Winter 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
- Booking not needed
- Free event (admission applies)
While it's often thought that the abbey ruin is the reason for our World Heritage Site status, it's actually the water garden at Studley Royal. Join a guided tour to find out more about this artificially manipulated 'feat of human creative genius' designed by the Aislabie's in the 1700s. Start to see the abbey as the Georgians did; incorporated into the dramatic designed landscape and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The abbey and garden tour lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and will run once a day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Unfortunately, sometimes our volunteer guides aren't available and we have to cancel tours. Please ask the admission staff on your arrival for the tour schedule on that day.
Times
Prices
Event ticket prices
This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Check admission pricesThe basics
- Meeting point
Meet at the Porter's Lodge; a 15 minute walk from the Visitor Centre, down a steep 20% gradient, 5 minutes from the level access West Gate entrance and 30 minutes from the Studley Royal entrance.
- What to bring and wear
We are an outdoor site so please dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven in places.
- Accessibility
Access to the abbey is across a level grassy green. When the grass is particularly wet this can be impassable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and prams. We have a portable hearing loop available to hire, free of charge, for guided tours. Please call 01765 608888 to book. Please collect from your tour guide at Porter's Lodge. You can use this with a hearing aid set to 'T' or with headphones.
- Other
This tour will last approx. 1 hour 30 minutes. Unfortunately, sometimes our guides aren't available and we have to cancel tours. Please ask the admission staff on your arrival for the tour schedule that day.
Upcoming events
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
Abbey tour
Join one of our volunteer tour guides to discover more about the largest monastic ruins in the country.
Fountains by Floodlight
Explore glowing ruins and shadowed archways and hear choral music echoing through the abbey this autumn.
Between Chaos and Light by Ed Kluz
A new immersive exhibition by Ed Kluz comes to Fountains Hall from summer to winter solstice 2025.