Houghton Mill and Waterclose Meadows

Houghton Mill is now open after the winter break and there is lots to discover inside and outdoors, rain or shine. Try visiting during the school holidays for some extra family fun!

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

Adventures await children inside the Mill and out as they try grinding flour using a traditional hand quern, follow our outdoor nature trail or paddle on the mill pond in a canoe.

Enjoy the spectacular river-side and meadow walks from Houghton Mill to St. Ives, Huntingdon and Godmanchester. We've put together three downloadable walks to help you explore the area.

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

Enjoy some great cycling through delightful meadows, historic towns and picturesque villages. Cycle safely direct onto the centre of Cambridge and explore NCN 51

Nestled on the banks of the River Great Ouse and with fantastic views over the historic working mill, our Waterclose Meadows campsite is an idyllic place to pitch your tent. Campsite reopens on 15 March 2019.

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?

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.

Visit our exhibition of late 19th, and early 20th, century paintings and see Houghton Mill, St Ives and the surrounding area as it was over one hundred years ago.

Our riverside tea room overlooking the mill is the perfect place to relax, refresh and enjoy the view. Please check our seasonal opening times.

From beautiful mugs or stylish sun hats to children’s toys and freshly milled stone ground flour, don’t forget to stop in at one of the Houghton Mill shops.

Houghton Mill stone ground wholemeal flour is milled in the traditional way using our quality French Burr stones to give a rich, nutty taste and rustic texture.

Do you have some spare time and would like to support the vital work of the National Trust? We have fantastic volunteering opportunities inside the historic mill, from running the original machinery to bringing its stories to life. Find out how to join the team.

Do you love being outdoors and meeting new people? We’re looking for volunteers on our friendly, riverside campsite to greet guests, stay as wardens or help us maintain the site. Find out how to join the team.