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.

The ruins of Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey in the olden time, drawn in 1841 by John Richard Walbran

The history of Fountains Abbey 

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.

a lady walks past hubys tower at fountains abbey and studley royal.

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

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

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

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 

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.

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.

Girl drinking coffee in Studley tea-room

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 Abbey Tearoom.

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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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 22 Apr 2018

+ 196 other dates

11:00-14:00

Stitch and embroidery at Swanley Grange

Come and have a go at basic stitches of needle-craft which the monks would have used from running stitch to chain stitch.

Sun 22 Apr 2018

+ 6 other dates

11:00-16:00

folly! Art in the garden trail

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

Sat 28 Apr 2018

+ 190 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.

Sat 28 Apr 2018

+ 190 other dates

10:00-17:00

Carding and spinning at Swanley Grange

Before spinning the wool it needs to be carded to straighten the fibres. It's similar to combing your hair! Have a go yourself at Swanley Grange ...

Tue 01 May 2018

+ 25 other dates

11:00-16:00

Fascinating nature facts

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

Wed 02 May 2018

+ 2 other dates

14:00-15:30

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 05 May 2018

+ 7 other dates

11:00-16:00

Early Birds

Set your alarm and come along to listen to the chatter of the early birds.

Sat 12 May 2018

07:00-09:00

Herbal habits

Discover stories about the herbs and plants that grow around the abbey and in the Fountains Hall herb garden.

Wed 23 May 2018

13:30-15:00

Children's craft at Swanley Grange

Give those green fingers some practice.

Sat 26 May 2018

+ 8 other dates

11:00-16:00

Make your own medieval thumb pot

Get your hands working squeezing and squishing clay to make a medieval style watering can- a thumb pot! Drop in whilst stocks last.

Wed 30 May 2018

+ 2 other dates

11:00-15:00

Spot the birdy

What birds can you see on the lake?

Wed 30 May 2018

11:00-15:00

Weaving at Swanley Grange

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

Fri 01 Jun 2018

+ 43 other dates

11:00-16:00

Panasonic Photography Roadshow

Borrow a Lumix and take a photo walk across the estate.

Sat 16 Jun 2018

+ 1 other date

10:00-16:00

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

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

Felt making at Swanley Grange

Come to Swanley to have a go at different kinds of felting, from needle felting to tramping on the cloth...

Mon 20 Aug 2018

+ 13 other dates

11:00-16:00

Children's craft at Swanley Grange

Use soap and water to make your own felted bug!

Mon 20 Aug 2018

+ 14 other dates

11:00-16:00

Mass for St Bernard

To commemorate St. Bernard there will be a Mass held in the abbey.

Mon 20 Aug 2018

12:00-13:00

Knitting at Swanley Grange

Come and try your own hand at knitting and add a few rows to the Swanley Scarf.

Mon 03 Sep 2018

+ 26 other dates

10:00-17:00