National Mills Weekend Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May 2026
This year, National Mills Weekend will focus on mill histories with the theme ‘Mills Now & Then’.
Windmills and watermills are some of our landscape’s best-loved structures. National Mills Weekend is an annual celebration promoted by the Mills Section of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). Across the country, hundreds of mills – including some not normally open to the public – will be taking part and welcoming visitors.
This year, National Mills Weekend will focus on mill histories with the theme ‘Mills Now & Then’.
With so many mills across the UK facing uncertain futures, it’s more important than ever to celebrate our milling heritage. Windmills are some of the UK’s favourite structures, yet with local authorities under financial pressure, many publicly-owned mills face being sold off – meaning the public may no longer be able to visit them and see their historic machinery in action.
SPAB’s own water mill, Fladbury Mill, Worcestershire and windmill in Leicestershire, Kibworth Harcourt Post Mill, will be open during the weekend. The mill at Kibworth was removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2022 after the SPAB completed a major year-long repair project, and it is now operational for the first time since the 1930s. It is only open to the public on select days of the year, so this is a unique opportunity to visit, pre-booking essential.
Other participating mills are welcoming members of the public and hosting a range of events, including guided tours, milling and baking demonstrations, Morris dancing, amateur radio stalls, classic vehicle displays and family activities.
Visitors, volunteers, millers, millwrights and mill owners can get involved over the weekend by using the hashtag #NationalMillsWeekend and tagging us on social media @spabmills.
Please share your pictures with us on Facebook #NationalMillsWeekend or Instagram @spabmills throughout the weekend of 9-10 May.
More information can be found here https://www.spab.org.uk/mills/national-mills-weekend-0
Check local listings and social media to find a mill near you.