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.
Bird detective trail
Discover nests and eggs, feathers and bird song on an interactive trail around the abbey and water garden and learn about the life of a baby bird.
Thu 18 Apr 2019
+ 10 other dates
10:00-17:00
Lavender bags at Swanley Grange
Bring the kids to get creative with hessian to make their own lavender bag.
Thu 18 Apr 2019
+ 10 other dates
11:00-16:00
Daily water garden and abbey tours
A tale of two parts, delve deeper into this World Heritage Site on a guided tour. Any questions? 3-4pm Abbey cloister If you don’t fancy a tour but have something you’d like to ask, visit one of our guides as you explore the estate.
Thu 18 Apr 2019
+ 199 other dates
14:00-15:00
Any questions?
Ask one of our knowledgeable guides about the history of the abbey
Thu 18 Apr 2019
+ 199 other dates
15:00-16:00
Golden egg hunt
Sshhhhh...there's a tiny golden egg hidden somewhere on the estate and it's your job to track it down. Search high and low but you must keep its location a secret once you've found it.
Fri 19 Apr 2019
+ 3 other dates
10:00-17:00
Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt
Can you find all the giant eggs, nests and feathers on the bird detective family trail to win a chocolate prize?
Fri 19 Apr 2019
+ 3 other dates
11:00-16:00
Good Friday Service
Join us for this special service in the abbey cellarium.
Fri 19 Apr 2019
15:00-15:45
Deer watch walk
Join this guided walk to learn all about the three types of deer who make Studley Royal deer park their home.
Sat 20 Apr 2019
14:00-16:00
Easter egg rolling competition
Come and enjoy an egg-citing egg rolling competition.
Mon 22 Apr 2019
14:00-14:30
Build a bird feeder
Come to Swanley Grange and make a bird feeder to help keep your garden birds well fed.
Wed 24 Apr 2019
11:00-15:00
Going Digital photography workshops
Discover how to get the best out of your camera with these photography workshops with Pandora. Learn the basics in an inspiring setting or discover how to capture the perfect landscape.
Sat 27 Apr 2019
+ 3 other dates
10:00-16:00
Fascinating nature facts
Enjoy a walk bursting with interesting facts about nature on the estate.
Wed 01 May 2019
+ 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 04 May 2019
+ 6 other dates
11:00-16:00
Spring bird walk
Hear the chirping and chatter of the spring birds who make the estate their home.
Sat 11 May 2019
11:00-12:30
Herbal habits
Discover stories about the herbs and plants that grow around the abbey and in the Fountains Hall herb garden.
Wed 22 May 2019
13:30-15:00
Nature scavenger hunt
Pick up a card and get sticking with special nature finds as you explore this May half term
Sat 25 May 2019
+ 8 other dates
10:00-17:00
Make your own spring lamb
Scamper along to Swanley Grange to make your own fluffy wool lamb this May half term.
Sat 25 May 2019
+ 8 other dates
11:00-16:00
Spring deer watch walk
Join us for a walk around Studley Royal deer park to learn all about the deer that make the park their home.
Sat 25 May 2019
14:00-16:00
Minibeasts to mammals walk
Adventure out into the estate with your guide to see what creatures large and small you can find.
Wed 29 May 2019
14:00-15:00
Romantic folly: an exhibition by Ian Scott Massie
Visit the Fountains Mill to see the abbey as seen by local artist Ian Scott Massey.
Sat 01 Jun 2019
+ 74 other dates
11:00-16:00
Summer in the herb garden
Meet Rosemary, Angelica and Rose in the hidden herb garden opposite Fountains Hall.
Wed 12 Jun 2019
+ 2 other dates
13:30-15:30
Beer and Bread at Fountains Abbey
The monks who lived at Fountains Abbey knew what they were doing when it came to the bare essentials. Come and celebrate Beer and Bread through the ages at a new summer event with local brewers and bakers.
Sat 15 Jun 2019
+ 3 other dates
11:00-17:00
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 22 Jun 2019
+ 1 other date
14:00-16:00
Mass for St Benedict
For Cistercian monks, like the ones here at Fountains Abbey, St. Benedict was a key figure. It was Benedict's 'rule' that the monk followed - a pure and simple way of life.
Thu 11 Jul 2019
12:00-13:00
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 13 Jul 2019
+ 3 other dates
10:00-16:00
Make a journey stick
Make a journey stick to decorate before you head out for your abbey adventure
Tue 23 Jul 2019
+ 1 other date
11:00-15:00
It's a monks life family tour
Join us at Swanley Grange to dress up like a monk for this family tour.
Wed 24 Jul 2019
+ 2 other dates
14:00-14:45
Pond dipping
Newts, water lice, water boatmen, molluscs, pea mussels...there's an extraordinary world waiting to be discovered under the surface of the still ponds in the water garden.
Fri 26 Jul 2019
+ 2 other dates
11:00-15:00
Make a mini folly
Take inspiration from the Temple of Piety, the Temple of Fame and the Octagon Tower to make your very own mini folly in the garden.
Tue 30 Jul 2019
+ 1 other date
13:00-15:30
Fun and frivolous Georgians family tour
Don your hat, flip your fan and pop up your parasol and come along on an interactive garden tour.
Wed 31 Jul 2019
+ 2 other dates
14:00-14:45
Water wheel workshops
Make your own mini water wheel at Fountains Mill.
Tue 06 Aug 2019
+ 1 other date
13:00-15:30
Get Medieval
Step back in time as you enter the Rosa Mundi medieval camp and discover what domestic life was like in fifteenth century England.
Sat 10 Aug 2019
+ 1 other date
11:00-16:00
Help the gardeners: pond weeding
The gardeners need a helping hand to clear some of the weeds from the moon ponds.
Mon 12 Aug 2019
13:00-15:00
Build a mini raft
Create your own mini raft and see how far it will sail on the moon ponds in Studley Royal water garden.
Tue 13 Aug 2019
+ 1 other date
14:00-15:30
Monastic powerhouse: an exhibition by Joseph Hayton
See the abbey as the powerhouse it once was through sculpture.
Sat 17 Aug 2019
+ 78 other dates
10:00-17:00
Archery in the water garden
Test your aim in Studley Royal water garden.
Sat 17 Aug 2019
+ 1 other date
11:00-15:00
Make a pom-pom in Swanley Grange
Get creative with wool and make a pom pom to take home.
Sat 17 Aug 2019
+ 15 other dates
11:00-16:00
Autumn deer watch
Come and experience one of the season's most spectacular sights on this guided walk through the medieval deer park.
Sat 17 Aug 2019
+ 3 other dates
14:00-16:00
Make your own bread
Come along to have a go kneading dough to make your own unleavened bread at Swanley Grange.
Tue 20 Aug 2019
+ 1 other date
13:00-15:30
Deer drop in
Come to the visitor centre to meet the wildlife team and learn about the deer in Studley Royal deer park.
Mon 26 Aug 2019
11:00-15:00
Make a mini statue
Come to Studley Royal water garden to get creative and make your very own mini statue to help raise funds to replace a long lost statue.
Tue 27 Aug 2019
+ 1 other date
13:00-15:00
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 08 Sep 2019
15:00-15:45
Fountains by Floodlight
Experience something truly special as you explore the illuminated ruins of Fountains Abbey and marvel at the water garden follies aglow. There are extra Friday dates for you to enjoy, too!
Sat 05 Oct 2019
+ 6 other dates
17:00-21:00
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Night Run
Lace those trainers and light those head torches and come for a run around Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal at night.
Tue 29 Oct 2019
18:30-21:00
Autumn drive through
Experience the spectacular views of the abbey and water gardens lit up against the night sky from the comfort of your car.
Sun 03 Nov 2019
18:00-20:00
Winter bird walk
Discover which feathered friends are calling Fountains Abbey their home this winter.
Sat 16 Nov 2019
11:00-12:30
Preserving at Swanley Grange
Come and experience the medieval way of preserving food and taste the results.
Sat 16 Nov 2019
11:00-15:00
1930s Christmas at Fountains Hall
Discover what Christmas would be like in the 1930s at Fountains Hall this festive season.
Sat 23 Nov 2019
+ 29 other dates
10:00-16:00
Father Christmas' Grotto
If you've been a kind and helpful little boy or girl it's time to give Father Christmas a visit in his cosy Fountains Hall grotto.
Sat 23 Nov 2019
+ 9 other dates
11:00-15:00
Music and Lights
Here at Fountains we're getting into the Christmas spirit and have just the thing to enjoy on a chilly winter weekend: glowing lights, festive music and delicious food and drink. Come and join us!
Sat 23 Nov 2019
+ 19 other dates
14:00-17:00
On the hoof
Trot along to St Mary's Church to watch the wild deer munching through their winter feed.
Sat 07 Dec 2019
+ 3 other dates
11:30-12:30
Carols by Candlelight
As Christmas fast approaches it's time for our annual family carol service.
Sun 08 Dec 2019
+ 1 other date
15:30-16:15
Boxing Day Pilgrimage
The service begins in Ripon Cathedral at 9.30am and the pilgrimage makes its way to the abbey where the service continues from approx. 12 noon.
Thu 26 Dec 2019
09:30-13:00