Founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks, and now a World Heritage Site, the beautifully preserved Fountains Abbey remains one of the largest and best preserved Cistercian monasteries in England.
Its flanked by Georgian water gardens which were the brain child of John Aislabie in the 18th-century. The water garden consists of mirror like ponds, statues and follies.
You can explore the estate under your own steam or join one of the free daily tours and learn more about the architecture and the lives of the monks who lived there.