The Best Abbeys in Yorkshire, England

I may be a bit biased as I live here, but I think Yorkshire is one of the greatest parts of the world. There is so much to see and do here! Yorkshire also has so much history to explore – from the wonderful city of York, to castles and cathedrals and historic sites all over the area. Yorkshire (specifically North Yorkshire) also is home to some of the best collections of ruined abbeys in the entire country. The North of England had lots of religious houses. Many of these fought when they were forced to give up Catholicism during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII in the late 1530s.

Nowadays, most of the abbeys are in various states of ruin. But traces of splendor and the historic atmosphere remain! Yorkshire has so many beautiful abbeys to visit – here are the best abbeys in Yorkshire!

Best Abbeys In Yorkshire

1) Whitby Abbey

I don’t think you’ll find a set of abbey ruins in the country anywhere near as dramatic as Whitby Abbey. Set high up on the cliffs on the Yorkshire coast, the ruins of Whitby Abbey were the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. You can look out over Whitby and the seaside from the magnificent abbey ruins. The monastery here was founded in 657 AD and the Benedictine abbey remains date to the 13th-century. The abbey is reason alone to visit Whitby, but there’s enough to see in town that makes it great for a day or weekend trip.

Admission Charge: Yes (English Heritage) // Website

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Read More: A Perfect Day In Whitby

2) Fountain’s Abbey

Fountain’s Abbey is one of the largest and best-preserved Cistercian monastery ruins in England. This site is huge and there is a lot to see here! The abbey was founded in 1132 and there is a small museum in the Porter’s Lodge that provides loads of details about the history of the abbey. The roof-less nave is stunning, as are the cloisters. Don’t miss the cellarium, where the monks would have stored food and would have been underground. The 18th-century water garden of Studley Royal makes for a perfect walk once you’ve explored the abbey ruins. Don’t miss the view from Anne Boleyn’s Seat. Fountain’s Abbey isn’t too far from the cathedral market town of Ripon, if you want to extend your visit to the area! The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Admission Charge: Yes (National Trust) // Website

3) Rievaulx Abbey

Another one of the major Cistercian abbeys in North Yorkshire, Rievaulx Abbey is located in the North York Moors National Park. It was also founded in 1132 (the same as Fountain’s Abbey) and the church ruins that are left date back to the 1220s. The ruins here are extensive. You can really get a feel for how the monks would have lived walking through the ruins of the dining hall and the abbey. It’s only 3 miles away from the charming market town of Helmsley, which is worth a visit as well.

Admission Charge: Yes (English Heritage) // Website

4) Jervaulx Abbey

The ruins of Jervaulx Abbey seem tranquil compared to some of the bigger abbey ruins on this list. As plants and flowers are allowed to grow around small parts of the ruins, it can almost feel like a secret garden. When I visited, I was actually the only visitor there which made the visit so peaceful! Jervaulx Abbey was founded by the Cistercians in 1156 and today is privately owned, located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There is no admission charge but there is an honesty box for donations.

Admission Charge: Entry by Donation // Website

5) Bolton Priory

Located in the Bolton Abbey Estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Bolton Priory is one of the most picturesque abbey ruins in Yorkshire. The priory was originally founded by Augustinians in 1154 and, following restoration work in the 19th- and 20th-centuries, services still operate here today. One of the best views of the priory ruins is across the River Wharefe near the stepping stones. The abbey is located on the Bolton Abbey Estate and there are lots of great walks in the area!

Admission Charge: Yes (Bolton Abbey Estate) // Website

6) St. Mary’s Abbey (York)

Located in the city center of York in Museum Gardens, the ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey are one of my favorites in Yorkshire. Founded by the Benedictines in 1055, the church was built in 1088 and became the richest abbey in the north of England. The ruins left today date from a series of rebuilding that was finished in 1294. The stone walls around Museum Gardens (and behind York Art Gallery) were built in the 1260s and are the most complete set of abbey walls in the country. There are other remains of St. Mary’s Abbey in Museum Gardens, like the Hospitium (only open for private events) and the Abbot’s House (now King’s Manor and part of the University of York). If you’re visiting York, a trip to St. Mary’s Abbey is a must.

Admission Charge: No – Free Entry // Website

7) Kirkstall Abbey

The magnificent ruins of Kirkstall Abbey are just outside Leeds city center. The area surrounding it is a public park and the ruins aren’t far from the River Aire. Kirkstall Abbey was founded in the 1150s by the Cistercians and there is a small museum in the gatehouse which tells more of the history. The best part of the ruins is undoubtedly the nave. While it may not be quite as large as some of the other abbey complexes, this is definitely one of the best abbeys to visit in Yorkshire. It is part of Leeds Museums and Galleries but entry is free.

Admission Charge: Yes (Leeds Museums & Galleries) // Website

8) Mount Grace Priory

Mount Grace Priory is the best-preserved Carthusian priory in England, located in the North York Moors National Park. While the gardens and Mount Grace House (where you enter the property) are beautiful, the priory ruins are the most interesting. Founded in 1398, you can see the ruins of the church. The best part of the site is seeing the recreation of a Carthusian monks’ cell, which includes their own personal garden! Carthusian monks lived as hermits. Therefore each had their own separate area and only saw one another for evening prayer, on Sundays, and on special occasions.

Admission Charge: Yes (English Heritage) // Website

9) Byland Abbey

Another Cistercian monastery, Byland Abbey is a hidden gem to visit in North Yorkshire. Originally founded as a Savignac order, it was re-founded by the Cistercians in 1147, settled in 1155, and moved to the present location in 1177. One of the beautiful features of Byland Abbey is the stunning medieval floor tiles, which you can still walk around today. The impressive lower half of a large rose window was the inspiration for the rose window at York Minster. The site is operated by English Heritage but there is no admission charge.

Admission Charge: No – Free Entry // Website

10) Kirkham Priory

Located in the Howardian Hills outside of York (near Castle Howard), Kirkham Priory was founded by the Augustinians in the 1120s. The gatehouse ruins are the most impressive remains, and date to the 1290s. Kirkham Priory was used as a testing site for D-Day landing vehicles during World War II in 1944, and Winston Churchill even visited the site! The River Derwent runs next to the ruins, and there are some great opportunities for hiking in the surrounding area.

Admission Charge: Yes (English Heritage) // Website

11) Gisborough Priory

Not much is left of Gisborough Priory, located in the small market town of Guisborough. This Augustinian abbey was founded in 1119 and was the fourth-richest religious house in Yorkshire by the time the Dissolution of the Monasteries came in the late 1530s. Not much is left of the priory today, with the large east end of the church (built in the 14th-century) dominating the remains. It’s not far from Roseberry Topping.

Admission Charge: No – Free Entry // Website

12) Easby Abbey

Located near the Yorkshire Dales just down the river from Richmond, Easby Abbey is definitely a hidden gem. You can easily walk along the river from Richmond to the abbey, which takes about half an hour. It was founded by the Premonstratensian (also known as the White Canons) in 1152 and you can see ruins of a lot of different abbey buildings. The parish church is still used today. I’d definitely recommend combining a visit to Easby Abbey with a visit to Richmond for a great day out in Yorkshire.

Admission Charge: No – Free Entry // Website

13) Roche Abbey

Roche Abbey is located in South Yorkshire, in Maltby near Rotherham. Founded in 1147 by the Cistercians, the ruins of the Gothic church transepts dominate the site. There is also a stream running through the site, and on the other side you can see the remains of a kitchen area and the abbot’s quarters. This is a great spot to bring a picnic on a nice day!

Admission Charge: Yes (English Heritage) // Website

Planning Your Trip

I have essentially visited all of these abbeys on a daytrip at some point or another from York. However, you can easily combine a visit to some of the abbeys and visit more than one in a day! If you’re visiting Yorkshire to explore these magnificent abbeys, I’d recommend staying in York as it’s the most centrally located for visiting these abbeys. If you want to book train tickets to York, I recommend using Trainline for the best deals. Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports are closest – I book flights on Skyscanner.

Many of these sites have limited public transportation, and a car is most definitely the best way to get around. Having your own set of wheels will give you so much more freedom, and you won’t be relying on buses with reduced timetables. You can search for hostels here, and for hotels and B&Bs here! You can also sign up to and search Airbnb here. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Looking to join a tour? Some of these Yorkshire tours visit the abbeys, just check the details to see what’s included!

Yorkshire is home to some truly stunning abbeys. There is so much history to explore and enjoy in Yorkshire, and visiting these abbeys give a real insight into how people lived in this area in the medieval era. I love visiting these abbey ruins in Yorkshire, and I hope this helps in planning a visit to some (or all!) of these Yorkshire abbeys too!

Have you been to any of these Yorkshire abbeys before? Which one was your favorite?

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