Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

Fountains Abbey is a World Heritage Site, set in 323 hectares (800 acres) of beautiful countryside in Nidderdale National Landscape near Ripon in North Yorkshire. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the range of England's heritage - with a.Cistercian abbey, elegant Georgian water garden and medieval deer park.

Discover the magnificent 12th-century abbey ruins and the only surviving Cistercian corn mill.
Amble through the beautiful landscaped Georgian water garden of Studley Royal, complete with neo-classical statues, follies and breath-taking views.

Delight in the richly decorated Victorian St Mary's church and take time out to relax in the Reading Room in Elizabethan Fountains Hall.

Complete a great day out for all the family by exploring the Medieval deer park.

The National Trust's Summer of Play returns from 18th July to 6th September 2026. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden will be the only Yorkshire location to feature one of the charity's new Pokémon Play Zones.

Find out more about Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal on the National Trust website.

North Riding bus services 82, 83 and 84 from York extend from Ripon to Fountains Abbey for the summer holidays providing a bus up to every hour during the daytime, Monday to Saturday until 5th September 2026. This extension creates convenient direct links from York, Boroughbridge and Ripon, allowing visitors to enjoy a trip to one of Yorkshire's most spectacular attractions without the need to change buses, complementing the Sunday and Bank Holiday DalesBus services to Fountains Abbey.

For the summer until 6th September 2026, children and young people (under 18) who arrive at Fountains Abbey by bus will be eligible for £1 entry. Under 5s go in free.


Bus Services:

Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays all year: Service 139 from Ripon

Monday to Saturday (from 20th July until 5th September 2026): Services 82, 83 and 84 from York, Boroughbridge and Ripon.

Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays (until 18th October 2026): DalesBus 820 from Bradford, Otley, Pateley Bridge and Ripon 

Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays (until 18th October 2026): DalesBus 822 from Pocklington, York, Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Grassington

​Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays (until 18th October 2026): DalesBus 825 from York, Knaresborough and Harrogate

Children travel FREE during August 2026.


​It's a pleasant walk of around four miles from Ripon City Centre to Fountains Abbey - click here for more information.