Fountains Abbey is open 7 days a week and there’s no need to book in advance – just come along and spend the full day exploring and playing.
Popular with families, Fountains Abbey is a hive of activity which can be daunting especially for visitors with an autism spectrum disorder. However, it’s not all that meets the eye. Find out more about how you can experience Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal if you’re searching for a quieter visit.
Visit during the quieter times:
Last admission is 4:30pm but our car parks don’t close until 6:30pm which gives you plenty of time for a quieter afternoon stroll or even an after-school adventure.
Make the most of our quieter entrance:
The Visitor Centre is often filled with excitement, bright lights and loud noises. A quieter ticket office can be found at the West Gate entrance, with natural light and surrounded by the sound of nature. Enter the estate right next to Fountains Hall, 100m away from the toilets and baby change facilities – all of which have quieter flushes, taps and hand driers.
Take the lesser trodden paths:
The tea garden and orchard are a riot of colour in summer. Experience nature with all your senses. Which are your favourite flowers? What does the sundial feel like? Can you hear the water running down the river?
Wander through the woods along the high ride and visit the three follies. Hide in the trees or look at the view across the water garden. How many crawling beasties or flying birds can you spot?
Make the most of our sensory bags:
Sensory back packs are available to borrow from the Visitor Centre, Studley Royal and West Gate ticket offices. Bright, tactile and designed to calm and intrigue we hope they can help visitors with autism, sensory processing disorder, or those who think they would benefit from them during a visit to Fountains Abbey. Inside you’ll find ear defenders, a bug massager, glitter sticks as well as bits to keep your hands busy and support with expressing emotion. You can pick one up on your way through the ticket offices and drop it off when you’re ready to head home.
Use touch to experience Fountains Abbey:
Feel your way through history as you move your fingers across the abbey walls. Feel the stone as it lumps and bumps. Touch the smooth pillars of the follies in the water garden. Knock on them – what can you hear?
We want you to enjoy Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal as much as you can. If you’d like to discuss any arrangements we can make to meet your access needs please give us a call on (01765) 608888 and we’ll do our very best to help.
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