UNLIMITED ACCESS TO OVER 400 HISTORIC PLACES
Live and breathe the story of England at royal castles, historic gardens, forts & defences, world-famous prehistoric sites and many others.
Escape to this tranquil valley of the North York Moors and discover the impressive ruins of one of England's most powerful Cistercian monasteries.
Our new visitor experience shines a light on Rievaulx Abbey's fascinating past and the lives of the monks who called Rievaulx Abbey their home. Explore our elegant museum displaying previously unseen artefacts which tell the story of the rise and dramatic fall of the first Cistercian abbey in the North of England.
Wander the extensive ruins of the abbey to discover more about the building and how it looked at various stages of its development. Pick up an audio tour to learn more or hunt for clues of medieval life with our family trail.
Take in the stunning views from our new visitor centre while enjoying a tasty treat in our new tearoom and appreciate why St Aelred's 'everywhere peace, everywhere serenity' description of Rievaulx Abbey could quite easily have been written today.
Why not park in the nearby chocolate-box town of Helmsley and take a scenic walk from Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx Abbey? Download the map here.
Timeline
1131-2First Abbey
Walter Espec, lord of Helmsley, builds temporary timber structures for the first monks sent from Clairvaux in France.
Find out more about the history of Rievaulx Abbey
1135-6Stone Structures
William, the first abbot, begins work on the first stone buildings.
Gallery for Rievaulx Abbey
About us
English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and places - from world-famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of empire to a Cold War bunker. Through these, we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a company, no. 0744722, registered in England.
How We Are Funded
Our target is to become completely self-funding by 2023. Our confidence in achieving this is based on our track record. During the past 10 years, our commercial income has doubled and we have raised nearly £60m in donated income.
- 66% Self-generated income
- 20% One off capital grant
- 14% Government funding
