Combe Mill — Attraction in West Oxfordshire

We went on a steam day (when everything was running) and it was great fun, there were multiple stalls set up around the area selling a range of arts and crafts. They had a lovely barbeque where they served a delicous burger piled high with home grown vegetables and with a gluten free bun, then we settled down to watch traditional Morris Dancers for a while before going in to the mill itself and listening to a talk on the history of the mill. After this we looked around the workshop and enjoyed watching the steam engines and water wheel turning, to top it all off for £10 or £6 if you are u16 we got the chance to work on a historic forge to take home a toasting...

We visited Combe Mill this last Sunday on their steam day. If you go expecting a large steam event then you will be disappointed but we had a fantastic time. I've a 10 year old son who loves to discover how things work and the volunteers are all more than happy to talk and pass on their knowledge. We watched them start up the beam engine and the metal work enthusiast engaged exceptionally well with my son.

We must have spent best part of 90 minutes inside the mill and pattern workshop before heading outside for a lunch of fish and chips under the shade of the trees.

If you're looking for something to do in a sunny summer's day then you can...

We loved this place on our first visit. Our second (with grandchildren) was even better. It's difficult to describe just how good this place is, a time-capsule of Victorian technologies. It would be worth visiting just for the riverside location, or just for the collection of church clocks (going back to the 1600s), or just for the hundreds of tools of every sort. Not only can you see the blacksmith at work, for £15 he will talk you through making something yourself. Starting from an iron bar I made a poker I'm hugely proud of! But best go on a 'steaming day' to see...