Historic SiteNorth YorkshireEnglish Heritage4.8
St Mary's Church was designed by William Burges and built between 1870 and 1878 for the Marquess and Marchioness of Ripon, after Lady Ripon's brother Frederick Vyner was killed following his kidnap by bandits in Greece; the family put the money set aside for his ransom towards this church and its sister at Newby. Burges's 'ecclesiastical masterpiece' stands at the western end of the lime avenue in Studley Royal deer park, aligned on the west front of Ripon Minster, and is managed by the National Trust for English Heritage. Inside, coloured marble, stained glass and painted and gilded figures show High Victorian Gothic at its richest, and twin marble effigies commemorate Lord and Lady Ripon, buried in the vault below. Reviewers single out the decorated chancel and the knowledgeable volunteers. The church opens only for a short spell each afternoon in season, so time a deer park walk around it. Dogs on short leads are welcome outside, but only guide dogs inside.
Open April - September (daily), 1pm - 3:30pm. Some additional opening may be available in March and October. Please see National Trust website for details.
From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027.
English Heritage's calendar: open daily April to September, 1pm to 3.30pm, with some extra opening in March and October; the EH place page gives 1.30pm to 3.30pm from late March to late October. Check the National Trust website before travelling.
Free to everyone. Managed by the National Trust for English Heritage as part of the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal estate; the church stands in the free-to-enter deer park, outside the charged abbey and water garden.
Free to everyone; the church stands in the free-to-enter Studley Royal deer park. English Heritage membership is not needed.
No car park of its own. The National Trust's Studley Royal car park, closest to the church, is pay and display (7.00 for four hours, 10.00 all day) and free with an English Heritage or National Trust card; the visitor centre car parks, about ten minutes' walk away, are free.
No car park of its own. The National Trust's Studley Royal car park, closest to the church, is pay and display (7.00 for four hours, 10.00 all day) and free with an English Heritage or National Trust card; the visitor centre car parks, about ten minutes' walk away, are free.
Driving arrival: Studley Royal Car Park for Fountains Abbey, reached through Studley Roger village, about 360 metres from the church across the deer park. There is no visitor parking in the village.
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Accessibility: Wheelchairs can enter the church, but the approach is over uneven ground and gravel paths. Visitors can be set down at the church by arrangement with the National Trust at Fountains Abbey (01765 608888).
Parking: Studley Royal car park, the closest, is pay and display and free with an English Heritage card; the visitor centre car parks are free. Toilets are at the Studley car park. The Studley tea-room and the gate between the deer park and the water garden are closed for building works until winter 2027/28.
Photo: Martin Dawes. CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/). Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Mary%27s_Studley_Royal_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3225468.jpg. Resized for display.
Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on short leads are welcome outside the church; only guide dogs are allowed inside.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on short leads are welcome outside the church, in the deer park setting where deer roam freely.
Leads: Short leads outside the church.
Assistance dogs: Guide dogs are permitted inside the church; the access page says assistance dogs are welcome.