Ripon is one of the most picturesque and historic Cities in North Yorkshire with a wealth of history and beauty and is situated between the river Skell and Ure. A fantastic place to stay in one of its welcoming hotels or visit any time of the year. In it's wonderful surroundings it is famous for its magnificent Cathedral, horse racing and its busy and ancient market.
The town is well known for its Christian roots, which date back to the first monastery dating back to a Scottish Abbot of Melross named Eata. More famously St. Wilfred was appointed later when the Monk Eata retired in the middle of the seventh century. The Monastery was later burnt down by the Danes but was stubbornly rebuilt by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Odo. Many years saw more upheaval and terror as the Norman invasion took its toll, and next the invading Scots burnt the town and Monastery to the ground. The West Front dates from around 1220 and is home to a magnificent wooden carving, which dates back to the fifteenth century.
Horse racing has been a part of life for Ripon since the middle of the seventeenth century with records going back to 1664. The course was also recently been voted the best small racecourse in the north.
There are many attractions in and around Ripon. Fountains Abbey is, just a couple on miles west of Ripon, is one of Yorkshires best known and attended attractions with over a quarter of a million visitors a year. It was founded by a group of Benedictine monks after the Archbishop of York granted them the land.
The site is now a National Trust estate with magnificent gardens, water garden and deer park which are all apart of the Studley estate which concentrates on giving the visitor a great day out as well as an all important conservation park.
A visit to Ripon come with the attractions of the nearby towns and attractions that North Yorkshire has to offer. Nearby Knaresborough offers wondrous and impressive views overlooking the river Nidd where a visit to Mother Shipton Cave is a must. Harrogate boasts a floral beauty of its own with many award winning gardens, and a visit to nearby Ripley Castle within Ripley will delight every visitor who graces its historic walls.