Rayleigh Windmill

• Virtual Tour
• Opening Times
• Planned Closures
• School and Group Visits
• Weddings and Civil Ceremonies
• How to Get Here
• Facilities
• Nearby Related Sites

The Rayleigh Windmill is a popular tourist attraction. In the Windmill you can find a museum, an exhibition space, and information about Rayleigh Mount. So it makes for a great educational visit. It is available for weddings and other celebrations.

Everyone is welcome to come and explore this 214 year old, Grade II listed building. You can learn how the Windmill worked and try the quiz in the museum. As well as dress up in traditional costumes and find out about the Castle that once stood on Rayleigh Mount! Be sure to look out for special events throughout the season.

Visit England has accredited the Rayleigh Windmill as a Quality Assured Visitor Attraction. Visit England is a national body that assesses visitor attractions throughout the country.

The Windmill hosts various exhibitions throughout the season on the 2nd floor. Further information of this season's exhibitors can be found on our exhibitions page.

For all the latest news and updates follow us on Twitter @rayleigh_mill and on Facebook: Rayleigh Windmill.

Virtual Tour:

You can explore the Rayleigh Windmill and its history by enjoying Windmill's virtual tour. 

Standing tall and proud for over 200 years, the Rayleigh Windmill is enriched with a significant amount of local history, and this video is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy this wonderful visitor attraction.

The virtual tour uses a combination of footage from inside the Windmill, drone footage and historical photographs to highlight what makes the Windmill such a special and well-loved landmark. You can also explore the information boards on the ground floor of the Windmill in further detail by visiting the related content section.

Watch the Rayleigh Windmill virtual tour.

Opening Times  

The Rayleigh Windmill will be open to visitors for the 2024 season from Saturday 30th March – Sunday 29th September 2024:

• Wednesday 10:00am - 1:00pm
• Saturday 1:00 - 4:00pm
• Sunday 1:00 - 4:00pm

Entry is free of charge, a minimum £1 donation per person is encouraged.

Please note, parking in the Mill Hall Car Park is FREE on Saturdays from 1pm and on Sundays all day.

The Windmill may be closed for a private event, so please check back for planned closure dates before visiting.

Planned closure dates for 2024:

• Wednesday 24th July
• Wednesday 7th August
• Saturday 31st August
• Saturday 7th September
• Saturday 28th September

Check back for special opening dates, or contact our Leisure & Cultural Services Team on 01702 318120 or via email using this form

School and Group Visits

Weddings and Civil Ceremonies

How to get here

Bellingham Lane
Rayleigh
Essex SS6 7ED

The Windmill is situated within the town centre of Rayleigh, just off of the High Street. This is a pedestrian area with a car park in front.

• Car: From the A127 take the A129, which will take you straight to Rayleigh High Street.
• Train: Rayleigh has a railway station that is only half a mile away. A mainline service runs between Southend and London.
• Bus: There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the Windmill, which is in the centre of the High Street and is serviced by most buses.

Facilities

Access

The Windmill is a historical, Grade II listed building and so unfortunately parts of it cannot be accessed by wheelchair users. However, the ground floor of the building and the  garden are both accessible by ramp. Furthermore, a TV screen installed on the ground floor, and cameras on each level of this six-storey building, allow disabled visitors to see the upper areas of the interior and the stunning view outside the Windmill.

Parking

The Windmill has its own public car park in Bellingham Lane.

Toilets

The Windmill does not have its own toilet facilities, however the nearest toilets are the public facilities at the top of Crown Hill, just a few minutes walk away from the Windmill.

Nearby related sites

The Mount
This Motte and bailey mound is what remains of the Domesday castle erected by Sweyn of Essex, dating from the period following the Norman invasion of 1066. History display boards are located within the adjacent Windmill.

The Dutch Cottage
This Grade II listed, octagonal building on Crown Hill is thought to date from the 18th century. It takes its name from the association of this type of house with the 17th century Dutch immigrants who constructed many of the sea walls of the south Essex coast. For those who would like a tour inside the Dutch Cottage it is open by appointment with the owner on Wednesday afternoons.

For more information about Rayleigh Windmill please contact the Leisure Team using this form or follow us on Twitter @rayleigh_mill.