May half-term at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

A group of girls climbing on the rope bridge — Scramble, swing, slide and climb in the play area

Enjoy lawn games at the Banqueting House

Become a true nature explorer this half term holiday. Bring the family for a full day of exploring. Entertain them with a nature adventure through the estate, let them run wild in the large play area and get creative with spring craft in Swanley Grange.

Become a wildlife whizz with a spring explorer map every day of the holiday. Can you find all the birds, animals and plants around the estate on your visit?

Visit the bird hide to see birds feeding — Visit the bird hide and see which birds you can spot

Discover folly! art program

Coming to Studley Royal water garden — A hint of what's to come for folly! 2020

Discover art in the garden with folly! 2020

This year see art in the water garden at Yorkshire's UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Artist Steve Messam is bringing his skill and experience of outdoor sculpture within the grounds, aiming to be big, bold and controversial.

Find out more

Deer watch walk

Saturday 23 May

2 - 4pm

Explore the deer park with our expert guides. The stags and bucks are growing their new antlers which are covered in 'velvet'. The females will be giving birth soon and there may be some early fawns and calves.

Make your own folly pyramid

Friday 24 May

1 - 4pm

This year the folly! art program is based on William Aislabie's (he was one of the water garden designers) design for a funerary pyramid for his father. Get creative in medieval farm building Swanley Grange to make your own pyramid with sticks and brightly coloured tissue paper.

Step into the bird hide

Wednesday 27 May

11am - 3pm

Want to learn how to bird watch with the best of them? Join members our wildlife team in the bird hide where they will be on hand to help you spot birds and to answer your questions.

Getting here

We're only 45 minutes from York, 25 minutes from Harrogate and less than an hour from Leeds. If you're coming to visit us for the day here's all you need to know. See you soon!

Walking in autumn sun at Fountains Abbey

What you need to know for your visit

Spend a few hours exploring the ruins of Fountains Abbey before following the river down to the sprawling water garden. Don't stop there though! With the medieval deer park and surrounding countryside to discover too, there's enough to fill an entire day. Find out what you need to know for your visit here.

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