Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal are amongst the several old abbeys, castles, and monasteries in Yorkshire that we visited as we drove from Oxford to York. Lush and green, the gently rolling hills of the British countryside reminded me of our home in New Zealand, although the frequently overcast sky confirmed that we were in the UK.
Located in Studley Royal Park, Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best-preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England.
It was founded in 1132 just after Rievaulx Abbey. Both flourished for over 400 years until Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of all monasteries in 1539.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
I can only imagine what the abbey looked like in her glory. Here are 17 of my favourite shots of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. See if you agree that her ruins portray an incredible masterpiece:
Can you spot our girls?
Wildflowers growing in one of the walls
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal – What you need to know
This site contains affiliate links to products and/or services. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
- You can find Fountains Abbey approximately 5 kilometres (3 miles) south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire.
- The ruins are UNESCO World Heritage listed.
- If you prefer tours, this one includes the park and abbey as well as Castle Howard.
- If you are an overseas visitor and love castles and old ruins, get either a 9 or 16 day English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass. It will give you unlimited access to over 100 sites across England. Unfortunately, Fountains Abbey is not one of them as it is owned and maintained by National Trust.
- We found Lonely Planet’s Great Britain Travel Guide to be very useful.
Travel planning tips
This site contains affiliate links to products and/or services. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Flights: We use Skyscanner to find all the available flight options at the best prices.
Rental Car: We always use RentalCars.com, a rental car search engine with no hidden costs.
Accommodations: We use Tripadvisor to check ratings and book lodging when we travel.
Travel Insurance: We purchase insurance that covers medical and travel emergencies when we head overseas. We start with Travel Insurance Master, an aggregator that gives us a free and easy-to-read comparison of the inclusions of each policy.
Packing Tips: Get a free copy of our packing light checklist when you sign up for our mailing list. (We pack light, yet have everything we need.)
**Find more money-saving resources on our Travel Resources page.
Save for later
If you enjoyed this article, please share it on social media and save it for later on Pinterest.
Have you been to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal or any of the Cistercian abbeys in England?
Check out these places in Europe:
roger elliott
Rhonda,
Like you I’m mesmerized by these ruins. They beckon me. We Americans go overseas and our emotions are engaged. Then we return to our transient, impermanent dust-in-the-wind lives.
I’m hoping to convince some local people that building a structure like this would be to make a place for weddings or just for serenity.
Would you be so kind as to grant permission to use one photo of your choice? As a Christian using your work without your permission would be self-defeating. Please and thank you.
Vedante | The Lavish Nomad
I love those pictures! I have a couple of friends from England and we were talking about the English countryside. Looks like they were quite right about its beauty.
Rhonda Albom
Can you go and visit with your friends? Perhaps they could take you to the countryside.
Ruth Daly
Awesome photos! I remember learning about this at school, and for all the years I lived in the UK, never visited. Really enjoyed your pictures. (saved to my England board on Pinterest)
Rhonda Albom
Thanks.
Reshma
Lovely pictures! They look similar to the world-war ruins that I visited near Manila last year. Loved the rustic charm of these monuments!
Rhonda Albom
These ruins are from age rather than war.
christine
Beautiful! England is definitely a lovely place to visit. I haven’t seen this fountain yet.
Rhonda Albom
Fountains Abbey is one of several medieval ruins in the British Countryside.
Mike Cotton
I haven’t been lucky enough to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. But they certainly look stunning, a photographer’s dream location.
Rhonda Albom
I could have stayed there for days, playing with the sunlight against the structures.
Sandy N Vyjay
The Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal look so intriguing and grand. The magnificent structures look imposing against the beautiful English countryside. The history that resides in these stone structures must indeed be fascinating.
Rhonda Albom
Studley Royal is the Park, Fountains Abbey is the structure.
bettyl - NZ
I would love to tour the castles in Europe with all the great things that go with them. Your photos are great.
Rhonda Albom
While I love the castles in Europe, it’s these old ruins that really captured my imagination.
Katie
Beautiful photos! I used to live in Scotland and loved the history of visiting old castles and abbeys. Was always very cold though…
Rhonda Albom
We were so lucky when we were in Scotland, a week of unseasonably warm weather. I think it was 24-26 in May.
The Happy Whisk
Wow! I LOVE these pictures. Seriously good.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks.
Alissa Apel
This looks like a place my whole family would LOVE! I think I’d enjoy a tour just once. After that I’d prefer to roam.
Rhonda Albom
My whole family loved it, although I think a few of them were getting tired of so many castle and abbey ruins by the last few we visited.
Lexa Cain
Gorgeous architecture and landscaping too! There’s nothing more awesome than European castles and monasteries. Thanks so much for sharing these amazing pics!!!
Rhonda Albom
I agree. I just love these old ruins. We went to one after the next. It was such a great few days.
Indah Nuria
Such a beautiful place indeed Rhonda.. I have not got the chance to go there, though, but happy to add it to my list
Rhonda Albom
There are several abbeys and castles in Yorkshire. It was such a great day.
Anda
I’ve only been to London, but I’d love to visit Fountains Abbey sometimes. These ruins surely look like a good subject for photography. Great pictures, Rhonda.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, next time spend some time in Yorkshire at the abbeys and castles. So much to see and photograph.
Teresa Kindred
Never a fan of Henry XVIII, now I like him even less. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
He was a bit of a baby, requiring things to go his way.
Carol
Rhonda your photography is always fabulous. Love the ruins.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Carol.
Jeanna
The overcast skies could indicate you’re in south central WI too, lol. It’s been mostly to partly dreary here. I love the angles and shots you found in this beautiful old abbey.
Rhonda Albom
Really, I could have been anywhere green and lush. And, thanks.
Lydia C. Lee
That’s stunning. What was on the floor? Doesn’t look like flagstones?
Rhonda Albom
I think it was mostly hard packed dirt, but really I don’t know.
Sandee
Great shots, and it looks like a great way to visit the past. I would enjoy snooping around these grounds.
Have a fabulous day, Rhonda. ☺
Rhonda Albom
I can image you here. You would love it.
L. Diane Wolfe
Gorgeous abbey. That’s one of the things I liked in England – being able to actually explore ruins like that.
Rhonda Albom
Me too. I loved exploring the abbeys and castles. The British countryside is so special.
stevebethere
Brilliant photos Rhonda I enjoyed seeing these and congrats for getting them with a blue sky too which can be quite rare here heheh!
Have a tanfastic week 🙂
Rhonda Albom
We got lucky, a bit of blue sky, then some overcast too.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – I see I commented three years ago … and have posted some of my Durham visit … my father and I went up decades ago, but it was so so hot – yes that hot … that we couldn’t face going inland and stayed near the sea … but I’d love to visit – looks amazing … and you had good weather … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
I can’t image the UK ever being that hot. 🙂
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
stunning shots!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Tanja 🙂
Marie
You found some really interesting views and hidden parts of the abbey. Beautiful photos.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks. We love to explore places like this.
Mersad
This part of England is so fascinating to me. Your images showcase it nicely.
Rhonda Albom
Thanks. It’s really nice to get a compliment from such a talented photographer.
Molly S
Beautiful! I’ve been to Fountains Abbey, but not to the others – it was amazing. There are also some amazing ruins in the Scottish borders (Kelso and Jedburgh) if you ever get the chance to go!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Molly. Hopefully I will remember. We loved the UK, so I am sure we will get there again someday.
Carrie-Anne Foster (thatdizzychick)
I can see why you can’t get enough. So beautiful.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly
I love architectural shots, especially long hallways, archways and churches. These are some beautiful shots.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – England was changed with Henry’s ruining and ransacking the Abbeys and Monasteries … the buildings are quite extraordinary … I’ve loved visiting historical places since I’ve been blogging – more understanding of the history and our heritage. I’ve never properly looked round a ruined Abbey – but they’ll be on my list – and those you saw in the north of England .. I saw decades ago – but have forgotten them. I was very impressed with Durham Cathedral, Castle and the buildings intertwined with them …
Thanks for the reminder .. cheers Hilary
Ann
I love looking at ruins and these look right up my abbey — ha ha.
Anyway, I wish I would have read this before my recent trip to the UK. I would’ve loved to see them in person.
Rhonda Albom
There is so much to see in the UK. You would have had to give something else up for the day.
Steve
I’m with you – I could explore them all day. Great shots, Rhonda!
Sabrina
They’re cool and they make beautiful photos!
Nana Prah
I’m going to have to do some research into what happened to all of these abbeys that they are now ruined. Such a shame.
Rhonda Albom
It was Henry VIII. In the short version, he needed a divorce which wasn’t allowed by the church so he started the Church of England. Destroying the old church and with it the abbeys.
N J Magas
Incredible! Those are some amazing pictures. I can totally undertaker the appeal. I love exploring old, old, old buildings. Around here I have more castles and temples to visit than I could possibly fit into a lifetime!
Rhonda Albom
There were so many options for us, we couldn’t see them all either. I am just glad we chose to include Fountains Abbey.
Ellen
I’ve not been to England, but I have a couple of friends that live there. That would be grand fun.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂