Leek Tourist Information

Leek Historic Market Town Guide

Attractions in Leek include spectacular Victorian mills which are now premier antique, craft and museum centres. Leek Markets and specialist shops offer a range of fine local produce, arts and crafts gifts and fine furniture. Leek is home to a wide selection of independent shops such as local delicatessen, local butchers and bakers. Several famous historic figures are closely associated with Leek including the canal engineer James Brindley and the writer, designer, socialist and craftsman William Morris who came to the town several times between 1875 and 1878 to study organic dyeing and printing, staying with the local Leek silk mill owner Thomas Wardle.

A major figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, examples of Morris' designs can be found in Leek at the Arts and Crafts masterpiece All Saints church, designed by Richard Norman in 1885 which contains stunning stained glass by Morris. All Saints church in Leek was a favourite historic church with the poet John Betjeman. Leek is a Staffordshire town boasting an array of magnificent historic architecture from historic mills and churches to old coaching inns and striking war memorials.

Award winning day spas, tea rooms, fine restaurants and cafes are also here in Leek. The Retreat Spa, Health and Beauty Centre with the onsite Jester Bistro is a National Day Spa of the Year award winner offering a range of spa and beauty treatment packages. The Grade II Listed White Hart Tea Room in Leek serves sumptuous homecooked locally sourced food and contains the Divine Designer Fashion Accessories and Gifts Shop on the ground floor.

Historic buildings and churches on the Leek town trail include the Brindley water powered corn mill built by James Brindley in 1752. The medieval St Edward's Church in Leek was restored in the 19th century and features a window in the north transept by Edward Burne-Jones which was made by Morris & Co. Note the NatWest Bank on Derby Street in Leek, a spectacular example of the Arts & Crafts architectural style. Leek has a rich history in silk production, embroidery and strong associations with the Pre-Raphaelites and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Many examples of Leek silk and embroidery can be seen in historic churches in Leek such as All Saints, St Luke's and St Edward's Church. Elizabeth Wardle, wife of Thomas Wardle with whom William Morris stayed during his visits to Leek went on to found the Leek School of Embroidery. Many of the beautiful embroidery pieces you can see in Leek churches came from this famous embroidery school.

Other architectural highlights in Leek include the Nicholson War Memorial built of Portland stone and the Grade II landmark Leek building, the Nicholson Institute on Stockwell Street dating from 1884. Famous names such as John Betjamen and Oscar Wilde have given lectures and recitals here in the stunning Nicholson Institute in Leek which today hosts regular changing exhibitions on Leek history and art.

Festivals in Leek include the annual May Leek Arts Festival which showcases a range of local crafts and artwork. More crafts and family activities feature at the annual Leek & District Show in July. Visit the award winning Leek Tourist Information Centre located in Leek's historic Market Place for a range of free leaflets, guidebooks and information on themed guided walks around Leek which include walks exploring the towns links with William Morris and the Arts & Crafts Movement.

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Leek Markets, Specialist Shopping and Antique Centres

Historic market town Leek is one of the best locations in the Peak District for a range of markets including an award winning weekly outdoor market in the historic Market Place. The Leek Indoor Butter Market takes place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in Leek's renovated Victorian Indoor Market Hall. Fine meats, fresh fish, farm produce, Victoriana, gifts, jewllery, books and more are all available at this Leek market.

Leek Indoor Trestle Market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday and is a top retail market in the Peaks. Market stalls at this Leek Market sell everything from footwear and fashion to confectionery, health foods, cards and plants. Catch the award winning outdoor Charter Market in Leek every Wednesday in Market Place. This Leek Market is particularly popular with visitors and boasts around 77 stalls selling fine food, music, crockery, coats, fruit and veg, household items and more.

Speciality markets in Leek include another Leek Markets award winner, the Festival of Fine Foods, winner of the NABMA Speciality Market of the Year. This Leek Market takes place every 3rd Saturday each month in Leek Market Place. Saturday Markets in Leek Market Place are great for antiques and crafts whilst the Leek Trestle Market on Friday features crafts and collectables. Specialist shops in Leek town centre offer a superb choice of collectables, gifts, handcrafted jewellery, books, flowers, organic children's clothing and wholefoods.

A great selection of antique centres and emporiums in Leek can be found in converted mills. Compton Mill in Leek is one of Staffordshire's top Antique Centres stocking a vast collection of antique furniture, fabrics and collectables. Roberts & Mudd Antiques, dealers in fine period pine and country antiques, can also be found at Compton Mill and the Compton Mill Tea Room is also onsite. Visit the Odeon Antiques shop in Leek on Edward Street for more fine antique furniture, garden antiques, collectables and antique lighting. Haywood Interios, located in the converted Shoobridge Victorian Mill on Haywood Street, is another hotspot for antiques and fine interiors in Leek.

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The Brindley Mill Museum & Textile Triangle

One of the most famous historic figures associated with Leek is the great early industrial engineer James Brindley (1716-1772). A pioneer of canal construction and the harnessing of water power, Brindley was born in the Peak District just north of Buxton. The family later moved to Leek when James was just 10 years old. After apprenticeships which included a period with Abraham Bennett near Macclesfield, Brindley set up his own business in Leek. His workshop was located on Mill Street. The Brindley Water Mill in Leek, now a museum, is thought to almost certainly have been built by Brindley in 1752. Flour milling, saw milling and animal feeds production were undertaken here.

James Brindley, widely recognised as one of the fathers of British canals, was a real engineering problem solver. Brindley was engineer on the building of the Bridgewater Canal, essentially Britain's first modern canal, commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. James Brindley came up with some innovative ideas on the Bridgewater Canal which he designed without locks and with a stone aqueduct across the River Irwell. This idea received much ridicule at the time, but the Bridgewater Canal opened successfully to Castlefield with its aqueduct in late 1765. Brindley, who was affected with severe diabetes thought to have brought about his early death, unfortunately did not survive to witness the extension of the Bridgewater Canal to Liverpool (opened in 1776). The Brindley Water Mill in Leek is open to visitors and guided tours are available for both schools and private parties. See the Brindley Mill website for up-to-date opening times.

Leek is one of the three towns together with Macclesfield and Congleton within the Textile Triangle network which connects a range of attractions linked to the rich textile heritage of these towns. Attractions in Leek, Congleton and Macclesfield forming part of the Textile Triangle include historic silk and textile mills now centres for arts, crafts and antique shopping. Museums exploring textile heritage also feature alongside textile festivals, events and historic town trails. Visit the Textiles Triangle website (link right) for more details.

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Watersports on Rudyard Lake and Tittesworth Reservoir

Two fantastic reservoir water playgrounds are within easy reach of Leek. Both are a haven for wildlife and popular with families and birdwatchers. Rudyard Lake sits just to the northwest of the town (off the A523). This huge man-made lake is two and a half miles long and has a fascinating history stretching back further than many other reservoirs across the Peak District. Rudyard Lake was a purpose built reservoir, with building beginning in 1797. Its purpose was to supply water for the increasing network of canals in the area. With the coming of the railways in 1829 the lake became a popular centre for visitors particularly at weekends. One of the top attractions at Rudyard Lake is the popular Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, a miniature narrow gauge steam railway which follows 3 miles of the line of the North Staffordshire Railway route skirting the side of Rudyard Lake. Stations sit at either end of the lake. Daytrips and rides along this historic steam railway route in the Peak District have been popular since the early 1900s when local mill workers from both the North West and the Midlands would come here for daytrips.

Walking, boating and sailing and fishing on Rudyard Lake are all popular today. Regular angling matches take place on Rudyard Lake. Visitors can purchase canoeing day tickets or hire rowing boats during the summer. From Easter to the end of October the pleasure boat trip 'Honey', which carries up to 12 passengers, offers cruises around Rudyard Lake. A family Activity Centre sits at damhead (off Lake Road) on Rudyard Lake and features an onsite cafe and shop, meeting rooms, ample car parking, toilets and changing rooms. The Rudyard Lake Steam Railway can also be accessed from the car park at damhead. Directions, including a map, and details of attractions and activities at Rudyard Lake can be found on the Rudyard Lake website guide. Both walking and cycling trails run around the lake.

Tittesworth Water situated just 3 miles north of Leek (off the A53, follow signs for Meerbrook) has spectacular views towards The Roaches gritstone rock formations and boasts a host of outdoor family attractions. Follow the metalled path from Tittesworth up to North Hillswood for the best views of The Roaches. Activities at Tittesworth Reservoir include a choice of long and short walking trails around the water and through woodland. Two hides for bird and wildlife watching sit around the water.

Tittesworth Water visitor centre, which features a licensed restaurant, picnic areas, an adventure playground and a gift shop sits on the northeast side of the reservoir with parking also available onsite. (find map and directions via the Tittesworth Reservoir website link right).

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Things to Do in Cheddleton

Things to do in Cheddleton situated just 3 miles south of Leek include great family attractions like the Churnet Valley Railway and the heritage attraction Cheddleton Flint Mill. Cheddleton village is beautifully situated above the Caldon Canal and River Churnet. Canal side pubs like the award winning Boat Inn and charming tea rooms like The Old School Tea Room and Craft Centre are at Cheddlerton. The Cheddleton Flint Mill contains two separate water mills, flint kilns, a miller's cottage and outbuildings. This historic mill which was served by narrowboats on the Caldon Canal once ground flint for the Staffordshire pottery factories. The Cheddleton Flint Mill sits alongside the Caldon Canal and is open all year round.

The beautiful Caldon Canal at Cheddleton dates from 1776 and its full length runs between Etruria and Froghall. This was one of the Staffordshire canals supplied with water from Rudyard Lake. Boat trips are available at Froghall Wharf (from mid May to early September) on the Caldon Canal. The crew on the boat trips wear period costumes and home-cooked food is inclusive.

You can hop aboard the Churnet Valley Railway at Cheddleton village. Brown signs in the village clearly direct you to Cheddleton Station which is a charming Grade II Listed Victorian Station. The railway's route runs for ten and a half miles through the stunning Churnet Valley with stations at Leek Brook, Cheddleton, Consall and Kingsley & Froghall. Incredibly popular with families, the Churnet Valley Railway is open through the year and plays host to numerous events and festivals including 1940s weekends, steam gala events and children's favourite Barney Buffers & Friends. A range of family attractions, picnic sites, nature reserves, fine canal side pubs, award winning traditional tea rooms and historic lime kilns feature along the railway line and around the stations on the Churnet Valley Railway. Find out more about attractions along the Churnet Valley Railway and forthcoming events via the railway's website. Well worth a visit wilst in Cheddleton is the 13th century St Edward Church which contains stained glass windows by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. Find this historic church on Hollow Lane off the A520.

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