Don’t be deceived by appearances, Salts Mill’s imposing Victorian stone structure belies its welcoming, rambling and homely interior. It’s a real gem of a place. Spread over three floors you’ll find the most wonderful, creatively displayed and strangely juxtaposed things. An art shop leads up to a bookshop, then on to a restaurant, collections of David Hockney’s works, cabinets full of handcrafted jewellery, a hidden café and a cutting-edge interior design shop. From there you ascend to the top floor, where another restaurant sits, nestled amongst intricate opera sets and a beautiful antique shop.

I can lose myself for hours in the various nooks and crannies, but my favourite spot of all has to be the decadent restaurant on the top floor. It’s a great place to take your favourite book, order some of the Mill’s beautiful food and sit there soaking up the atmospheric surroundings.

You can’t fail to leave feeling inspired. It’s one of those rare places that not only entertains you greatly in the time you’re there but also keeps your mind occupied for hours and days after your visit. It’s so rich, varied and dense you feel as though you’ve spent the day exploring a beautiful city rather than one lone building.

Photo courtesy of chatirygirl on Flickr