Quarry Bank Mill is Styal’s very own slice of history that was built in the start of 1784 and quickly grew to be one of the largest cotton manufactures in the world!
We came with grandparents and our two children, one toddler and one newborn in a sling. Most of Quarry Bank Mill is set at the bottom of a valley so there’s a gentle slope to meander down to (this was lovely as it was windy day and very sheltered)!
We recently joined the National Trust as members so this was our first adventure out for 2024 using the tickets!
We visited the gardens (paid entry) and loved exploring and having a look around. I especially enjoyed 5 minutes peace with a great coffee and scone in the cafe whilst the grandparents took charge of our children!
We also had a walk around the grounds (free entry). In hindsight we could have easily brought the pram as most walks are marked with two options “a no step route” and a “step route”.
Our little girl (3) loved being in charge of the map in the museum Styal Mill, (paid entry), it was built by Samuel Gregg at the start of the Industrial Revolution and a lot of the machinery is still operational and working today! Many of the machines are powered by a gigantic 7.3m water wheel!
The mill itself is a self guided tour which was perfect for our toddler with a short attention span. You can’t take prams through the Mill but you can leave them at reception. We were particularly impressed with the demonstrations of the working machinery! You could spend hours walking around here but we kept it to a short brief visit of about 30 mins which with a toddler was perfect!
We somehow managed to avoid a trip to the playground (it’s quite small and gets very busy on weekends) in favour of a walk through the woodlands. Find out more about the Quarry Bank woodlands here.
All in all we had a lovely day and we will be back to Quarry Bank Mill to explore again and next time will use our passes to visit Staircase House (also included in a day ticket price).
The only one watch out, is whilst the site is beautifully maintained and the staff are lovely and helpful, for a National Trust Property we did find the signage to be quite sparse but I guess this just adds to the adventure !
- Pram friendly: In parts
- Perfect for: A walk, lunch and a museum
- Parking: Large free car park
- Dog Friendly: Yes (outdoors)
- Cost: Free for a walk. Entry to gardens and NT properties and museums free for members of £22 for adults, £11 for a child or family tickets cost £55
- Top tip: If your members bring your National Trust cards to gain free entry.
