At any time of the year, Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal provides a wonderfully interesting, inspiring and memorable day out for all the family. With a wealth of activities for the young and not so young to enjoy, see and do.
- View our Interactive Map and plan your visit to get the most from Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Estate
- Download our Visitor Guide and Map
800 Years of History
The Abbey, Britain's largest monastic ruin, was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks seeking a simpler life. They later became Cistercian monks.
Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII, the Abbey buildings and over 500 acres (202ha) of land were sold by the Crown to Sir Richard Gresham, a merchant. The property was passed down through several generations of Sir Richard's family, finally being sold to Stephen Proctor who built Fountains Hall probably between 1598 and 1604
A remarkable Elizabethan mansion, Fountains Hall was built partly with stone from the Abbey ruins. Today there are two rooms open to the public.
