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28

Jun 2020

Last Updated: 28/06/2020

Fountains Abbey's gentle re-awakening after lockdown

by Tim Flanagan

| 28 Jun, 2020
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Since its re-opening on 8th June, tickets for entry to Fountains Abbey have been much sought after, as the National Trust is currently limiting the daily entry to 1,000 people.

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Fountains Abbey, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the National Trust's leading attractions, is having a gentle re-awakening with a limit of 1,000 visitors a day allowed to visit the abbey ruins, parkland and Studley Royal water garden.

Since re-opening on 8th June, people have been able to pre-book on a Friday for a visit in the following week and the popularity of the site has seen it quickly booked up for all of the days that it has been open so far.

Entry is via the visitors centre from 10am until 4pm, with the site closing at 5pm.

A National Trust spokesperson said:

"We knew that once we started a gradual opening of our gardens and parklands, tickets for our places would be very popular; particularly with such fine weather. We’ve made careful decisions about which gardens and parklands can open, and we have limited their capacity to ensure everyone can adhere to social distancing to maintain the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, which remains our top priority."




The spokesperson, added:

“We are so thankful that our members and supporters have stood by us as we work through these unprecedented times, and we ask for their continued support as we make this gradual transition a success so we can get back to offering nature, beauty and history for everyone.”


Further changes to social distancing announced by the government on Monday, have meant the National Trust is able to take bookings once more for the 14 holiday cottages and houses located on the Fountains estate.



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The abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. Following the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by Henry VIII, the site became the largest monastic ruins in Britain.

The Studley Royal water garden, with the river Skell running through it, was created in the 18th century by John Aislabie, - a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was expelled from the Whig Parliament in 1720 for his part in the South Sea Bubble financial scandal.

Brimham Rocks, the other National Trust owned property in the Harrogate district is now open daily from 8am until 9pm, although there is limited space available in the car park and the trust advises those who cannot find a parking space, to return at another time and not park on the roadside, to avoid blocking access for emergency vehicles.