Houghton Mill and Waterclose Meadows

Enjoy the many routes along the river and through meadows from Houghton Mill to St. Ives, Huntingdon and Godmanchester. We've put together three downloadable walks to help you explore the area.

Canoe along the River Great Ouse and its tributaries from Houghton Mill. Pass through meadows and pastures to the picturesque and historic towns of Huntingdon and St Ives.

Enjoy some great cycling through meadows, historic towns and picturesque villages. You can also safely cycle directly into the centre of Cambridge and explore NCN 51.

Houghton Mill is the last surviving mill on the River Great Ouse able to produce stone ground flour from a water-powered wheel. When the mill is running you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of this historic building in action.

The milling process is full of floury language, but do you know your hopper from a shoe? Explore the historic machinery through this handy glossary, and get prepared for your next visit!

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the stretch of river from Houghton to St Ives was a hub for many artists. Take a look at some of the paintings on display inside Houghton Mill.

Plan your next family adventure or tranquil retreat to our friendly riverside campsite. Bring your caravan or motorhome, pitch your tent, or even try glamping in our pods for an idyllic countryside escape.

Camp in style in our brand new camping pods. Our well furnished and equipped standard pod sleeps up to four and our luxury pod even features an en-suite bathroom and kitchenette.

Our friendly site offers fantastic facilities in an idyllic village surrounded by walking, cycling and canoeing routes with a local shop and pubs only a short stroll away.

Houghton Mill was a regional powerhouse at the height of the Victorian era, exploiting its position on the River Great Ouse to produce flour on an industrial scale. How did it get to that position and why did it all come to an end?

Business partners Potto Brown and Joseph Goodman embraced new milling technologies to make Houghton Mill one of the most successful mills on the River Great Ouse in the 1850s.

In the early 20th Century Houghton Mill was languishing in a state of disrepair and even faced demolition until it become one of the more unusual venues offered by the Youth Hostel Association.

Our annual mill stone inspection is an essential conservation task before we start milling again each season. But what do the mill stones look like inside and how do we keep them in top condition?

During milling flour dust gets everywhere. Find out how our dusting schedule is less light housework and more a battle with the cobwebs!

During the 19th century, keeping the huge waterwheels turning efficiently was essential to the success of Houghton Mill. Over 150 years later we still need to regularly monitor, maintain and conserve this important piece of machinery.

Do you have some spare time and would like to learn a new skill, meet people and support the vital work of the National Trust? We’re looking for friendly talkers, creative crafters, hands-on millers, green fingered rangers and more to join the team at Houghton Mill. Find the role for you!

Click here to search for the latest opportunities to work at Houghton Mill. Simply put Houghton Mill in the search bar to see what is currently available.