Green’s Windmill and Science Centre

About the museum

Green’s Windmill is a brick tower mill in Sneinton, Nottingham. It was built in 1807 by the baker George Green, whose son, also called George Green, became a self-taught mathematical physicist. In 1828 the younger Green published an essay on the mathematics of electricity and magnetism, work that scientists and engineers still use today. After his father’s death in 1829 he took over the family milling business, later let the mill, and went to study at Cambridge. He died in 1841.

The mill stopped working around 1862 and its sails were removed. A fire in 1947 destroyed much of it and left only the brick tower. In 1979 the George Green Memorial Fund bought the derelict tower and gave it to the City of Nottingham, and restoration began as a memorial to Green. The windmill and science centre opened to the public in 1985, and grain was ground again from 1986. Green’s Windmill Trust, a registered charity, began managing the site on behalf of the city council in 2012.

The site combines a working windmill and museum about the science of milling and George Green’s life with an interactive science centre, a shop selling organic flour and souvenirs, and a community garden with a stone oven. Heritage repairs began in November 2025 and are due to run until spring 2027, including a new iron curb, a new cap frame, work on the top of the tower and refurbished sails. The windmill building is closed to visitors during this work, but the science centre, shop and garden stay open.

Highlights

• Interactive science centre about George Green, light, electricity and magnetism
• Restored tower windmill (closed to visitors until spring 2027 for repairs)
• Award-winning community garden with a stone oven
• Shop with organic stoneground flour
• Free entry

Permanent exhibitions

• Science Centre – An interactive centre telling the story of George Green and letting visitors experiment with light, electricity and magnetism.
• Green’s Windmill – The restored 19th-century tower windmill and the museum about how grain becomes flour. It is closed to visitors while repairs continue until spring 2027.

Founded

1985

Operated by

Green’s Windmill Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum, science centre, shop and community garden is free; donations are welcome. Baking birthday parties, school sessions and room hire are charged separately.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The whole science centre and the ground floor of the windmill are accessible to wheelchair users, as are the toilets. A short flight of steps leads from the car park to the windmill; visitors with restricted mobility can phone in advance to arrange parking in the mill yard, reached from Belvoir Hill.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

The interactive science centre lets children experiment with light, electricity and magnetism. Staff-led baking birthday parties (pizza, bread or biscuits, with science experiments) last about 2.5 hours for up to 15 children and are still offered during the repairs. Holiday baking activities and science workshops are held through the year.

Getting there & parking

Sat nav postcode NG2 4QB.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop

Museum shop with organic flour, books, science games and souvenirs, plus drinks from a bean-to-cup coffee machine. There are no catering facilities on site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 40 guests.

Function room of 8 m by 4 m for workshops, meetings, team days and parties: 40 people standing, 30 seated in rows or 20 around tables. From £20 per hour (£30 outside opening hours); a marquee can be added. No catering on site; a hot drinks machine is available.

Plan your visit