Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal water garden will re-open tomorrow to the public. However, only one car park will be available.
This week the National Trust began its phased re-opening of all of its sites to ensure maximum safety for their visitors.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is the next to re-open. It will limit the number of visitors and insists on pre-booking before arriving.
Visitors will have the opportunity the pre-book online and will be given a 30 minute time slot to arrive within. Visitors who arrive without pre-booking will be turned away.
The cafe is closed but the toilets will remain open to the public.
Justin Scully, General Manager of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal said:
“We have introduced a booking system so we’re able to control numbers to maintain public safety. Whilst the Studley car park remains closed the main visitor centre car park will be open and visitors will need to book in advance. Given the unprecedented circumstances, and in order to keep everyone safe, your visit to the National Trust will feel different from normal.”
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is re-opening tomorrow with pre-booking essential for any visitors.
Read more:
- WATCH as Newby Hall prepares to re-open to the public in full bloom.
- The stunning area of Nidderdale could be under threat as six suspected incidents of bird poisonings take place during lockdown.
Alexa Vernon is the Visitor Experience & Marketing Manager for the site, she said:
RHS Harlow Carr sees spike in online bookings“The atmospheric abbey ruins, fanciful follies and elegant canals and ponds are all still the same though we have had to make some changes to keep everybody safe. All of our indoor spaces such as Fountains Hall and the Mill are closed as well as our playground. We’re asking everyone to park at the Visitor Centre though and to call ahead if they require level access.”
RHS Harlow Carr has seen a spike in demand for places at its gardens ahead of reopening on Monday.
The RHS saw delays on its online booking system yesterday as a high volume of people flocked to the website to book spaces to its gardens.
The gardens will be open from 10am until 4pm, but people must pre-book a space in order to limit the amount of people attending.
Due to high levels of interest you may experience delays in the online booking process; please bear with us. Please note you will not be allowed entry without confirmation of your booking. pic.twitter.com/VI5xUvpEHG
— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) May 29, 2020
Safety measures will also be in place including floor markings for social distancing, screens at the checkouts, hand sanitiser for visitors and staff and a no cash policy.
A statement on the RHS Gardens website said:
“Our foremost priority remains the health and safety of our members, visitors and staff and we will do everything possible to ensure all government social distancing measures are followed.
“All visitors will be required to pre-book a timed entry slot in advance of their visit and visitor numbers entering the gardens will be limited.”
Meanwhile, National Trust attractions in the Harrogate district will remain closed this weekend.
It means that Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon, will not be open for people to travel to as the trust plans a gradual reopening of its attractions in the coming weeks.
Brimham Rocks will remain closed to the public until further notice.
The National Trust is set to reopen some of its smaller gardens and parklands from June 3 and advanced bookings will be required to maintain public safety.
Newby Hall and Gardens, Ripon, will remain closed to visitors. A statement on its website said it was working hard to reopen “as soon as possible”.
Further afield, Bolton Abbey Estate reported that it sold out tickets for the estate yesterday and urged people not to visit.