to discover all the hidden corners of the abbey. See if you can find the last of the white marble and all the ruined alters in the nave. Can you hear an echo in the cellarium and how many staircases can you find throughout the ruins? Be sure to look up to find carved figures and faces.
Be a water garden explorer
Don't stop at the abbey. The water garden is full of straight lines and symmetrical curves but there are many corners to discover, too. Climb up to the Banqueting House lawn and have fun, can you spot Octagon Tower in the distance?
Explore woodland on the High Ride path - but you'll need to walk through the dark Serpentine Tunnel to get there! Once you're up, you're up and there are three follies to find. One has an underground kitchen, one is made out wood and one has a wide view down to the abbey. See if you can find them all.
We're famous for the abbey ruins but find out what else you can explore on your visits
Discover the play area
Less than two minutes from the visitor centre there's a huge play area where inquisitive little minds can be let loose to play. There are things to wobble along, jump over and climb on...you'll find a wooden abbey, a woodland lookout, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman's poles, a slide, a rope bridge and a huge zipwire for the most daring adventurers of all. There’s also a five-point harness swing for our younger visitors with additional access needs. Parents can keep an eye out from picnic tables dotted around or come and join in with building a den.
'I love coming to Fountains Abbey with my family. My favourite bits are the zip line in the playground and the secret upstairs room in the abbey. I like to chase my big sister through the tunnel in the garden too. We always race through the middle bit where it’s really dark.'
Exploring safely
The abbey ruin is nearly 900 years old and while it looks tempting to climb on, it's much safer to have fun discovering all the secret doorways and staircases instead. Please leave balls and bats at home as you won't be able to use them here. The river Skell runs through the site and it a great place for spotting wildlife. Please do keep those wellies out of the water though as it is deep and fast running in places.
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