Rievaulx Abbey

Historic SiteNorth YorkshireEnglish Heritage4.8(3,316 on Google)

Book tickets Website

£14.50

non-member

Free

EH members

4.8

on Google

Open

see times

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.

Walking routes

Helmsley to Rievaulx walk

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.

Dog access not confirmed

Checked 2026-09-10

Opening times

Spring & summer hours

Rievaulx Abbey10:00 - 17:00

Opening time details

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.

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

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

Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs may explore the permitted visitor grounds subject to the visitor-access restrictions above; ordinary admission or eligible membership applies.

Dog walks in the surrounding area: Not confirmed. Not confirmed in full: the Helmsley-to-Rievaulx public route is verified, but route-specific dog suitability, stiles and temporary restrictions are not established. National Park guidance requires control, short leads near livestock and keeping to rights of way on restricted moorland.

Leads: Keep dogs on leads in permitted visitor areas. Keep clear of livestock and wildlife; site-specific livestock restrictions beyond the stated rules are not confirmed.

Seasonal dog restrictions: Not confirmed: no additional dated seasonal dog exclusions were established. Follow current site signs; the stated access rules apply regardless of season.

Assistance dogs: Assistance dogs are welcome according to EH access guidance. Contact the site about specific inaccessible areas or equipment.

Pricing

NT members go freeInfo

Free entry for National Trust members

This English Heritage place also accepts National Trust membership for standard admission.

Bring your current National Trust membership card to admissions.
This arrangement is for membership cards, not Explorer Passes.
When booking online, enter G03ANZ at checkout.

More information

English Heritage visitor information

Entry

Non-member prices

Adult

£14.50

Child (5-17)

£7.20

Concession

£13.60

Family (2 adults, up to 3 children)

£36.30

Family (1 adult, up to 3 children)

£21.80

Pricing details

Standard-day walk-up tariff without voluntary donation; seasonal prices vary. 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 online tickets save up to 15%; under-5s enter free. Adult walk-up range: £12.70 off-peak to £16.30 peak.

Parking

Parking not known

The Trust's page does not say how parking is charged.

Parking details

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.

Driving pin is Rievaulx Abbey Car Park and Visitor Centre, matched to the visitor parking guidance at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rievaulx-abbey/plan-your-visit/directions/. Main attraction listing identity is stored separately. Walk from this arrival point to admissions.

Pins

Enamel pin badges sold in the shop here, photographed by visitors.

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Facilities

ParkingCafeShopMuseumToiletsBaby changingAudio guidePicnic areaDogs on leads