The Makers Mill

Pink skies over a countryside town surrounded by mountains and trees

Overview

The Makers Mill is a creative venue in the town centre of Keswick, a popular market town, in the Lake District in Cumbria. It houses two spaces for arts and crafts workshops, a gallery where work from local artists is displayed, and four studios for permanent artists.

A visit to The Makers Mill is a great idea for something to do in Keswick in the rain, as it is all inside. It’s suitable for families with older children, couples, and people travelling on their own.

The Makers Mill is located on the side of the river Greta and overlooks the popular Fitz Park. It’s a fantastic place to spend an hour or two during your explorations of Keswick.

The Makers Mill opening times

The Makers Mill is open Thursday to Saturday from 10am until 4pm.

History of The Makers Mill

The building itself used to be a 19th century mill and then a joiner’s workshop until its renovation. Couple Luke Harding and Sophie Wilson took it over and opened The Makers Mill in 2019.

Both Luke and Sophie are permanent resident artists at The Makers Mill. Luke produces one-off pieces of handmade furniture created using local timber under the name MOS Bespoke Furniture.

Sophie makes homeware and clothing from some of the finest fabrics under SEW Design. She has a boutique product range and works on custom upholstery projects.

About The Makers Mill gallery

The gallery is a bright, airy space with large windows at the centre of the building. From the windows, you’ll get spectacular views over the river Greta and Fitz Park. Beyond this, you may even see Skiddaw and Latrigg on a clear day.

Inside, there are artworks from more than 30 local artists and makers. You can discover paintings, ceramics, mosaics, furniture, jewellery, fabrics, and much more. The beautiful surroundings add an extra element to the displays, many of which are inspired by the local area.

Throughout the year, the gallery hosts artists in residence, where a different artist takes over the main wall for a month. This is often as part of a new project or artwork, and artists can work alone or in collaboration with others.

As well as the gallery and creative workshop spaces, The Makers Mill has four permanent studios where designers and makers work. These are open to the gallery or have viewing windows so you can see them work as you explore.

The exhibits are free to view, but you can also choose to purchase some of the works if you wish.

What can you do at The Makers Mill?

Workshops at The Makers Mill

Although it is free to look around the gallery at The Makers Mill, there is a charge to take part in the workshops. There are two inspiring creative spaces for the workshops.

Day-long, half-day, and evening workshops are all held in lots of different mediums, including:

•    Ceramics
•    Textiles
•    Art
•    Woodwork
•    Glass
•    Floristry

You can also book a private workshop for special occasions or groups of friends looking to do something together. Ten options are available for this, including pottery throwing, sewing, mosaic making, and macramé.

Special events at The Makers Mill

Throughout the year, The Makers Mill plays host to a series of special events. This includes a Christmas gift fair in December, where you can browse a range of artworks and gifts and tick off some of your Christmas shopping.

They also occasionally hold open days where you can go along and chat to some of the artists who are based there, asking any questions you may have.

Other things to do nearby

As The Makers Mill is in the town centre of Keswick, there’s plenty to do nearby. You’ve seen Fitz Park from the windows, so you could head here next. It’s a lovely spot for a relaxed wander, and the kids will love the children’s playground and BMX track.

Keswick is also the starting point for lots of incredible walks in the Lake District National Park, including the Castlerigg Stone Circle and a hike around Derwentwater.

Where to get something to eat or drink nearby

There’s a fantastic selection of pubs, cafes, and restaurants in Keswick, so if you’re feeling peckish after your visit to The Makers Mill, you’ve got lots to choose from, including:

Barua Street Food
Fellpack
The Round
Derwent Walker Café Bar and Restaurant
The Square Orange Café Bar

Of course, you can also head back to YHA Keswick to grab some light bites or hearty classics.

How to get to The Makers Mill from YHA Keswick

The Makers Mill is just a stone’s throw from YHA Keswick, and so the best way to get there is on foot. The walk should take around four minutes. You’ll need to walk down Station Road, turn right onto Victoria Street, right onto Brewery Lane, and then the road turns left and becomes Greta Side, where you’ll find The Makers Mill.