Milling around

Merton Abbey Mills is full of fun ideas to keep children, mums and dads entertained, Lorraine Crighton-Smith and Sarah Hancox discover

Above: Merton Abbey Mills Photograph by Dave Vickers

It may seem like the Christmas tree has only just been put away for another year when the schools close down again for half term. The children – and teachers – may be able to breathe a sigh of relief but for parents it can be a sigh of exhaustion with the age old question of how on earth they’re going to entertain their darling little ones all week. The good news for families is Merton Abbey Mills, set next to the River Wandle between South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood tube stations, makes for a great day out – and can be enjoyed by mums, dads and kids alike.

The mill is steeped in over 200 hundred years of history and was once part of the Wandle Valley Textile Industry, which led the way in quality and innovation of textile printing in the country. For centuries it was a centre for the manufacture and printing of textiles, including silk printing for Regent Street’s Liberty until 1970.

Left derelict for 20 years, Merton Abbey was transformed in 1989 into the village of cultural entertainment and arts and crafts market it is today – and now attracts up to half a million visitors each year.

The picturesque wheelhouse dates back to 1885 and is one of four surviving watermills on the River Wandle – and is the last one standing to have been fully restored. You’ll see the wheel in action if you head to Merton Abbey Mills for the weekend market (Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm), which prides itself as being London’s Alternative Market. At the market you’ll find indoor and outdoor stalls selling a range of handcrafted goods, including gifts, jewellery, fashion and food – not forgetting the food stalls and the farmers market.

As well as the market there’s a plethora of indie shops selling arts and crafts accoutrements, books, musical instruments (you can also recycle unused, unwanted or broken instruments at Surrey Strings), homes furnishings, toiletries and jewellery. The common theme here is that everything you can buy carries on the centuries old arts and crafts tradition of the site. You can also have a family portrait photograph taken at Posey Photos before sitting down for lunch bought at the Belgium creperie or the Caribbean cuisine stall – or one of the cafes or restaurants (or the William Morris pub) also at the mill.

Many of the shops are open during the week, when events such as music lessons, pottery classes and art workshops are an interesting, creative and educational way of entertaining the kids. Speaking of which, The Colour House Children’s Theatre, run by Wheelhouse Prodcutions, is an ideal place to spend the afternoon of a weekend. Jack and the Bean Stalk and Hansel and Gretel will be showing throughout February. Merton Abbey Mills is also home to the annual Abbeyfest music and drama festival that takes place in the summer – and is well worth a vist.

Merton Abbey Mills, Wimbledon SW19

www.mertonabbeymills.org.uk