Cromford Mills
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Cromford, Derbyshire
What it’s like
A free mill yard, shops and exhibition, with paid tours telling the story of the world's first water powered cotton mill.
The Mill Yard itself is free to wander, and that gets you the exhibition on Richard Arkwright's inventions, the shops selling art and crafts, and a nature trail alongside the river. It's a proper bit of industrial history, the site where mass production more or less began, and kids can get the gist of it without you paying a penny.
The paid tours are where it gets more interesting. A guided mill tour with a volunteer takes you through the water powered inventions and the social cost that came with them, child labour and the transatlantic cotton trade included, so it's better suited to kids old enough to handle that kind of history rather than toddlers. There's also a 3D holographic experience where you meet Arkwright himself, which is the sort of thing that sticks in a child's memory long after a school trip has faded. Tours run from £7.50 for the Arkwright Experience up to £14.50 for the Mill Manager's Pass or the character tours, with children aged 12 to 16 at £2.50 across the board.
Food is sorted either way. Arkwright's Café does breakfast, light bites and ice cream, while Wheatcroft's Wharf across the road has cake, proper coffee and a seasonal lunch menu looking over the canal. Mill Yard opens at 9, cafés from 10, and everything shuts on Christmas Day. Wheelchair access is decent with ramped routes and accessible toilets, though the site admits some corners of a Grade 1 listed mill are trickier to get round than others.
What’s on here
- SAT10
Haunted Heritage
A paranormal investigation night at Cromford Mills, exploring the old mill buildings and manager's house for signs of the supernatural.
- SUN18
Maker's Market
10:00 · Free
- SAT31
Fright Night 3 - The Mills Have Eyes
18:00 - 23:00 · from £9 · 1 more dates
- SUN8
Antiques, Vintage and Collectibles Fair
10:00
- FRI11
Christmas Carol Service
18:00
Facilities
Need to know
- Food
- Two cafés: Arkwright's Café (breakfast, light bites, ice cream, scones, licensed) and Wheatcroft's Wharf (coffee, cake
- Wheelchairs
- Two accessible toilets on site
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs catered throughout site including cafés
- Getting there by bus or train
- Train: regular service between Derby and Matlock stops at Cromford (East Midlands Trains)
- Worth knowing
- Annual pass: revisit within 12 months at no extra cost on paid tours
- Same-day tour bookings can be made by phone or at the Mill Yard Shop
- An annual pass lets you revisit paid tours again within 12 months at no extra cost
- Closed on Christmas Day
- The mill tours cover heavier history like child labour and slavery, worth knowing before bringing younger kids
Plan your visit
Is it free to get in?
The Mill Yard, shops and exhibition are all free. You only pay for the guided tours and the Arkwright experience.
How much are the tours?
The Arkwright Experience is £7.50 for an adult, and the Mill Manager's Pass or the character tours are £14.50. Children aged 12 to 16 are £2.50 on any of them.
Do we need to book a tour in advance?
You can book online or turn up and book at the Mill Yard Shop on the day. For same day tours you can also ring ahead to check availability.
What's in the tours that isn't in the free bit?
The tours go into the detail of Arkwright's water powered inventions and the human cost behind them, including child labour and the transatlantic cotton trade, plus the 3D holographic meeting with Arkwright himself.
What time does it open?
The Mill Yard opens 9am to 5pm all year. The cafés and shops open at 10am, closing at 5pm in summer and 4pm in winter.
Can we get food there?
Two cafés: Arkwright's does breakfast, light bites and ice cream, and Wheatcroft's Wharf across the road does cake, coffee and a seasonal lunch menu by the canal.
Is it dog friendly?
All dogs are welcome on site, though shops vary on their own policy, and there's a meadow area set aside for dogs to use.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's ramped access, two accessible toilets and carers go free, though some parts of the historic listed building are harder to get around.
Do you do group visits?
Groups of more than 10 get discounted rates, and you can arrange your own private tour guide for a bigger group by emailing ahead.
Is there a discount if you don't drive there?
Show a valid train or bus ticket for 10% off at Arkwright's café. Cromford has its own train stop on the Derby to Matlock line, and there are bus services from Derby too.
Also on site
Cafes
On-site cafes serving food and drink.
Free Exhibition
Free exhibition on the site's history housed in the restored mill warehouse.
Shops
A variety of independent retailers selling art, crafts, food and gifts, plus the site's own gift shop.
Experiences
Mill Tours
Guided tours led by volunteers exploring the history of Cromford Mills, the world's first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill.
Areas to explore
Walks & Trails
outdoorsWoodland valley walks, crag-top hikes and paths alongside the Cromford Canal within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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