Working watermill in the heart of Winchester
More than 135 gardens and parks are now open through advance booking, as well as hundreds of coast and countryside places. A number of houses are also open in England and Northern Ireland. Read this article to find out what's open and what to expect from your visit.
Winchester City Mill has stood at the heart of the historic city of Winchester, the capital of King Alfred’s Wessex, since at least Saxon times. With a history of over 1000 years, Winchester City Mill is probably the oldest working watermill in the UK.
A rare surviving example of an urban working corn mill, the City Mill was rebuilt in 1744. Having entered the care of the National Trust in the late 1920’s, the City Mill was restored back to full working order in 2004.
Inside, you’ll discover more about the mill’s long and fascinating history through hands-on activities and audio-visual displays. See the mill in action and learn how we produce traditional stoneground wholemeal flour using the power of the River Itchen. Our team of volunteer millers provide flour milling demonstrations every Saturday and Sunday as well as Wednesdays during the summer months.
Discover how our freshly milled stoneground flour is combined with local seasonal ingredients to produce delicious treats during our baking demonstrations, run by our volunteer bakers throughout the year.
The City Mill is home to a wide variety of wildlife including kingfishers, grey wagtails, wild trout and water voles, which can be spotted from our tranquil island garden. Watch our city otters’ adventures from regularly updated archive footage and view the live feed from our cameras along the river.
The City Mill is also the official gateway to the South Downs National Park, providing a wide selection of information for those wishing to explore local walks and the attractions found within the South Downs, including the many historic National Trust properties.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £6.50 | £5.85 |
| Child | £3.25 | £2.90 |
| Family | £16.25 | £14.60 |
|
Group Adult
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £5.80 |
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Free entry for National Trust members, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust members and under 5s.
Important notice - City Mill, Benham's Bakehouse and our shop will be closed after Friday 20th March. We apologise for any inconvenience. Please check back for further updates.
