Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden

Enjoy a day out with the kids at this iconic 12th century Abbey ruins and Cistercian corn mill that is a World Heritage Site. Admire the later added elegant water gardens with mirror-like ponds, statues and follies surrounding the ruins. Pick your spot for a picnic on the green lawns stretching down to the riverside for a relaxing peaceful day. Riverside paths lead to the deer park, where you can spot three different kinds of deer.

Learn about the Abbey’s rise from humble origins to a religious powerhouse and eventual decline when you visit the Porter’s Lodge and see how the Abbey would have looked before the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s.

The kids will not want miss the play area so allow time to let them run off their energy, or join the children’s activities, quiz trail or get involved with the family friendly events held throughout the year and in school holidays.

There is a restaurant serving hot meals and estate venison when in season, as well as a tea-room and browse in the shop and plant centre. Free parking at visitor centre and pay and display parking at Studley Royal deer park.