Half-Term Activity Morning at Ripon Cathedral

Date: Tuesday, 28th May
Time: 10:30am

Activities:

  • Sowing Seeds: Learn about gardening and plant your own seeds to take home.
  • Creating Flowers: Craft beautiful flowers using various materials.
  • Making Bugs: Get creative with fun bug-making crafts.
  • Nature Exploration: Discover the natural themes hidden within the intricate carvings and stunning stained glass of Ripon Cathedral.

Cost: £3 per child (includes refreshments)
Payment: Cash or contactless payment available on the day

To book your place, please email yvonnejefferies@riponcathedral.org.uk.

Join us for a morning of fun, creativity, and exploration in the beautiful setting of Ripon Cathedral

Fountain’s Abbey Spring Bank Holiday Activities

Activities at Fountains Abbey:

1. Making Faces Tree Trail

   – Dates: Saturday, 25th May – Sunday, 2nd June

   – Time: 10am – 4:30pm

 This activity invites children and families to explore the grounds while participating in a creative trail. Participants will use natural materials to create faces on trees, blending nature with artistry in a fun and engaging way.

2. Spring Craft

   – Dates: Saturday, 25th May – Sunday, 2nd June

   – Time: 11am – 3pm

The Spring Craft sessions provide an opportunity for children to get hands-on with various craft activities. These sessions are designed to inspire creativity and connect with the natural beauty of the abbey grounds.

These events at Fountains Abbey offer a wonderful combination of outdoor exploration and creative expression, making them perfect for families looking to enjoy the spring season while engaging in educational and entertaining activities.

Hutts Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park

We are coming up to one of the most beautiful and colourful times to visit the Hutts Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park. The rhododendron, azalea bushes, and magnolia trees are flowering and the gardens have been adorned with 60 new sculptures. The gardens are 8 miles from Ripon City Centre and opened for the season just last week. Admission is bookings in advance only https://www.himalayangarden.com/admissions-tickets/

May be an image of the Cotswolds

Markenfield Hall

Markenfield Hall, just 4 miles out of Ripon on the Harrogate Road, has opened for the season. It is a very grand medieval, moated home with an entry in the Domesday Book (1086). The hall has an interesting, not always peaceful, history which will be shared with you on one of the ‘Tiny Tours’ that can be booked.

“Markenfield is the seat of the Grantley family – builders of nearby Grantley Hall – and is the much-loved family home of the widow of 7th Lord Grantley and her second husband. Together, Lady Deirdre and Ian Curteis continue the restoration of the Hall and the wider Estate.” https://markenfieldhall.com/

Visiting is from Tuesdays to Sunday from April through June and Wednesdays to Sundays from July until 2nd November. It is also open on Bank Holiday Mondays.

The estate has restrictions upon it for the number of visitors so bookings for ‘Tiny Tours’ are in advance https://markenfieldhall.com/tiny-tours/ or for organised events https://markenfieldhall.com/whats-on/

Rain didn’t stop play here in Ripon today. The market place was buzzing, Kirkgate festivities kept people out and about, and the live music played on! There was something for everyone but the overwhelming feeling was of people making the most of the activities laid on and the hospitality that Ripon has to offer. It’s been a long, wet winter! Welcome springtime!

Ripon Theatre Festival Tuesday 2nd – Sunday 7th July.

Delightful, quirky, fun, dramatic, moving, daring, colourful – these are just some of the words used at the launch at Ripon Arts Hub on Thursday evening to describe the performances booked to take part in this year’s Theatre Festival.

Comedy cook George Egg entertained those attending the launch with a hilarious evening of banter, entertaining analogies, and his highly resourceful cooking style. Cooking utensils included a wallpaper steamer and domestic irons.

Venues for the festival in July include The Ripon Inn, The Old Deanery, Ripon Cathedral, Newby Hall, Ripon Library, Wetherspoons, Storehouse bar, Fountains Abbey, Ripon museums, Valentino’s restaurant, The Little Book Shop, Ripon Marketplace, Spa Gardens, among others.

There will be family theatre, circus workshops, puppet shows, story tellers, dancers, stilt walkers, and so much more, from local community groups as well as performers and artists from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and England.

Volunteers are needed to help for all manner of tasks (see the website for more details) Contact info@ripontheatrefestival.org to offer help.

https://www.ripontheatrefestival.org/events

George Moss at Ripon Arts Hub, Allhallowgate, Ripon

Horse Racing at Ripon Racecourse

Horse racing at Ripon starts again on Thursday April 18th with gates opening at midday. If you fancy a short break with a trip to the races, we currently have 2-night stays available at our 3 properties in Ripon for Thursday 18th and Friday 19th.  

Buses run regularly from the city centre to the racecourse, or it is a half hour walk.

Ripon has a wealth of restaurants to choose from and all the local attractions will be open for the season.

https://ripon-races.co.uk

‘French Impressions’ – La Mer by Debussy 20th April 2024 7:30 – 9:30pm

A performance described as a ‘rich and evocative depiction of the underwater realm in three poetic movements’ by Ripon’s St Cecilia symphony Orchestra, with guest appearance by highly talented South African pianist Roelof Temmingh, who studied at Royal College of Music and in Vienna, as well as receiving master classes from several world renowned pianists.

Ripon Cathedral is a warm and inviting venue to hold any kind of acoustic event and is highly recommended as a point of interest on your visit to the city.

Ticket price is £34 per person and are available from Harrogate Theatre, Little Ripon Bookshop, on the door or via the link on the What’s On page of Ripon Cathedral’s website.

Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park

If you visit the gardens in April and May, prepare to see an array of blooming rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias. The various colours are a sight to behold. It is one of the prettiest times to spend time there.

There are numerous striking sculptures, as well as a Pagoda from Bali, a Norse hut, an arboretum with over 300 different trees, a Himalayan shelter, a summer house, and 45 acres of garden to explore.

The gardens have a tea room and plants are on sale for visitors. Over the summer, there will be organised workshops, art retreats, and the implementation of new sculptures are planned.

Opening 10am until 4pm from April 18th – June: Tuesdays to Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays. July – 3rd November: Wednesdays to Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays.

A visit to the gardens must be booked in advance due to a planning regulations policy, in order to manage the number of daily visitors. You can book on the website https://www.himalayangarden.com/

Features

Walks and panoramic views

Red Scarf sculpture

Easter Holiday Activities

Reasons to bring the kids to Ripon and stay during the Easter School Holidays

  • All 3 museums are open and there are very reasonable package prices, as well as plenty to do over the Easter holidays.
  • Lightwater Valley theme park is open from 28th March for kids big and small. Get an early bird deal by typing Easter24 at the checkout.
  • Fountains Abbey and Deer Park. There are always lots of activities for the children over school holidays and an Easter egg hunt too! Saturday 23 March to Sunday 7 April, from 10am to 4pm. Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg.
  • Brimham Rocks for climbing and exploring, as well as some fabulous scenery.
  • Ripon Scenic Cruises. Boat rides start from Friday 29th March and run every half hour. There are special Easter ‘Hop Aboard’ trips and afternoon tea packages.
  • Newby Hall and Gardens. Opening on 28th March, this is a fabulous example of an Adams House. There are beautifully kept gardens, a miniature railway, boat rides, an adventure playground, a water feature, shop, and dolls house exhibition. The children will not be bored.
  • Ripon Library. Children can make your own stained-glass style Easter egg to hang in the window. Ripon Library holds a story time for under 5’s at Ripon Library on Wednesdays 10.30am & Fridays 10.30am.