Free things to do in Ripon
Ripon is a small city where a lot of the best bits cost nothing. Spa Gardens has a Victorian bandstand and a statue of the first Marquess of Ripon, The Obelisk has stood in the Market Place for centuries, and Ripon City Wetlands is a short walk out along the canal.
Most of what's free here is outdoors: parks and playgrounds, nature reserves like Hell Wath and Quarry Moor, and bird hides further out at Nosterfield and West Tanfield. Spring and summer are best, when the Spa Gardens bandstand has Sunday afternoon concerts from May to August and the wetland birds are busy.
Highlights
Hell Wath Local Nature Reservei
The Obeliski
The Marquis of Riponi
Spa Parki
Spa Gardensi
Chapel of St Anne's Hospitali
Best for families
Spa Gardens and Spa Park are the main spot for kids, with a refurbished play area, Alice in Wonderland tree sculptures and a Green Man trail of over 30 hidden plaques to find. Borrage Green Play Area is another free playground in the city.
Best for walks and views
Hell Wath Local Nature Reserve follows the River Skell on the west side of the city, with woodland, grassland and a waymarked nature trail, while Quarry Moor on the southern edge is a protected limestone grassland. Ripon City Wetlands has a trail out to a lagoon viewing screen and the Canal Reedbed Hide, where you might spot bitterns, kingfishers or otters.
Little Studley MeadowA nature reserve to explore on foot near Ripon.✓ Free
Quarry MoorA nature reserve to explore on foot near Ripon.✓ Free
Ripon City WetlandsA nature reserve to explore on foot near Ripon.✓ Free
How HillA hill to climb for free views in Ripon.✓ Free
Best for history
The Obelisk in the Market Place is Grade I listed and thought to be the oldest surviving free-standing monumental obelisk in Britain. The roofless Chapel of St Anne's Hospital is all that's left of a medieval almshouse, and the bronze Marquis of Ripon statue in Spa Gardens dates from 1912.
The ObeliskA historic site to explore near Ripon.✓ FreeChapel of St Anne's HospitalA historic site to explore near Ripon.✓ FreeSt Helen's CottageA historic site to explore near Ripon.✓ Free
Mackershaw LodgeA historic site to explore near Ripon.✓ Free
All free places in Ripon
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Getting there and around
Ripon has no railway station. The nearest is Harrogate, which has trains from Leeds, York and London King's Cross, and the 36 bus runs from there to Ripon bus station in about 45 minutes. In the city, St Marygate and Cathedral car parks are the main long-stay options and they charge, so check the current council prices before you go. Ripon City Wetlands has its own car park, free for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust members with a donation asked from everyone else.
Questions people ask about Ripon
What free things are there to do in Ripon?
Spa Gardens is free to wander, with a bandstand, play area and the Marquis of Ripon statue. You can also see The Obelisk in the Market Place, the ruined Chapel of St Anne's Hospital, and walk at Hell Wath, Quarry Moor or Ripon City Wetlands.
Where can kids play for free in Ripon?
Spa Park has a refurbished play area, and Spa Gardens next door has Alice in Wonderland tree sculptures, a tree trail and a Green Man plaque hunt. Borrage Green Play Area is another free playground. Note the crazy golf and putting green in the gardens are separate activities.
Where can I see wildlife for free near Ripon?
Ripon City Wetlands, run by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, has a lagoon viewing screen and the Canal Reedbed Hide, and it's open on foot from the canal towpath dawn to dusk (no dogs). Further north, Nosterfield Nature Reserve and the hides at West Tanfield are good for birds too.
Are there free concerts in Ripon?
Yes, the Victorian bandstand in Spa Gardens hosts band concerts on Sunday afternoons from May to August.
Also nearby
Everything within 10 miles ›
Burton Leonard Nature ReserveA nature reserve to explore on foot near Burton Leonard.✓ Free
RMBC Langthorpe MooringsA pier to stroll along in Boroughbridge.✓ Free
Tanfield HideA bird hide for free wildlife watching in West Tanfield.✓ Free
Main HideA bird hide for free wildlife watching in West Tanfield.✓ Free
Lumley Moor ReservoirA lake or reservoir with walks around it in Kirkby Malzeard.✓ Free
Tower HideA bird hide for free wildlife watching in Staveley.✓ Free
Nosterfield Nature ReserveA nature reserve to explore on foot near West Tanfield.✓ Free