Fountains by Floodlight 2025
Explore glowing ruins and shadowed archways and hear choral music echoing through the abbey this autumn. Tickets will be available from Friday 19 September.
- Booking advisable
- Free event
Bring all the family, pack your torches and explore the abbey lit up after dark.
Join a guided tour at 6pm or 7pm to find out more about the rich history of the abbey. Both tours last approximately 1 hour.
Listen to a live choral performance in the cellarium at 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Both performances last approximately 1 hour.
Tuck into tasty food in the Mill Yard, approx.100m from the abbey ruins and enjoy the resounding Gregorian chant in Huby's tower.
You'll need to pre-book a ticket for Fountains by Floodlight even if you're a National Trust member. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 19 September.
Entry for this event will be staggered and each ticket will have an allocated time slot for your arrival. Admission will open from 5pm with last entry 8pm. Please note there is no access to the estate before your ticketed time slot. We recommend allowing 15 minutes to find a parking space and make your way through admissions.
The site will close at 4pm - you won't be able to use day tickets to stay on for the evening event.
You won't be able to book your ticket through this event link. Please visit the Fountains by Floodlight page on the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal website to book your tickets when they go live on Friday 19 September. You'll also be able to find some frequently asked questions so you'll know what to expect this year.
Times
The basics
- Suitability
Children are welcome and under 5 do not need a ticket.
- Meeting point
Parking and admission is at the Visitor Centre only. Parking at West Gate will be stewarded for blue badge holders and those who need level access. Studley Royal car park and entrance will be closed.
- What to bring and wear
If you've booked a members ticket, don't forget to bring your cards with you. Please wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing. Bring a torch as the grounds get very dark even with the floodlights.
- Accessibility
Unfortunately, we aren't able to offer mobility scooter hire for this event. Wheelchairs are available to hire - please ring the office on 01765 608888. Access to the abbey ruins is across a level grassy green. When the grass is wet this can be impassable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Access to Mill Café and the Street Food Market is along hardstanding paths.
- Other
Tickets for Fountains by Floodlight will go on sale on 19 September. There is no lighting in the water garden. The floodlights in the abbey will be switched off at 9pm and the grounds fall into darkness. Please start making your way back to the visitor centre before 9pm. Car parks close at 9.30pm. Please note that drones are strictly not allowed here.
Upcoming events
Summer of Play: the circus
Join us for an entire summer jam-packed full of fun and games here at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
Garden and abbey tour
Join one of our volunteer tour guides to discover the secrets and surprises of Studley Royal Water Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Between Chaos and Light by Ed Kluz
A new immersive exhibition by Ed Kluz comes to Fountains Hall from summer to winter solstice 2025.
Summer of Play: Family tours
Robes at the ready? Join us for a free family tour as part of our jam-packed Summer of Play.