Family-friendly things to do at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

1600218 — Wrap up warm and make special memories here this Christmas | © Annapurna Mellor

There are acres of space where little legs can explore and imaginations run riot here at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal. Find out more about what to expect if you’re planning a visit with babies and children.

Planning your family visit

Fountains Abbey is open 7 days a week and there’s no need to book in advance - just come along and spend a full day exploring, running and playing.

There are accessible toilets and a dedicated baby change at the visitor centre, by Fountains Hall and at the Studley end of the estate.
There are accessible concrete paths on a circular walk around the estate. Paths inside the abbey ruins and deer park vary from gravel to grass and hard standing. You can find a map here.
Children under five are welcome to bring balance bikes and bikes with stabilisers to help them get around. Larger bikes and e-scooters are only allowed on the long drive through the deer park.
There is a ball games area next to playground at the visitor centre, ball games are not permitted beyond this point.

Exploring safely

The abbey ruin is nearly 900 years old and while it looks tempting to climb on, it's much safer to have fun discovering all the secret doorways and staircases instead. The river Skell runs through the site and it a great place for spotting wildlife. Please do keep those wellies out of the water though as it is deep and fast running in places.

Kickstart your Christmas

Christmas launches on 30 November

Wrap up warm and join us for Winter Tales at Fountains Abbey.

Hear live music fill the abbey ruins.

See the abbey aglow with colours inspired by the Northern Lights.

Pick up a candle and join a service of Carols by Canelight. Tickets will go live on 15 November.

Go on the hoof with the rangers in the deer park

See what's going on

a mum and children look at details in the Fountains Abbey stonework — Come in and look up! There are faces and figures hidden all around the high points in the abbey ruins | © J Shepherd

Become an abbey adventurer

Don your adventure cap and set out to discover all the hidden corners of the abbey. See if you can find the last of the white marble and all the ruined alters in the nave. Can you hear an echo in the cellarium and how many staircases can you find throughout the ruins? Be sure to look up to find carved figures and faces.

A family dressed in coats and hats walking along a path in the parkland at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, surrounded by trees with a small historic structure in the background — Exploring the parkland at Fountains Abbey | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Be a water garden explorer

Don't stop at the abbey. The water garden is full of straight lines and symmetrical curves but there are many corners to discover, too. Climb up to the Banqueting House lawn and have fun, can you spot Octagon Tower in the distance?

Explore woodland on the High Ride path - but you'll need to walk through the dark Serpentine Tunnel to get there! Once you're up, you're up and there are three follies to find. One has an underground kitchen, one is made out wood and one has a wide view down to the abbey. See if you can find them all.

We're famous for the abbey ruins but find out what else you can explore on your visits

Visitors at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Discover the play area

Less than two minutes from the visitor centre there's a huge play area where inquisitive little minds can be let loose to play. There are things to wobble along, jump over and climb on...you'll find a wooden abbey, a woodland lookout, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman's poles, a slide and a gigantic rope bridge for the most daring adventurers of all. There’s also a five-point harness swing for our younger visitors with additional access needs. Parents can keep an eye out from picnic tables dotted around or come and join in with building a den.

Two deer going antler to antler in the annual rut — rutting season in Studley Royal Deer Park | © Mark Clook

Spot the deer

Nature is all around you in the deer park. Watch as little faces light up in awe as they spot the deer in the distance. Can you tell the difference between the red, sika and fallow deer? If you’re really quiet, you may even spot a newborn fawn but remember to keep your distance as the deer herds are particularly vulnerable during summer.

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Main car parks to main entrance: between 50 and 350 metres

Visitor centre to the abbey ruins: 400 metres with a steep incline

Visitor centre to the water garden: 1,500 metres, or 1.5km

Visitor centre to Studley entrance: 1,800 metres, or 1.8km

Circular walk around the abbey and water garden (most popular route): 4,500 metres, or 4.5km

Visitor Centre circular walk around the abbey and one side of the water garden and up through the deer park via St Mary’s Church: 3,000 metres, or 3km
What better way to spend your day than trying new activities from the list of '50 things to do before you’re 11¾'? Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal is a great place to become an explorer and you can do lots of the '50 things' activities here throughout the year.

Here's just a few ideas to get you started:

No. 1 Get to know a tree: With so many to choose from, which will you get up close and personal to? Look out for leaf shapes, textures on the bark and tiny creatures that might live on the tree.

No. 12 Have fun with sticks: Let your imagination run wild. Build a den, make a trail or create your own game...they make perfect wands.

No. 44 Watch a bird: To be a successful bird watcher, you'll need to be as quiet as a mouse while you keep a look out for our feathered friends. What will you spot?

'I love coming to Fountains Abbey with my family. My favourite bits are the zip line in the playground and the secret upstairs room in the abbey. I like to chase my big sister through the tunnel in the garden too. We always race through the middle bit where it’s really dark.'