Had a great day, was lovely to revisit a site which I haven’t been to since I was a child. Even better that our day out was with a complimentary National Trust ticket and was completely free! Every member of staff we met was friendly and helpful. The lady at the reception booked us on guided tours of the cottage and the apprentice house, both of which were really informative and led by fabulous guides. We also spent time in the mill, the owner’s house and the gardens. Can’t comment on food and drink as we took our own snacks with us, there’s plenty of seating available. A great day out, free parking too. Well done everyone at Quarry Bank Mill!

We visited on a sunny afternoon for a walk in the gardens and woodland. We had a lovely walk and enjoyed the lovely gardens set alongside the river. Even better we downloaded free passes to get in. We didn’t visit any sites f the exhibitions as the weather was too nice to be inside!

Such an eye opener to how things were hundreds of years ago and what was expected in the workforce for those at the cotton mill. We did see the full story in the main mill, which was so interesting. Beautiful surroundings for a walk and we spent a lovely three/four hours in the mill. The restaurant was also really lovely and the young chap who served us was very good. Definitely recommended if you are in the local area.

Return visit after 35 years or so. Much has been done to restore the mill which is great. Nothing like enough information captions on the machines - there was some weird children's detective trail with a few bits of info but that was about it. The usual NT 3D arty map helped to guide one around the estate but really no substitute for a proper detailed plan. The gents loo was horrible. I found myself holding my breath as the stink was as bad as the worst municipal 'convenience' - that's not the customary NT experience...

Recently visited Quarry Bank mill and had a fantastic time. It’s still a working mill in part, producing fabric for its own shop. You need to get a place on the guided tour of the apprentice house when you arrive at reception and tours of the main house are limited to 15 people at a time but run about every 15 minutes. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and very willing to give you their time and explain in great detail how the looms and the mule work. As a retired maintenance engineer I was very grateful to the two ladies who showed me the looms running and explained the mechanics of them, I was even given a book to read at one point. There is a restaurant and cafe and it’s worth a walk up to the village of Styal which takes about 10 minutes.

So after a trip across the Pennines and round the M60 to get to Quarry Bank, we were both in need of a loo break, luckily even though the attraction wasn't open as such, luckily the toilets at the mill were (phew!!! and they were spotless), so feeling much more relieved we wandered back up the drive to visitor reception, where we booked in for visits to Apprentice House and the cottage in Styal village. Back down the drive again for a visit to the cafe for drinks and a very good scone each (it had been a long time since a bowl of porridge in Lincolnshire), and then a quick flit round the second hand bookshop (very rarely leave a NT bookshop without taking one or two home and today was no different), and then it was time to go to the Apprentice House. You have to wait in a sort of hut like shack for your guide and there is lots of interesting information about the Mill and the apprentices to read there, we were collected by Ted and taken round the House, Ted was excellent, really knowledgeable and entertaining and we thoroughly enjoyed his tour. Next was a walk up to Styal village for a tour round the workers cottage, we were a bit early and wandered around the village and then had a very pleasant chat with the guy in the little visitor centre, good film as well about the village and mill, and then Keith took us round the cottage, he was very good, a natural storyteller and the cottage very interesting. The weather is now turning a bit **** so we legged it back to the mill and spent a long time in this fascinating building, lots of exhibits, info boards and engineering stuff, yes you're right, the nerd in me loved it, especially the working machinery, steam engines and water wheel, literally had to drag Mrs C away from the "tower of Hanoi", she was fascinated by it. The volunteers were all friendly and a mine of information, and had a lovely natter with Jane (I think?) as she demonstrated one of the spinning machines. We need to come back to Quarry as due to a) running out of time and b) **** weather, we never got round the House or round any of the gardens, and I'm sure we didn't see everything in the mill, so see you again Quarry Bank we had a great day!!

We love this place and could return again and again. Have visited twice in the last month and one both occasions had a fantastic day. The walks are stunning, and this time, the autumn colour made it even more special. The garden area, river walk, and woods are a must. We love the shops and various eating places. The mill itself is also worth a visit. Can not recommend highly enough. As National Trust members, we recognise that it is quite expensive for one visit, so if you have to pay the full price, make sure that you plan to spend the day there.

An extensive site with a range of buildings, gardens and country to explore, aided by some brilliant National Trust staff providing demonstrations across the process from taking raw cotton to cloth in the Mill. There are five floors in the Mill, the owners house, Apprentice House and one of the properties in Styal village to visit - the latter two by guided tour. Very informative on the history of the time with notes of all the jobs undertaken by workers aged from 6/7. Good sized restaurant, second hand bookshop, another cafe by the vegetable gardens and shop selling cloth items made at the mill as well as the usual NT produce

Loved the apprentice house and the guide was really informative and had a good sense of humour. The cafe was very busy but they coped well and we got our food in good time and it was really nice. We visited the house and the lady outside was great explaining about it being a summer home for the family. However, the gentleman inside gave us a talk about the family and their involvement in the slave trade. When I suggested that not only the cotton and sugar trade but slavery 10yards from the house he got quite shirty. Taking children from London, not paying them, locking them in at night, making them sign up for 10 years work surely this is slavery as well. He muttered something about overseers and it was quite different. If you are going to be open about aspects of the family getting rich in the backs of others surely the children were part of this as well. Perhaps he should visit the excellent exhibition in the mill which clarifys how the children were used and abused before he pontificates about the slave trade. Another grouse was the lady with the Spinning mule who made us wait 15 minutes to see it after telling us earlier it would be working in 10 minutes and when we got back less than 10 minutes later we had missed it. Whilst we were stood waiting she spent a while on her phone, wandered about trying to look busy then exactly 15 minutes later set it going. She must have felt really powerful keeping 6 of us waiting.

Lovely cold and sunny day at Quarry Bank. Not been since a school trip along time ago and forgotten how interesting the mill was. The grounds were lovely but we plan to return in the spring when the gardens are in bloom. The guide round the apprentice house was very engaging and full of knowledge and very entertaining. Wish we had more time as it really Is a full day out.