This impressive Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park World Heritage Site near Ripon encompasses an Elizabethan mansion, St Mary’s church and the remains of Britain’s largest Cistercian abbey, which was founded by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. It also features Studley Royal Park, an 18th-century landscaped park that covers 323ha (800 acres) and is home to over 300 deer.
The abbey dates from 1132 when a group of Benedictine monks broke away from the established order, seeking a return to a stricter monastic life. Following the Cistercian rule of simplicity and self-sufficiency, the monks quickly transformed the surrounding wilderness into a thriving monastic community.
Over the centuries, Fountains Abbey flourished and became one of England’s wealthiest and most influential monastic institutions. The abbey’s stunning architecture, including its grand church with soaring Gothic arches and intricate stonework, attested to the monks’ artistic and architectural prowess.
The dissolution of the monasteries led to Fountains Abbey being dismantled in 1539, with its assets seized, marking a turning point in its history.
In the 18th century, the abbey ruins were incorporated into Studley Royal’s designed landscape, creating a romantic vision that merged nature and architecture. The resulting Studley Royal Water Garden, with its cascades, temples and ponds, now forms an integral part of the World Heritage Site.
Today, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park are a major attraction managed by the National Trust that combine monastic architecture from the Middle Ages with a beautiful 18th-century designed landscape.
What to see at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Park
A visit to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park combines both historical and natural sights. There is a lot to see here and you can easily spend around half a day exploring the site.
Fountains Abbey
Your visit starts at Porter’s Lodge, the abbey’s original gatehouse, which has displays providing an introduction to the site with exhibits that include a model of the abbey, showing how it would have looked before the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.
The extensive ruins of this Cistercian monastery include the cellarium with its impressive vaulted ceilings, the cloister, refectory and former prison cells. The abbey complex also includes Fountains Mill, the oldest building on the site, which remained in use from the 12th to the 20th century
The site also includes Fountains Hall, which was built as a stately home in the 16th century, shortly after the dissolution of the monasteries.
Studley Royal Park
Studley Royal Water Garden is an 18th-century landscaped masterpiece and it is actually this park that is the reason for the site’s World Heritage status rather than Fountains Abbey.
The park seamlessly incorporates the abbey ruins into its design, creating a harmonious blend of natural beauty and medieval architecture. The water garden boasts ornamental lakes, serene ponds, classical temples and the awe-inspiring Seven Bridges Valley, complete with cascades.
The park also encompasses a deer park, where visitors can observe herds of deer amidst the scenic landscapes, connecting with the wildlife that calls the area home.
The Moon Pond, a circular pond surrounded by towering trees, offers a tranquil and picturesque setting for relaxation and contemplation.
The Octagon Tower, a historic structure within the park, serves as a viewpoint for taking in the grandeur of the carefully designed landscape.
The park is also home to the Grade I-listed St Mary’s Church, which was built in the 19th century and is noted for its stained glass windows.
Throughout the park, various vantage points provide breathtaking panoramic views of the countryside, the water garden, and the abbey.
The beauty of the site changes with the seasons, offering vibrant flowers in spring, lush greenery in summer, and a striking display of autumn colours.
Visiting Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Park
Fountains Abbey is located 5.5km (3½ miles) southwest of Ripon. It is served by bus route 139, which runs every two hours with a travel time for around 20 minutes, or you can drive here from Ripon in a little under 10 minutes.
The site is open year round; however, it is closed on Fridays during the off-peak season.
Admission is free of charge for members of both English Heritage and the National Trust. However, the English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass is not valid here.
On-site visitor facilities include a gift shop, tea rooms and a restaurant.
It is a large attraction with a lot to see and you should allow 3–4 hours for your visit.
Free entry to Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Park for English Heritage members
English Heritage members get free entry to Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Park and over 400 other historic buildings and monuments in England.
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