The abbey at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

The dramatic abbey ruins at Fountains are the largest monastic ruins in the country. Step back into a rich and dramatic past and imagine what life would have been like for the monks who first came here all those years ago.

Fountains Abbey in the olden time, drawn in 1841 by John Richard Walbran — 'Fountains Abbey in the olden time'

The history of Fountains Abbey

a lady walks past hubys tower at fountains abbey and studley royal. — Explore the magnificent abbey ruins.

Learn more at Porter's Lodge

Find out more about the history of the Abbey in the Porter’s Lodge exhibition. Tucked inside the original gatehouse is the contemporary structure which houses the interpretation centre.

A grandmother and granddaughter touching the herbs in the garden at Swanley Grange — Use touch and smell to explore the vegetable garden

Explore Swanley Grange

Discover more about Fountains Abbey’s agricultural past. Try your hand at heritage crafts, venture into the medieval veg garden and meet the feathered and woolly residents of this special grange.

National Trust Education Officer and a school group at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, North Yorkshire — Our Learning Officer Emma runs our varied education programme

Learning at Fountains Abbey

Experience a day in the life of a monk, go pond dipping, den building or even camp out under the stars when you bring your educational group to our special place.

National Trust Images / Paul Harris — Come and find out what makes this World Heritage Site so special

Group visits to Fountains Abbey

Groups of visitors have been coming to our special place since the 18th-century. With guided tours, self-led visits and a discount on admission prices come and find out what makes this World Heritage Site so special.

Explore the estate

Two ladies walking along the banks of the river Skell

Explore the abbey

Couple walking through Studley Royal water garden with Temple of Piety in the background

The water garden

During the 18th-century John Aislabie had great plans to impress visitors to his Yorkshire estate and so turned the surrounding woods and valleys into the Georgian water gardens we see today.

Enjoying a stroll down Seven Bridges Valley

Exploring further...

Discover our hidden gems including Fountains Mill built by the Cistercians in the 12th-century, it's one of the oldest buildings on the estate. We're also home to a deer park, church and grand hall.

Group enjoying a rest stop at Studley tea-room by the lake

Enjoy a tasty treat

After an energetic walk or a short stroll why not enjoy a bite to eat with us. Choose from the Visitor Centre Restaurant, Studley Tearoom or Mill Cafe.

Kitchenware from the National Trust's spring collection

Treat yourself in the shop

Taste delicious chutneys, sample teas and find fresh blooms in the plant centre as well as gifts and seasonal products in our shop.

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folly! Art in the garden trail

Pick up a map to explore the follies and let your creativity run wild!

Sun 24 Jun 2018

+ 133 other dates

10:00-17:00

folly! 2018

Surprising, intriguing and extraordinary... See the lost follies of the water garden re-imagined by artists and architects.

Sun 24 Jun 2018

+ 133 other dates

10:00-17:00

Daily abbey and water garden tours

A tale of two parts, revisit the abbey's monastic past before experiencing the Georgian splendour of the water garden.

Sun 24 Jun 2018

+ 133 other dates

11:00-14:00

Weaving at Swanley Grange

Weaving is a way of producing cloth by interlacing yarns at right angles.

Sun 24 Jun 2018

+ 20 other dates

11:00-16:00

Summer in the herb garden

Meet Rosemary, Angelica and Rose in the hidden herb garden opposite Fountains Hall.

Tue 26 Jun 2018

+ 2 other dates

13:30-15:30

Natural dye at Swanley Grange

Come along to watch this natural wool dyeing process, which has more than a hint of magic and alchemy about it.

Sat 07 Jul 2018

+ 5 other dates

11:00-16:00

Fascinating nature facts

Enjoy a walk bursting with interesting facts about nature on the estate.

Wed 11 Jul 2018

14:00-15:30

Children's craft at Swanley Grange

Have a go at twisting and tying yarn to make a colourful friendship bracelet this summer.

Sat 21 Jul 2018

+ 15 other dates

11:00-16:00

Summer deer watch

Do you know your stags from your hinds and your Reds from your Sikas? Come and explore the deer park in summer with our guides...

Sat 21 Jul 2018

+ 1 other date

14:00-16:00

Spot the wildflowers

From Devil's Bit Scabious to Fairy Flax, how many species of flowers can you find in the Banqueting House Lawn?

Tue 24 Jul 2018

11:00-15:00

Pond dipping

Newts, water lice, water boatmen, molluscs, pea mussels...there's an extraordinary world just waiting to be discovered hiding under the surface of the still ponds in the water garden.

Wed 01 Aug 2018

+ 2 other dates

11:00-15:00

The Big Sing

Come along to St. Mary's church to have a sing along to well-known hymns, and listen to inspiring readings.

Sun 05 Aug 2018

15:00-16:00

Children's craft at Swanley Grange

Have a go at weaving with yarn at Swanley Grange and make a summery decoration to hang in your garden.

Mon 06 Aug 2018

+ 13 other dates

11:00-16:00

Busy Bees

Keeping bees is quite a craft, the monks would have made 'skeps' to keep bees for their honey and highly-prized wax for making candles, honeyed wines, mead and for sweetening food as they didn't have sugar.

Sat 11 Aug 2018

+ 1 other date

10:30-16:00