Silk Museum
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Macclesfield
What it’s like
Free galleries on 300 years of silk history, plus a timed-entry mill tour with working Jacquard looms you have to book ahead for.
Wander the main galleries at your own pace and there's no charge for it, which makes this an easy one to slot into a wet afternoon in town. You'll get 300 years of silk industry history laid out, temporary exhibitions, and an archive of pattern books that the site calls unrivalled, though the real draw for most is next door.
Paradise Mill is where you pay, and it's worth it if you've got time for a proper look. The Jacquard silk looms still stand in the historic building, and you can either do timed entry (2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm or 3.30pm slots) at £4.50 for a child, or go the whole way with a guided tour at 11am or 12.15pm. The guided tour jumps to £14.50 for an adult, so it's the looms and the story behind them that you're paying for, not just a look round.
It's a listed industrial building, so getting up to the mill floor means three flights of shallow stairs, 49 steps in total. There's a lift as an alternative, and accessible parking sits right outside if that's useful. Family craft workshops and drop-ins run alongside the main displays, which is where younger visitors tend to get more hands-on than a gallery walk-round usually allows.
There's a café on site for drinks and cakes if you need a sit-down between the museum and the mill, and the train station is a five-minute walk if you're coming in from Manchester or further afield.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Several car parks nearby, plus on street parking for up to one hour
- Food
- One café serving hot and cold drinks, cakes, and snacks
- Wheelchairs
- Lift access to all galleries. Alternative accessible entrance
- Getting there by bus or train
- Macclesfield train station, 5-minute walk
- Main museum galleries are free; Paradise Mill and the guided tour are the paid bits
- Paradise Mill runs on timeslots, so pick your entry time when you book
- Closes at 4pm on 19 December 2026 and reopens 10am on 6 January 2027 over the festive break
- Free carer tickets are available if you need one for the mill's stairs
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
The main Silk Museum galleries are free. Paradise Mill is £7.50 for an adult and £4.50 for a child on timed entry, or £14.50 for an adult on the guided tour.
Do we need to book?
Booking is required, and Paradise Mill runs on set timeslots so you can't just turn up and walk straight in.
What are the opening hours?
Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?
There's a lift to all galleries and an alternative accessible entrance to Paradise Mill, since the original route is 49 steps up. Free carer tickets are available if you need one.
Is there parking?
Several car parks nearby plus on-street parking for up to an hour, and dedicated accessible parking right outside the building.
What's the difference between the timed entry and the guided tour at Paradise Mill?
Timed entry lets you look round the mill yourself at 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm or 3.30pm. The guided tour runs at 11am or 12.15pm and costs more, but you get the full story behind the looms.
Is there anywhere to eat?
One café on site does hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks.
Are there activities for kids beyond looking round?
Family craft workshops and drop-ins run alongside the galleries.
How do we get there without a car?
Macclesfield train station is a five-minute walk, with direct links to Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and London.
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