If you have any interest at all in the history of early industry and its impact on society as a…read morewhole, 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.

There's nothing more I love than a Sunday walk in an atmospheric, cold and misty National Trust…read morepark. 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.