Fountains Abbey - a glimpse into history
Fountains Abbey is one of the oldest and most well-preserved ruined monasteries in England, located just outside of Ripon in North Yorkshire. This beautiful abbey was a home to devout monks for hundreds of years until it was disbanded by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries. Today it still stands as a fascinating look into life and politics in medieval England.
Soak in the beauty of the Studley Royal Water Gardens
Over a century after it was disbanded, John Aislabie, a prominent British politician of the time, inherited Studley Royal and turned it into the water garden which now stands Near the abbey. A World Heritage site, the garden is a beautiful array of reflective ponds, statues and follies, with the ruins themselves incorporated in the design. An incredibly tranquil and well-kept area, the water garden is the perfect place to stroll around and let your stress melt away.
Visit Ripon Workhouse Museum and Gardens
If you're still hungry for history after your visit to the abbey, head down to the Ripon Workhouse Museum and Gardens for a fascinating and faithful look into life for the poorest residents of the city over the 19th century. Aside from the museum's intriguing and often harrowing displays, the kitchen grounds are a rare example of a surviving workhouse garden. Planning a trip to Fountains Abbey? Travelodge Harrogate West Park Hotel is a half-hour drive away, and Travelodge York Central Layerthorpe Hotel is just over 30 miles to the south.