There’s so much to explore at the Fountain Abbey this Christmas, and there’s something for everyone. Here are just some of the features you can expect to find during the winter months:
Music and Lights
See this enchanted abbey in a whole different light as the grounds becomes aglow with a sea of colours. As you walk beneath the cellarium’s vaulted ceilings, you’ll come across the nave’s grand columns, where live choirs and musicians fill the ruins with holiday cheer. The cellarium will be filled with choirs and musicians from 2 to 3 p.m. As usual, the estate will close at 5:00 p.m. If you want to see Music and Lights, you don’t need to buy a separate ticket as it’s all included in the admission.
The Abbey will be officially lit each day from Monday 20th December to Tuesday 4th January (except Christmas Eve and Christmas day of course). Whilst walking around, you can expect to hear some recorded classic carols played in the background.
Carols by Candelight
Join in for the Abbey’s annual Christmas carol service as the season draws closer to its end. Please contact a member of the welcome staff for a ticket if you’d like to participate in the service in the cellarium this year. Tickets are first-come, first-served, so we advise arriving early.
Make some crafts at Swanley Grange
Get into the spirit of the season by making some Christmas crafts with the kids. It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids all the little ones to get creative with natural materials and decorate their homes for the holidays.
Treat Yourself in the Shop
If you’re looking for the ideal Christmas present for a loved one or a little something for the stocking, you know you can feel good about purchasing it from Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal since the money you spend goes directly toward maintaining these historic sites.
Boxing Day Pilgrimage – December 26th
This beloved annual tradition is making a comeback! After the Boxing Day service at Ripon Cathedral, walk the four-mile trek. A party of Cistercian monks went out from Ripon the day after Christmas, 1132, to construct a new Cistercian monastery on the banks of the Skell River at Fountains, on the banks of the River Skell.
You can expect this as well as deer walks, guided tours, and a festive trail with Percy the Park Keeper!
