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Fountains Abbey named among UK's favourite historical sites

Monday, 8 September 2025 12:27

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal. (Images: National Trust / Chris Lacey)

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has been named the second-best historical site in the UK, according to new research by GO Outdoors.

The study analysed admission costs, online reviews, Google search data and the average time visitors are likely to spend at each location. Based on these factors, GO Outdoors created a ranking of the UK’s most popular and highly rated historical attractions.

Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven, Scotland, took the top spot with an overall score of 9.65 out of 10, praised for its coastal views, rich history and relatively low admission price. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in Ripon followed closely in second place with a score of 8.91 out of 10.

Founded in 1132, the abbey and its landscaped water gardens are one of North Yorkshire’s most visited heritage attractions.

The research found that families typically spend more than three hours exploring the site, with admission for two adults and two children costing £52.50.

It also received consistently high review scores, achieving 4.8 out of 5 on Google and 4.7 out of 5 on TripAdvisor.

The SS Great Britain in Bristol was ranked third, followed by Skara Brae in Orkney and Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire.

Other landmarks in the top ten include York Minster, Pembroke Castle and the Tower of London.

According to the research, the Tower of London is the most searched-for historic day out in the UK, with 550,000 monthly Google searches, while Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne in Northern Ireland was highlighted as the most affordable, offering free entry apart from parking.

The full findings can be viewed on the GO Outdoors website here.

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