One of England’s smallest cities, Ripon is a place steeped in religious history and importance, and worth a visit (especially if you have a car).
At a glance…
- Days To Spend: 1
- Get Around: Drive
- Get In and Out: Your own car
- Pay: With British Pounds, card generally preferred
- Speak: English
- See: Ripon Cathedral, Fountains Abbey, Druids Circle
- Should you go?: Yes! But only if you have a car
General Impressions
Ripon is not on most traveller’s radars, and especially not for international travellers. Nevertheless, it has a stunning cathedral and the city itself is quaint and cute. Nearby, the Fountains Abbey complex will awe visitors. In short, Ripon is definitely a place worth a stop.
Public Transport
Getting Around
Ripon is generally walkable, but it’s major attractions (Fountains Abbey) needs to be driven or cycled to. I would recommend having a car if you visit Ripon.
Getting In and Out
There are infrequent buses from Leeds to Ripon but these are very slow. There are no trains so the best way to get to Ripon is to drive there yourself.
Money
Ripon follows the usual UK pattern of card being accepted nearly everywhere, more modern shops only accepting card, and smaller traditional shops only accepting cash. ATMs can be found though, so you’ll have no trouble just bringing a card and withdrawing if you need to.
Language
Unsurprisingly, English is spoken in Ripon.
Time
Ripon is small, and with a car, pretty much all the major attractions can be seen in a day. Maybe add an extra day if you fancy some of the local museums.
My Favourite Spots
Fountains Abbey
Ruins of a grand medieval monastery, Fountains Abbey is much more than just old rocks. The Abbey itself is very big, and if you’re lucky like we were, you’ll be able to get a free tour of it from local National Trust volunteers. But there’s way more at this site to explore than just the abbey, including a mansion, a working watermill, and beautiful Georgian gardens.
Ripon Cathedral
In the centre of Ripon lies an imposing, square cathedral. It’s free to visit, and has some interesting stained glass and stonework. Definitely worth a visit.
The Druid’s Circle
A very interesting little structure. Some Victorian nobleman decided to create his own little “druid’s circle” on his grounds. Nowadays, it’s a cool place to visit and take some pictures.
Conclusion
Ripon is small, but packs a touristic punch. Fountains Abbey in particular, is spectacular. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are nearby
We May Roam 