Discover Quintessential England at Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

If you’re looking for rolling green hills, castles, and quaint cobble streets, you’ll find all that in North Yorkshire, especially if you visit Fountains Abbey.

In the past, quite a few people I’ve met on my travels envisage England as being an idyllic backdrop of rolling countryside and stately homes. They mention the idea of spending an idyllic afternoon drinking tea and taking a stroll in valleys scattered with sheep and deer. I usually tell them that they have watched too many episodes of Downtown Abbey!

Needless to say, they would be disappointed. When you arrive in somewhere like London (which is likely for most international flights) there’s nothing charming or relaxing about it. Masses of people trying to configure the best route out of the sprawling airport is enough chaos to bring you back down to earth with a heavy dose of reality.

Don’t get me wrong, I love, love, love London. Its energy can be replicated by no other place. Any visitor to England who doesn’t go to London would be missing out.

However, the same point isn’t reversed for those who only visit London. That’s to say – they’re missing out if they don’t visit the North of England. This is certainly true of North Yorkshire which belongs to Yorkshire, England’s biggest county.

North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire is like a scene from a quintessential English film, think Wuthering Heights, The Secret Garden, and Mansfield Park. Essentially, North Yorkshire is quintessential England. A place that encapsulates this the most is Studley Royal Park, home to the ruins of Fountains Abbey, which are together a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On any given day, Fountains Abbey is a feast of beauty, and the perfect time to explore its 800 acres of beautiful countryside is when the sun is flaunting itself.

However, saying this, England hasn’t been the recipient of much sunshine this year so I probably wouldn’t advise you to hold out (instead, pack a raincoat and wear decent foorwear).

A trip here offers an unparalleled opportunity to appreciate the range of England’s heritage. Discover the magnificent 12th-century abbey ruins and the only surviving Cistercian corn mill.

Exploring the ruins of Fountains Abbey

The ruins are amongst the most significant monastic remains in Europe, and are currently the focus of an extensive archaeological and architectural research project. Once completed it will make it one of the most clearly understood and well documented medieval abbeys in the country.

Entrance fee

Entrance to the garden and ruins is £19 for adults and £10.50 (as of 2024). Quite pricey, but it all goes towards maintaining this incredible National Heritage site.

If you have a National Trust card, it’s free for members. 

History of Fountains Abbey

The beautiful landscaped Georgian water garden of Studley Royal was built in the 1800s. At this time, the abbey was already in ruins. To cut a very long story short, when King Henry VIII was denied permission to divorce his wife by the Pope he destroyed the monasteries because they were Catholic and controlled from Rome.

In a power move, he ordered to get rid of them. Henry wanted to show that he was now in control and not the Pope. At the same time he set up the Church of England. (What less can we expect from the tyrannical king who beheaded two of his wives?!)

Walking through the ruins, with its huge window frames and towering pillars, it’s easy to envisage how spectacular it must have looked in its heyday. You’ll have to use your imagination to conjure up the colourful stain-glass windows but that’s all part of the fun and intrigue.

Equally, part of its modern day appeal is that we don’t see these ruins very often. They provide a window into the past. Fountains Abbey is among Europe’s greatest ruins.

The garden, with its woodlands and rivers was created to tie in with the natural features of English countryside. This in opposition to the geometric style of French gardening which was popular at the time.

You might also like: Crook Hall Gardens in Durham – a Hidden Gem 

However, there are some features that touch on a more manicured aesthetic. The garden includes a large pond known as the ‘moon pond’ located in front of a Greek style villa. Surround the villa are statues of tastefully sculptured Greek Gods.

One of my favourite parts of visiting Fountains Abbey are deer roaming around the grounds. Ahhh ‘tis the perfect backdrop for a picnic, don’t you think?

So summer is here and North Yorkshire is waiting … why not be one of them?

Accommodation near Fountains Abbey

Along with Fountains Abbey, there are plenty of nearby attractions such a Brimham Rocks, only 15 minutes’ drive away. The spectacular attractions of Malham Cove and Bolton Abbey are both within an hour’s drive too. As a result, this region of the UK makes for a perfect short-trip holiday.

I suggest staying somewhere near Ripon. It’s a pretty city (and a very small one) in North Yorkshire. Home to quaint cobbled streets, charming tearooms, and a lovely cathedral. If you’re a big walker, you could even walk to Fountains Abbey from town, or hop in the car for 10 minutes. For centrally located accommodation, my vote goes to The Royal Oak. It’s a pub with well-furnished rooms.

Alternatively, for arguably nicer accommodation options, you might prefer to stay just outside the town centre. The Old Coach House, aptly set in an 18th-century stone coach house on the grounds of the grand North Stainley Hall is hard to beat.

Are you planning a trip to Fountains Abbey?