If you have any interest at all in the history of early industry and its impact on society as a whole, this is a must-see. The learning opportunity is tremendous in scope. The displays are fabulous and the chance to see working vintage machinery, as well as live demonstrations of various pieces of equipment, provides a unique experience. The £12 price of admission includes a guided tour of the Apprentice House and a self-guided walk through the Mill. You also can wander the grounds independent of admission and these are impressive themselves. Touring the Apprentice House is definitely worthwhile. The guides are excellent and provide multiple tidbits of captivating information. Walking through the Mill is equally fascinating. The quality of the restoration of the facility is impressive and provides a great atmosphere in which to enjoy the tour. The real highlight, however, is the display of working machinery. The Mill was skillfully restored to its mid-1800s condition and the live exhibitions of working equipment give a real sense of how the factory must have operated. Overall, this is without question a worthwhile place to visit if you have any interest in 19th century history, particularly the impact of industrialization on English life. The staff are wonderfully helpful and interactive. It is a great choice for a day out as there are many enjoyable dimensions to the visit. It is a don't-miss attraction if you are in the area. read more

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There's nothing more I love than a Sunday walk in an atmospheric, cold and misty National Trust park. There's nothing quite like getting the blood pumping by walking through the muddy trails, enjoying the soothing sound of the rivers and taking a break from the city. With this in mind, we went to the Quarry Bank Mill which is situated just outside Wilmslow and close to Alderley Edge (just in case you're after potential lunch options after walking). Being an old cotton mill from the 1830's, it's incredibly striking upon arrival and it's amazingly well set in woodland of the highest order. We actually didn't make it into the house as we really just wanted to stretch our legs and get a bit of fresh air but we did go on one of the trails which took maybe half an hour of moderate walking, while we also had the option to go on a much longer harder walk but thought we'd leave that for another day. It was £4.50 to park the car and this gives you full access to all of the grounds. There's 2 cafes on site which serve everything from main meals to cakes, snacks and of course tea and coffee. This place probably isn't one for hardcore walkers but it is a nice little option to nip to for a couple of hours if you've been stuck inside for a while or want to see lots of nice greenery. read more

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There's something truly special about this hidden gem and it is well worth the trek to get here. Situated next to the ex-mill town of Styal, this National Trust property is one of the best examples of Manchester's cotton mill industrial heritage. It is HUGE. When you think you've seen all of the cotton weaving machines you think possible, you turn a corner and there are more! Most of the machines are still in operation and you can watch the staff running the machines and hear excellent interpretation about how the mill life would have been. The interpretation throughout the mill is well put together with many new additions on the way. This is a great place to come on a sunny day as the gardens and walk ways around the property and towards Styal are beautiful! Bring a picnic or support the NT café and sit in the garden next to the river. A great place to bring the kids! read more

I love it here. It's one of my regular running haunts and it has a great combination of road, gravel, grass, mud, ups and downs. Much of the running is alongside a river which winds it's way through the trees in sweeping turns. There are some unusual cows in a field near the a538 end and if you're into plane spotting its possible to run along next to the airport. read more

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I have to preface this with with the fact we are national trust members which makes this trip a lot more affordable than the usual £17.50 you would have to spend to visit otherwise. Regardless, I really love this place. I like the starkness of the industrial building set against the beautifulness of nature. This place is steeped in history with the mill dating back to the 18th century. I have to admit that we've been twice already and not yet made it to the mill because we wanted to enjoy the weather and outdoors each time. The garden is fairly small but well maintained nevertheless and includes a vegetable plot, green house and viewpoints overlooking the grounds. Make sure to wear your wellies, it can get pretty muddy. There's a grassy area alongside the water where people can enjoy a bite to eat or just take in the view. There's also a cafe and gift shop to explore as well as a small playground area for kids. The toilets were immaculate. The staff we've come across here have all been super friendly. The car park is a little crazy busy and I can imagine it would be manic if you came at certain busier times. I'm already looking forward to our next visit. read more

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My experience is limited to The Mill House. Loaded with history and artifacts. Part of the National Trust. £4 to park £8 to enter one (of three) areas/'attractions' Celia was a great interpreter! Warm, knowledgeable and very interesting. She made for a memorable trip. =D I would go back to see the other areas that I didn't get a chance to see this first go-round. read more

With Christmas coming, this is one of the best places in the North West to visit if you are looking for an insight into Victorian living and working. Quarry Bank Mill is set on a Styal Estate, which at the turn of the century was a working Cotton Mill and community feted as one of the better places to end up if you worked in this industry. Set in some beautiful Cheshire countryside, Quarry Bank has retained all of the old Mill Machinery and living qtrs, offering visitors the chance to experience what is must have been like to live and work in this thriving industry. It is set over a vast area including the mill, outhouses, workers cottages and woodland. More modern features of this Nationl Trust property include the usual visitor centre, gift shop and eateries. It is most impressive over the Christmas period, with staff in costume, and traditional decorations. It's great for people of all ages, kids in particular, as they focus on what it was like for children to live and work here. I guess it's meant to make children appreciate what they have in the 21st century. It really is a great day out, plenty to see and do, as much fresh air as you can take. A must. read more

An excellent day out. As with most National Trust properties, they try hard to make the place really interesting; the day we went there was enough to keep our two kids (then aged 4 and 2) entertained for several hours. Even if they had lost interest in the mill it's a lovely area for a short (or, come to that, a long) walk. There's a playground there too, though it's tucked out of the way a bit and not especially well advertised. But the place itself is really interesting -- steeped in history and, all in all, well worth a visit. read more

Quarry Bank Mill - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Wilmslow, XGM

Quarry Bank Mill and the surrounding Styal estate is a great day out if you fancy stretching your legs and getting some fresh air. The countryside is a beautiful surrounding to the mill and parking is available, though is usually costly for non-National Trust members. The mill gives kids and adults alike an enjoyable visit and an interesting look into how life used to be. Worth a visit. read more

Quarry Bank Mill is an industrial heritage site which includes a cotton mill with working machinery, restored Apprentice House, mill workers' village and country estate. It is situated in Wilmslow, Cheshire and it is great for a day out especially if you have kids. The mill itself is open to the public and you can see the still working waterwheel. There are also lots of displays showing how people lived and worked during the industrial revolution. The mill is set in lush grounds which you can have a stroll around after visiting the mill. The mill also features a cafe and gift shop. read more

Fantastic place. Love going round the cotton mill, the guides and staff are welcoming and sometimes give out samples of the cotton at different stages of the process, lots of hands on activities (great for children and school trips) from looms, weaving, spinning and dying and printing the finished fabric. Great insight into what conditions where like and the running of the mill. Definitely one of the best National Trust sights in the North. Lovely setting, ideal short and long walks in the grounds, good children's play area and plenty of space for a good picnic. The shop has the usual N.T paraphernalia but also products made out of the fabric produced at the mill. Recommend the ice creams here. read more

My friend and I were taken aback with this mill Especially when we went to a Halloween evening held there!! It was scary beyond belief!!! The stories told were true stories too which made it even more terrifying but we both were pleased we went. The guide was very informative and we learnt of a little boy who had been killed by the machines. You really get a sense of what it must have felt like being so young and working in really tough conditions. Some of the machines are still working and you get a run through of the various stages of cloth, from cotton to linen. There aren't very good eating facilities but take a good picnic as there are lovely grounds to eat it in read more

A lovely National Trust Property, I love taking the kids here for the day, Quarry bank mill is an old cotton mill, restored and open to the public by the national Trust. A great day out for young and old alike, A great educational visit too for the little ones. They have lots of Special events throughout the year, these include themed events such as halloween night, christmas activities and easter, check their website for details of events. A definate visitor attraction, well worth a visit. read more

This is I believe the only working cotton mill left in the country. It is a very busy National Trust Property and as you expect from this landlord everything is just so. A education for the young and the less young. A lovely place to take a stroll and admire the views or take a step back in time and see how a mill worked and experience what it was like to be a child worker living and working in the mill. This is an experience well worth travelling to see, feel and smell as it is a rare museum were you are encouraged to touch. The schoolhouse is more than worth a visit, it is an integral part of any visit. Time slots are allocated for the tour of this building. read more

Fab place to visit during the school holiday or at weekends. Full of usefull information the kids will love it. Set in beautyful countryside so you could take a picnic, relax and enjoy the nearby walks and panoramic views. read more

Quarry bank mill is an old cotton mill, restored and open to the public, it is a National Trust atraction. A great educational and fun day out for all the family. Special events are held throughout the year, these include themed events such as halloween night. Reasonable entrance prices and discounts for national trust members. read more

old mill set in idyllic wooded countryside with riverside walks. very popular with schools who take the children for visits, so very child friendly. read more