With peak summer holiday season approaching, many Brits are choosing staycations over foreign travel. The UK's rich history offers spectacular places to stay, like West Gate Lodge in Ripon, built around 1859 by the Marquess of Ripon using stone from nearby Fountains Abbey ruins.
Unique Accommodation at Fountains Abbey
West Gate Lodge is a cosy cottage for two, featuring handcrafted oak furnishings and original Victorian elements like diamond leaded windows. It overlooks an orchard of ancient fruit trees and sits right on the doorstep of the 12th-century abbey. Guests can explore the ruins and have them to themselves after closing hours.
Next available in August at £760 for three nights, the lodge is ideal for couples or solo travellers. While small, it is one of six cottages by the West Gate entrance that can be booked together for groups of up to 24. Other cottages include Choristers' House (sleeps 10), Fountains Cottage (sleeps 8), Whitefields Cottage (sleeps 6), Abbey Cottage (sleeps 6), Proctor (sleeps 3), Vyner (sleeps 3), The Boot Room (sleeps 2), and Abbey Stores (sleeps 2).
Guest Reviews and Highlights
Guests have left five-star reviews, praising the lodge's comfort and magical setting. One said: "The setting is so magical that you do not want to leave the estate." Another noted: "It is such a privilege to stay on an estate steeped in history and walk around the abbey at sunset." However, some mentioned a lack of phone or internet reception, and limited privacy due to passing visitors.
Nearby Attractions and Alternatives
Visitors can explore the 700 acres of Studley Royal deer park and walking trails, plus the Yorkshire Dales and Moors. English Heritage also offers historic stays like Priors Lodge at Mount Grace Priory and Refectory Cottage at Rievaulx Abbey.
West Gate Lodge has earned consistent praise for its atmospheric location and well-equipped facilities, making it a memorable staycation choice.
