Plan Your Visit
By car: Cromford stands on the A6, 17 miles north of Derby. It is within easy reach of the M1 – about 20 minutes. Satnav – please use postcode DE4 3RQ.
By train: there is a regular service between Derby and Matlock which stops at Cromford. The trains are operated by East Midlands Trains. Train times can be consulted on their website.
By bus: there are two services from Derby, the TransPeak and the 6.1, both operated by Trent Barton, Telephone: 01773 712265. Full bus information and timetable is available on their website.
Map of area: A map of the area around Cromford Mills is shown here.
Cromford Mills is a historic Grade 1 listed building, and we are sometimes constrained with what we can do to make our site accessible for all. Most of the attractions that we have on site are accessible, but there are areas which may prove more challenging.
Tickets for tours can be purchased on-line and Carers Go Free. The link below will provide you more details about parking, surfaces, toilets, seating, motorised scooter hire and more.
Enjoy visiting our cafes or the Countin House Coffee Stop during your visit to Cromford Mills. The cafes are open 10am to 5pm. Well-behaved dogs are welcome at all our cafes.
Arkwright’s Cafe
Soak up the history of the mill in our licensed café and experience the best scones in Derbyshire! Enjoy a lovely breakfast, light bite or a range of seasonal dishes. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Wheatcroft’s Wharf
A great place to take a break while exploring the famous Derwent Valley. Take in the picturesque views from our canal-side café and relax with a lovely slice of cake and a coffee.
Counting House Coffee Shop
Ready to hit the trail or looking to grab a sandwich on the go? Visit our newest coffee stop, a great place to find tasty treats while you are on the move.
Nestled in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales, Cromford Mills and the surrounding area provide a great range of walks for all ages and abilities. Some of our walks are out in the open, some are deep in the valley, and some are set in woodland, but wherever they are, there is no getting away from the fact that they are stunning.
Explore family-friendly nature trails, wild-play, gentle strolls along Cromford Canal, or even discover the paths of Slinter Woodland and Dunsley Meadow. Cromford Mills is a great place to start and finish your walk with parking, cafes and public toilets.
Find out more about local walks, including Black Rocks and the High Peak Trail.
Enjoy some retail therapy at Cromford Mills and support small, independent businesses. We have a great range of shops selling everything from hand spun wool to collectable treasures. Support local businesses and find that special gift for the person who has everything.
All shops on-site are independent, and their opening hours may vary. Please check their websites for more details.
Important Notice – Updated 23rd May 2022
Thank you for continuing to help keep our visitors, staff and volunteers safe.
In accordance with industry best practice and guidance issued by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions we will be maintaining some of the measures we have put in place over the last two years.
Whilst onsite, we do ask that all visitors follow our safety practices to create a comfortable and safe environment for everyone whilst they are here particularly in the following areas:
What’s Open?
The mill yard and cafes are open to the public.
Food & Drink – The cafes are serving the option of a takeaway or sit-in menu. Outdoor picnic benches are located around the site for anyone visiting our cafes. The Counting House Coffee Stop on the canal wharf is also open for takeaways at peak times.
Shopping & Retail – The Cromford Mills Shop and the independent retail shops in the mill yard are all open. Please visit the retail tenants own websites for details of their opening hours. Individual tenants will be implementing their own safety guidelines, please follow the instructions when visiting their venues.
The Visitor Centre – main room of the Visitor Centre is open to the public and entry is free. You can visit the Arkwright Experience inside the first mill as part of the guided tour. You can book tickets for these tours online.
Guided Tours – Guided tours are available to book online daily. These include an outside tour of the mill yard and a visit to the Arkwright Experience – the amazing audio-visual display inside the 1771 first mill. For more details follow click on the ‘Book Tickets’ button at the top of the page.
Audio Tours – these can be hired from the Mill Shop on arrival – the 1.5-hour tour explores the mill yard and historic Cromford Village.
Picnics & Nature – Beyond the mill walls you can explore our new wooden sculpture trail and picnic area by the River Derwent. Climb the steps of Scarthin Rock to discover the best view of the site. Across the road you can also enjoy a walk along the Cromford Canal, a lovely place to look for wildlife. You can walk from Cromford to the High Peak Junction railway workshops and Leawood Pumping Station. Please use the rubbish bins on site and do not litter.
Toilets – Toilets in the mill yard are open. There are council operated toilets at the canal wharf car park including a Changing Places toilet for disabled visitors
Our tips on how to make the most of your visit to our historic Mill.
A natural area for strolls, picnics and relaxing.
Cromford Mills is a great base for visiting the rest of the historic area.
© Cromford Mills 2021
