Area Guide

The City of Ripon set in the heart of North Yorkshire and is one of the fourth smallest cities in England. A very attractive tourist destination due to being only a stones through from a number of other tourist destination – Studley Royal Park, Fountains Abbey and Lightwater Valley.

About Ripon

Ripon was founded over 1300 year ago near to the junction of River Ure and has a population of around 16,000 which make Ripon a lively market town/cathedral city. The City has a strong cultural heritage which is seen clearly through the medieval and Georgian buildings that line the centre of the city’s streets.

What to do in Ripon

The City of Ripon has plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. It also comes alive every Thursday when the Ripon Market is held on the market square. The market is located next to the Obelisk, which is 300 years old. The Obelisk is traditionally were the Hornblower sounds his horn at exactly 9 o’clock every night, a tradition that lives on today.

There is also a number of attractions within the city and locally within only a few miles such as; the World Heritage site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Ripoin Spa Gardens, Ripon Cathedral,the stately home of Newby Hall, the 700 year old Ripley Castle historical buildings and a number of museums.