We had the tour of the museum by a lady called sue who was very knowledgeable and helpful with understanding the process of making the hats. She was so friendly and stayed to chat with us for a while after . So nice to see the family history continuing on. So many varieties of hats to see and try on. Highly recommend the tour

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely loved visiting Hat Works Museum in Stockport — genuinely one of the most underrated hidden gems near Manchester. I honestly did not expect such an immersive, creative and visually impressive experience, especially considering the museum is completely FREE. Located inside a beautiful restored Victorian mill, Hat Works is the UK’s only museum dedicated to the hat-making industry, and it does an amazing job bringing Stockport’s industrial and fashion history to life. The exhibitions are interactive, colourful, modern and incredibly well presented. Seeing the original machinery, vintage hat collections and learning about the craftsmanship behind the industry was fascinating. What I loved most is that it never felt like a “boring” museum. The displays are engaging, artistic and very photogenic, with lots of interesting details throughout. It’s perfect for families, couples, photographers, fashion lovers or anyone looking for something different to do. The staff were lovely and welcoming, everything was clean and organised, and there’s also a nice café and gift shop inside which makes the experience even better. The museum is usually open Tuesday to Sunday from around 10am–4pm, and honestly it’s 100% worth visiting if you’re anywhere near Stockport or Manchester. A fantastic mix of history, culture, creativity and local heritage all under one roof. I left genuinely impressed and would happily visit again.

Great little place detailing one of Stockport biggest manufacturing items- hats! The museum is absolutely superb and the hosts are so knowledgeable! Cafe and play area inside, free entry but paying if having the tour. Just disappointing that the tour is only twice daily but would definitely recommend. Parking is tricky so would need to know the local area but close walking distance to the town centre. Good for adults and families.

Great place for any creative kids and adults. Lots of activities to do on day we visited with museum on lower level. Hat gallery was closed as water ingress on floor. Nice cafe and interesting building.

More interesting than you would expect! Split over 2 floors, one with hat exbibits and the other a factory floor. Worth a visit if you're in the area.