Rievaulx Abbey

Rievaulx Abbey - English Heritage Historic Site in North Yorkshire | Trust Quest

About

Rievaulx Abbey spreads across a sheltered valley in North Yorkshire, with tall church walls and extensive monastic buildings giving a sense of the community that once lived here. An audio tour explains the ruins, while the museum brings together carved stonework, coins and everyday objects used by the monks. Displays also explore the river Rye and the destruction that followed Henry VIII's suppression of the abbey. Reviewers are struck by the scale of the surviving buildings and recommend allowing enough time for the interpretation as well as photographs. A picnic terrace and cafe look towards the ruins. Walkers can link a visit with Helmsley using the published walking route, with suitable shoes and water for the longer outing. Expect loose gravel, slopes and steps within the abbey. Dogs on leads are welcome in the ruins and tearoom, except at the counter.

ClosedPick a day for times and prices

Until 7 Feb: Wed–Sun 10:00–16:00
From 8 Feb: Daily 10:00–16:00

Also open 26–27 Oct, 10:00–16:00

Off-peak days are £1.80 cheaper for an adult.

Today, Monday 26 October

Off-peak day

Rievaulx Abbey10:00 – 16:00

Off-peak prices, non-members

Ticket	On the day	Online
Adult	£12.70	£10.79
Child	£6.30	£5.35
Concession	£11.80	£10.03
Family	£31.80	£27.03
Family (one adult)	£19.00	£16.15

Book tickets

Opening times may change at short notice.

National Trust members receive free admission with proof of membership; use G03ANZ at online checkout. Rievaulx Terrace is a separate NT property, with a joint ticket option for other visitors.

Open daily 10am-5pm until 24 October, then 10am-4pm from 25 October to 1 November. Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm from 2 November to 20 December. Check the official calendar for holiday and event exceptions.

Last entry is normally 30 minutes before closing.

EH and National Trust members receive free standard admission. NT members booking online use G03ANZ and show a valid card at arrival. NT reciprocal admission does not include a parking entitlement. Advance booking is optional for ordinary admission; special events may differ.

Fine loose gravel and grass, sloping ground and some steps from the church and cloister. Manual wheelchair and mobility-scooter users may need assistance. Two accessible parking bays; benches and cafe seating available. Watch for low walls, open drains and sudden drops.

Parking: Visitor car park beside the admissions centre. Free for EH members displaying a valid sticker; non-members pay. NT reciprocal admission does not establish free parking. Current tariff not confirmed. A donation-based hamlet overflow opens on selected summer days.

Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome in the abbey ruins and tearoom, except at the tearoom counter. Assistance dogs are welcome across the site.

Image: The surviving church at Rievaulx Abbey. Tilman2007/Dr. Volkmar Rudolf, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rievaulx_Abbey-001.jpg

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Passport stamp

Stamp available · Ask the team where to collect it

Walking routes1 route

Helmsley to Rievaulx walk

Dog access not confirmed

Start in Helmsley at the Cleveland Way car park and follow the official Helmsley-to-Rievaulx route map. Public paths do not require an attraction ticket; castle, abbey and terrace admissions and car parking are separate. Stay on the route, control dogs and use short leads near livestock. Do not use the busy B1257 as a return shortcut; follow the mapped path. Route-specific stile suitability and temporary restrictions are not confirmed.