The water garden at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Studley Royal water garden is the result of a breath-taking vision from John Aislabie and his son William. These tranquil but playful gardens continue to delight all these years later. Recognised as a site of cultural importance, they were granted World Heritage Status in 1986 for everybody to enjoy.

Autumn colour and frost in Studley Royal water garden — The water garden is the main reason we're a World Heritage Site

The classical statues at Studley Royal water garden after restoration work

three ladies admire an autumnal studley lake. — Discover your new favourite view.

Couple walking by the lakeside in Studley Royal deer park — Stop off at Studley tearoom to warm up after a walk

Bring your family along to dance under the Cloud

Discover folly 2018!

The National Trust’s contemporary art programme folly! is back for 2018, bigger and bolder than ever. Celebrating the playful, whimsical style of Studley Royal water garden, the four designs which will bring fresh colour and curiosity to the landscape in April have been revealed.

Studley Royal Water Garden in the eighteenth century — The water garden as eighteenth century visitors would've seen it

The history of Studley Royal

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.

The Dying Gladiator statue in place at Studley Royal water garden — The Dying Gladiator, restored to Studley Royal water garden

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal: A World Heritage Site

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal sits on the world stage. The 18th-century water garden, incorporating some of the largest Cistercian abbey ruins in Europe achieved the status of a World Heritage Site. Find out what exactly a World Heritage Site is and how that impacts the work we do.

Laying the facing stone over the concrete supporting blocks

Our Conservation Work

Managing the impact of flooding, adapting to climate change, conservation work, sharing the stories of this amazing place are all key priorities in the work we do. Here are some of the projects that have been going on.

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