27-05-2025
Historic attraction named best in the UK by Which? has free-roaming deer, water gardens and kids playground
THE top historic attractions around the UK have been revealed and and beautiful former monastery in Yorkshire has come out on top.
Which? asked 3,000 people what their favourite historic attractions are around the UK, and the ancient abbey came in at number one.
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Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England.
Which? revealed that Fountains Abbey received an overall attraction score of 88 per cent - which was a combination of overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.
It also got four stars for entertainment and five stars for lack of crowds.
The site is three miles from the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire and was founded in 1132.
Fountains Abbey operated for over 400 years as one of the wealthiest monasteries in the country until its dissolution in 1539.
After being handed down through various families, the abbey is now owned by the National Trust and is classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is home to 300 wild deer, which you can see roaming around the 822 acre parkland.
The site also has a 'top class' play park according to visitors.
It's less than two minutes from the visitor centre, there's a huge play area with a rope bridge, nets, fireman's poles, a slide and zip wire.
During kids' holidays, there are extra activities like circus skills workshops, a teddy bears' picnic, crafts and live music.
UK attraction inspired by ancient Greece - with medieval castle, Jurassic Park-esque gardens and kids playground
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The site also includes St Mary's Church, one of the finest examples of high Victorian gothic revival architecture in England, designed by William Burges.
It's home to the Studley Royal Water Garden, which includes canals, ponds, cascades and a temple.
It was built by more than 100 men during the 1700s - and is called 'one of the best surviving examples of a Georgian water garden in England' by the National Trust.
One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: "Beautiful grounds and the abbey ruins were spectacular, I only wish we had arrived sooner so we could have spent more time."
Fountains Abbey typically gets over 400,000 visitors a year, and it's been used for some TV shows too.
It was used as background for the second season of The Witcher starring Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra.
Entry fee for the Fountains Abbey is £21 for adults. Children between 5-17 can get a ticket for £10.50.
There's also an offer for families with a family of five getting entrance for £52.50 which is £10.50pp.
One writer recently managed to .
And here are free attractions to visit this summer revealed by the National Trust.
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