Seeing the best of Ripon by walking from its cathedral to the Market Place.
Ripon in a Day: A 1 Day Ripon Itinerary
Probably one of the best cities in Yorkshire. This pretty little city packs a big punch. It is home to historical buildings and traditions that you can see when you are here. A day visit to Ripon will not disappoint you at all. There are three amazing museums to visit, a stunning cathedral to explore, a riverside and a canal that you can walk alongside.
It is incomplete to visit Ripon without also visiting nearby Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. This magnificent place, surrounded by nature, is a way to end your visit to Ripon.
Here are the recommendations for things to do and see on a Ripon day trip.
If you have time in the coming summer, read my guide to spending a day in Ripon.
Morning
Start your first half day in Ripon city centre. Choose carefully which attractions you want to visit and see to ensure that you have enough time.
Go to: Ripon Cathedral is easy to find because you can see it easily from different parts of the city. If you are in the Cathedral, go inside one of the oldest crypts in England. Take your time to explore it, from the entrance until the nave. If you're into Alice in Wonderland, find things that are related to Lewis Caroll in the choir area.
Visit to: If you walk out of the cathedral, to the right is where the Courthouse Museum is located. This beautiful Georgian house is a good example of how a court would have looked when it was last used. It is fascinating because you can still see the original features of the court. Do go around to see the library, courtroom, the jury room, and retiring room, where you can see portraits of past magistrates who once presided at this court.
Learn about police at: A less than 10-minute walk from the Courthouse Museum is where the Prison and Police Museum is located. This is where you can learn about prison and police history in the city. It is quite an interesting place to go to, especially if you are travelling with your children. If your time permits, explore the Workhouse Museum; it is a fascinating museum showing how the inmates lived, worked, and died. From the Police and Prison Museum you can take about five minutes to walk to the Workhouse Museum.
Tips / if you've decided to go to all the three museums do buy an entrance ticket 3 for one. The price is slightly cheaper if you buy a single ticket at the same time for all three museums and you can use the ticket for one year.
Lunch at: Have your lunch at Realitea. It is located on North Street, a short walk from Market Place.
More reading // Things to do in Ripon
Afternoon
Wander and explore: Drive to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park after a wander in the city centre. Spend half a day here to explore each of these places. Fountains Hall, the Mill, Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal Park, St Mary's Church, and Deer Park are among the attractions available. Each of them has their own uniqueness that attracts all of us. Nonetheless, you can easily spend a full day here if you wish.
More reading // Discover Ripon: Things to Do and See
Travel Practical Information
Well prepared pre-planning and research will help make your travel plans easy. It also helps you to understand what you are looking for and what to do in each location. Here is the information I've prepared and that you might want to consider and use when planning your own trip to Ripon.
Location of Ripon
Ripon is located in between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. It is accessible from the A1(M) and a short drive from Harrogate, Knaresborough and medieval York.
Getting to Ripon
There are regular buses from Harrogate, Thirsk, and York to Ripon.
By car. The easiest way to get to Ripon is by car. Ripon has good road connections with Leeds, York, Durham, Edinburgh, and Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Where to park: Ripon Cathedral is a short walk from Marygate Car Park, which is the strategic car park in the city centre. The parking fee is very cheap here; it costs 60p for one hour, £1 for up to two hours, £1.60 for up to four hours, and above four hours it is £2.
By train. There is no train station in the city. The nearest train station to Ripon is Harrogate, about 11 miles away from the service. The bus service to Ripon from this train station runs frequently.
Getting around Ripon
The city of Ripon is easily explored on foot. The size of the city is relatively compact. Most of the attractions in the city are easy to reach on foot, and their locations may be close to each other too. You need a car or bus to get to nearby attractions, e.g., Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal Parks.
Places to stay
Check booking.com or Airbnb.com to check out what accommodation is available in the town. The accommodation ranges from hostels, hotels and cottages to apartments.
Places to eat
Ripon has plenty of places to eat from street kiosks and cafes to restaurants. Realitea, Manchega, Wilfrid's Cafe and the Yorkshire Tearoom are the places that we have been to and all of them are highly recommended.
How long do you need in Ripon
I suggest the minimum stay in Ripon is two full days. If you don't have much time, one day or day trip is sufficient enough to explore Ripon. You can do some interesting things in the city to enjoy its history and beyond it. The number of days you stay depends on your travel plans, travel budget and things you want to see.
What to wear
Depends on which season or month that you are travelling to the city. T-shirts and jeans can be worn during the summer time. In summer the temperature can be up to 24°C.
Don't forget to bring along an umbrella with you in case of rain. A light jacket to wear in spring and autumn should be considered. In winter bring along your warm jacket/coat, gloves and hats and also boots to get ready for snow.
Structured one day trip to Ripon
This itinerary is split into two areas to visit. Visit the city centre first, where you can explore the three museums, the cathedral, and the Market Place, and end your day by going to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Park is a must-visit, whether it is your first time or if you are returning.
A day trip provides you with a glimpse of the city's history. This itinerary gives you a great idea of what to do and see and how to manage your time accordingly.
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