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Inspiring travel through photography

Home » Travel » Europe » Northern Europe » 17 Images of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

17 Images of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Last Updated: August 14, 2022 // by Rhonda Albom // 55 Comments
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Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK

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:

Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Walkway at Fountains Abbey in England
A closer look at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Statues at an old Abbey in England
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in England
Exploring Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England
Can you spot our girls?
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in England
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Yorkshire England
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Yorkshire England
Once a magnificent dormitory at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire
Once a magnificent dormitory at Fountains Abbey
Archway of Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Wildflowers growing in the wall of the ruins of Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Wildflowers growing in one of the walls
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal – What you need to know

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  • 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.

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Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England UK

Have you been to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal or any of the Cistercian abbeys in England?

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Category: Northern EuropeTag: England, Ruins

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. roger elliott

    September 19, 2021 at 1:40 am

    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.

    Reply
  2. Vedante | The Lavish Nomad

    June 6, 2017 at 3:13 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 8, 2017 at 10:53 pm

      Can you go and visit with your friends? Perhaps they could take you to the countryside.

      Reply
  3. Ruth Daly

    June 6, 2017 at 2:11 am

    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)

    Reply
  4. Reshma

    June 5, 2017 at 2:31 am

    Lovely pictures! They look similar to the world-war ruins that I visited near Manila last year. Loved the rustic charm of these monuments!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 8, 2017 at 10:46 pm

      These ruins are from age rather than war.

      Reply
  5. christine

    June 5, 2017 at 1:59 am

    Beautiful! England is definitely a lovely place to visit. I haven’t seen this fountain yet.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 8, 2017 at 10:45 pm

      Fountains Abbey is one of several medieval ruins in the British Countryside.

      Reply
  6. Mike Cotton

    June 5, 2017 at 1:43 am

    I haven’t been lucky enough to visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. But they certainly look stunning, a photographer’s dream location.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 8, 2017 at 10:22 pm

      I could have stayed there for days, playing with the sunlight against the structures.

      Reply
  7. Sandy N Vyjay

    June 5, 2017 at 1:33 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 8, 2017 at 10:17 pm

      Studley Royal is the Park, Fountains Abbey is the structure.

      Reply
  8. bettyl - NZ

    June 4, 2017 at 7:03 pm

    I would love to tour the castles in Europe with all the great things that go with them. Your photos are great.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 8, 2017 at 10:04 pm

      While I love the castles in Europe, it’s these old ruins that really captured my imagination.

      Reply
  9. Katie

    June 4, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    Beautiful photos! I used to live in Scotland and loved the history of visiting old castles and abbeys. Was always very cold though…

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 8, 2017 at 9:47 pm

      We were so lucky when we were in Scotland, a week of unseasonably warm weather. I think it was 24-26 in May.

      Reply
  10. The Happy Whisk

    June 1, 2017 at 2:49 pm

    Wow! I LOVE these pictures. Seriously good.

    Reply
  11. Alissa Apel

    June 1, 2017 at 3:01 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 2, 2017 at 9:59 pm

      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.

      Reply
  12. Lexa Cain

    May 31, 2017 at 10:47 pm

    Gorgeous architecture and landscaping too! There’s nothing more awesome than European castles and monasteries. Thanks so much for sharing these amazing pics!!!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 2, 2017 at 9:55 pm

      I agree. I just love these old ruins. We went to one after the next. It was such a great few days.

      Reply
  13. Indah Nuria

    May 31, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    Such a beautiful place indeed Rhonda.. I have not got the chance to go there, though, but happy to add it to my list

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      June 2, 2017 at 9:53 pm

      There are several abbeys and castles in Yorkshire. It was such a great day.

      Reply
  14. Anda

    May 31, 2017 at 2:53 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      May 31, 2017 at 6:16 pm

      Yes, next time spend some time in Yorkshire at the abbeys and castles. So much to see and photograph.

      Reply
  15. Teresa Kindred

    May 31, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    Never a fan of Henry XVIII, now I like him even less. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      May 31, 2017 at 6:14 pm

      He was a bit of a baby, requiring things to go his way.

      Reply
  16. Carol

    May 31, 2017 at 11:58 am

    Rhonda your photography is always fabulous. Love the ruins.

    Reply
  17. Jeanna

    May 31, 2017 at 11:51 am

    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.

    Reply
  18. Lydia C. Lee

    May 31, 2017 at 8:55 am

    That’s stunning. What was on the floor? Doesn’t look like flagstones?

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      May 31, 2017 at 6:13 pm

      I think it was mostly hard packed dirt, but really I don’t know.

      Reply
  19. Sandee

    May 31, 2017 at 1:01 am

    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. ☺

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      May 31, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      I can image you here. You would love it.

      Reply
  20. L. Diane Wolfe

    May 30, 2017 at 11:16 pm

    Gorgeous abbey. That’s one of the things I liked in England – being able to actually explore ruins like that.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      May 31, 2017 at 6:11 pm

      Me too. I loved exploring the abbeys and castles. The British countryside is so special.

      Reply
  21. stevebethere

    May 30, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      May 31, 2017 at 6:10 pm

      We got lucky, a bit of blue sky, then some overcast too.

      Reply
  22. Hilary Melton-Butcher

    May 30, 2017 at 8:46 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      May 31, 2017 at 6:09 pm

      I can’t image the UK ever being that hot. 🙂

      Reply
  23. Tanja (the Red phone box travels)

    May 30, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    stunning shots!

    Reply
  24. Marie

    May 30, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    You found some really interesting views and hidden parts of the abbey. Beautiful photos.

    Reply
  25. Mersad

    May 30, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    This part of England is so fascinating to me. Your images showcase it nicely.

    Reply
  26. Molly S

    April 24, 2014 at 2:11 am

    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!

    Reply
  27. Carrie-Anne Foster (thatdizzychick)

    April 23, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    I can see why you can’t get enough. So beautiful.

    Reply
  28. Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly

    April 23, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    I love architectural shots, especially long hallways, archways and churches. These are some beautiful shots.

    Reply
  29. Hilary

    April 23, 2014 at 4:51 am

    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

    Reply
  30. Ann

    April 22, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      April 24, 2014 at 12:32 am

      There is so much to see in the UK. You would have had to give something else up for the day.

      Reply
  31. Steve

    April 22, 2014 at 3:09 am

    I’m with you – I could explore them all day. Great shots, Rhonda!

    Reply
  32. Sabrina

    April 22, 2014 at 3:07 am

    They’re cool and they make beautiful photos!

    Reply
  33. Nana Prah

    April 22, 2014 at 1:10 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      April 24, 2014 at 12:23 am

      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.

      Reply
  34. N J Magas

    April 21, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Albom

      April 24, 2014 at 12:19 am

      There were so many options for us, we couldn’t see them all either. I am just glad we chose to include Fountains Abbey.

      Reply
  35. Ellen

    April 21, 2014 at 9:23 am

    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. 🙂

    Reply

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