AN attraction in the UK dating back more than 200 years is being forced to close this summer.
Thwaite Watermill in Leeds was built back in 1823 on a small island on the River Aire.
With some of its historydating back to the 1600s, it opened to the public as a museum in 1990.
It is now part of the Leeds Museums and Galleries, one of nine attractions.
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Also one of the last remaining water-powered mills in the UK, it only opens during the weekends and school holidays.
Guests can visit Thwaite House, a Georgian, Grade II listed building that lets you step back in time to see how workers would live.
And live demonstrations of the mill show how water power works, which once turned rock into paint and putty.
Visitors can also walk through the gardens and canal path with a local nature trail to follow alongside a picnic area.
Along with school trips, it can even be rented for weddings as one of the ‘top locations in Leeds’.
Despite this, the attraction will close this summer after reporting numbers as low as 11,000 back in 2022.
A statement on the website confirmed that the museum was being forced to close due to “unprecedented financial challenges facing the authority”.
It states: “This included proposals to end the council’s lease at Thwaite Watermill, which has been subject to public consultation.
“Whilst the final decision has not yet been taken to surrender the lease, Thwaite Watermill will provisionally close to the public as a Leeds Museums and Galleries attraction from April 1.”
It is thought the closure could save as much as £756,000 over the next five years.
Bookings until October 2024 will still be honoured.
A number of previous guests called it a “hidden gem” to visit in Leeds.
Another wrote: “Its island location is stunning, the staff are brilliant, and it was amazing to read about the mill’s history.”
A second said: “I’ll be back as I fell in love with this place.”
It is sadly not the only attraction being forced to close in the UK.
Here are a number of others that have been forced to shut their doors in 2024.
Heartlands Trust, Cornwall
The 19-acre Heartlands Trust first opened in 2012 with a mining-themed play area, cafe and adventure playground.
However, back in January, it confirmed it would be forced to close its doors, despite attracting as many as 360,000 visitors a year.
A statement from the Heartlands Trust and Cornwall Council said it was “unable to cover its operating costs and facilities at the site will have to close”.
Kidzania, London
Having first opened in 2015, the 75,000sqft Kidzania attraction also closed back in January at short notice.
The London attraction, which lets kids play out adult jobs and interactions in a fake town, confirmed it had closed its doors at Westfield shopping centre.
The website stated: “After 8 years of operations and 2.5million visitors, KidZania London closes its doors until further notice.”
Five new water attractions opening in the UK next year
- Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
- Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
- Chessington World of Adventures waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
- The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
- The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.