The 20 best things to do with kids in Matlock Bath

Had a fantastic day here. The staff were fantastic. The in character staff were amazing and so friendly and knowledgeable. Special shout goes to Mel who showed us round one of the caves. She was fantastic and a real credit to you. So funny and knowledgable. There’s lots to do up there. The cable car ride is great. 2 caves to tour and plenty of fun for the kids on the play grounds. The cafe was brilliant. Had a lovely panini in there and some lovely cake. We came on a weekday outside of the school holidays and didn’t have to wait for anything. Lots of walking to be done and some is rather steep.

We had an absolutely wonderful experience here today. It was our first time visiting and had no idea what to expect, but what a day we had. I’ve come to write a review because I want to give recognition to Lorin, the lovely guy that did our Cavern tour. He was so helpful, approachable, and even took the time out to stay back and show us some fossils in the final cavern, because my autistic son’s special interest is dinosaurs. He was brilliant with both of my children and made the tour really quite special. Give this man a raise immediately HoA! 🥲🤣

Great couple of hours at least spent with great views . The Cave experience is informative and interesting. The cafe is very good with great selection at reasonable prices. parking is in the station carpark payable . Blue badge holders can pay for time and get an hour ontop free. It is a short walk to the cable car ticket office. Just be aware that the last 150yard to Ticket office is steep.

EXCELLENT! This is an interesting way to spend the day on your holiday! Excellent, very well manned cable carts to take you to the hill/mountain? At the top, you’re instantly met with more helpful staff full of information on where to go and what you can do. There’s two caves, both equally interesting totally made by the excellent curation and delivery or stories by the guides (Jordan and Bessie were first class). There’s two excellent play areas suitable for most ages (above toddler I think). Fabulous cafe, where we had excellent service by Sue plus the views were spectacular! I was super impressed they had a variety of gluten free vegan cakes (that were not the usual boring brownies!). They also had two bars ( one is the oldest licensed bar in Matlock). There’s also a Wombles building, a couple of lovely gift shops, lots of information, a pizza van and more. The views are incredible. Overall, this is great value for money and something the children will not forget.

Excellent place for the kids day out. Lots things to do and see. Nice cafe and play ground. Stunning views during the cable car and from the top. Most amazing mining tunnels and the guide was excellent

Heights of Abraham is a fantastic family destination—perfect for both toddlers and older kids, with plenty of land to explore, play areas, and exhibits to keep everyone entertained. We especially enjoyed the Wombles exhibition—it was fun and whimsical, and offered something a bit different. The views from the hilltop are absolutely lovely, trampling over the Derwent Valley and surrounding countryside, making the cable car ride all the more magical. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about—not quite matching the beauty of the surroundings. I was also disappointed that they didn’t have a chai latte on the drinks menu, and vegan soft serve ice cream wasn’t available—both would have been great choices to round off a lovely day. Admission is on the steep side: adult tickets cost about £25 online or £28.50 at the gate  . It felt quite expensive, especially for a shorter visit, but with a longer stay it might be more justifiable. Overall, it’s a beautiful and memorable place with a lot to offer families. With improvements to the food and drink options, it would be near-perfect!

Wonderful day out, perfect for dogs also, they are allowed everywhere but caverns and the Vista restaurant. Food a little pricey but picnic tables are everywhere for a packed lunch. The cable car stops half way up for stunning view pictures.

A lovely little gem. I enjoyed walking through this small aquarium and amusement park with my little one. A small fee to enter, and kids under 4 years go free. Good selection of fish, and well looked after. Would recommend.

As adults the £6.50 fee seems a bit steep But there's a little aquarium with cute fish, a victorian bath with a large number of koi and then a little museum bit. It wasn't bad but wouldn't repeat the cost

Small but excellent space and learnt a lot about fishes. Not a bad prices to enter and you can feed koi fishes if you got 50p coin. Upstairs the is light luminous reflection weird pictures make my eyes funny and arcades ground floor.

This place is good just not very big but tickets were around £6.50 each the visit lasted around 30 mins

A lovely place which lives up to the seaside without the sea label. Lots of interesting shops and cafes and then you arr right next to the cable car and the heights of Abraham, also well worth a visit.

Small aquarium with a good carp pool but not much else to offer. A few of the other fish seemed a little ill cared for with dirty tanks, but the majority seemed okay… for the entrance fee I wouldn’t go again

Quite a basic and old fashioned visitor attraction, but that is part of it's charm! My daughter loved the holograms (a slightly bizarre selection but quite entertaining!), and the koi carp were relaxing to stand and watch for a while (for 50p you can buy food from a dispenser for them, which the kids enjoyed). The small section on local history was quite interesting, and the hall of mirrors provided much amusement. The petrifying well was a bit underwhelming but still worth a quick look. The actual aquarium part isn't huge but contains a reasonable range of different sea creatures for such a small aquarium, although a few of the bigger fish looked like they could have done with a bit more space to swim in. If you're looking for an affordable way to spend and hour or so out of the rain, as we were, it's not a bad option (especially given the price of some of the other visitor attractions in the area!).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 A great place for kids and families to enjoy a day out. Most of the rides are short and mainly designed for children, but the overall atmosphere is fun. The roadside views on the way here are amazing, though the uphill journey makes pushing baby strollers a bit challenging. Best to arrive early to make the most of all the rides. A few extras, like having to pay £1 for a park map, didn’t feel like the best first impression. Still, overall, it’s a lovely family-friendly destination with plenty for kids to enjoy.

We enjoyed it today. Positives - booked online and took advantage of a 'secret deal'. Perfect for younger kids. No rides really too extreme and we got on almost everything. The tree top drop ride and the lost world raft ride were both really good fun. Got on the log flume three times, which we loved. Most of the staff were pleasant enough. The ski lift team were really nice and made an effort to welcome you on. Parking was fine although via a very steep, windy drive up and with cars queing to get parked you could smell clutches burning everywhere 😂 but there was an entrance into the park near the top for those parking which was decent. Negatives - Not much really. We waited in line for my little girl to go on the rock climb wall, behind a small group of girls, and we were the very next in line (and the only ones left in the queue) and they shut it because they 'only run one or the other' The other being a little toddler activity course in the same spot. When we queued both were in action. They could have let her have a go, bit annoying. Some of the attractions are a bit of a let down, the ghost house for example, and the dragons lair are a few mins each that you won't get back. Pointless walkarounds with nothing in them. Those aside, overall a decent day out and fairly priced, and I'm sure we'll probably go back before she gets too big for most of the rides. Point to note: if your not good at walking up and down steep hills, this place isn't for you. It's literally built on a hillside. You have the ski lifts which will take you up and down but expect a fair wait for one. For us, we did both and were fine with the gradients.

Great for the kids and the landscape is beautiful. The guys and gals working there were all polite and ready to help in anyway they can. Just a little mention to disabled people come fully prepared as it really is hard graft getting around because of the steep landscape.

Great day out for the younger kids, we really enjoyed the rides. The wait times weren't as bad as the bigger parks. Food wasn't overly priced and good portions. The hills there could be an issue for those with mobility issues or walking with bulky buggies/prams.

We had such an amazing time here, I was really impressed! We arrived at 12 and it closed at 5 and that was just enough time! We got on everything quickly and managed to do my daughter's favourite rides quite a few times! It's set amongst beautiful scenery, my 4 year old could go on nearly everything, and the car park is free!

Much better place than I thought. Adults can have fun with the kids too. Kids absolutely loved it. Area is beautiful too. Parking wise you need to get there early to find place at the bottom. I think it is better to start your journey in Gulliver's Kingdom from the bottom entry.

Lovely place for kids, from rides, activities, climbing ropes and lift chairs. Children loved it. Smaller rides for them to enjoy. The only set back was the height levels of rides. It was very steep going to different rides. I did see dome parents with pushchairs struggling. Not suitable for wheelchair, in my opjnion

A good museum, though some of the exhibits (and the staff) could do with a refresh. Don't tet me wrong, both were really interesting - just a bit jaded and almost going through the motions. That said, I'd still recommend that people make an effort to visit both the museum and the underground mine tour. The mine tour seems to run at 11am 1pm and 2.10pm by volunteers. It's a short but steep walk away from the museum and if that puts you off, its nothing to the stopping and ducking of the mine. Good to be able to see how the miners dug the minerals out of the ground what they look like and used for. The end of the tour panning for mini gemstones was a bit 'lame' for many adults (i guess good fun for kids). The museum has a lot to take on board, but if you've the time its git a load of history & info. Overall -yes well worth visiting and by far the best thing going in Matlock Bath, Matlock and area! Dogs on leads welcome in mine and museum. Aug 25 £16 gorgeous museum and underground tour.

Just visited this week with my family and in laws. We had a great time. The museum is small but lots to see and very informative and the staff are helpful. We also did the mine tour with our kids (nearly 2 and 6). Robin, our guide, was absolutely wonderful. He was full of information, clearly enjoys his work and was great with the kids as well, mostly chatting with our daughter who was absolutely entranced. Well worth a visit.

Well worth a visit! The mine was awesome and the tour guide Lisa was brilliant. She was very knowledgeable and gave us a great, unrushed tour (we were the only family). The panning for gems afterwards was great fun and the museum was much bigger than we thought as well as being really well laid out with loads of displays. My son (and wife) loved crawling through the pretend mine! We are looking forward to visiting again when you move to the new location!

We visited with 2 adults and 5 children ages between 5-70. Everyone loved the mine tour and our tour guide was really engaging with the children. Panning for "gold" after was a great experience. The children enjoyed the museum so much that we went back the next day! I would highly recommend a visit to here.

Very friendly lady at the entrance, explained everything about the museum. Interactive exhibits and fun for kids!

Well worth visiting if you’re in Matlock Bath for the day. The museum is really interesting and the mine tour was very informative; in a group of mainly adults the tour guide was very engaging and had a good sense of humour. And I think £16 for both the museum and tour, during school summer holidays, for a whole year’s pass, is incredible value for money! I’ll definitely visit again.

Amazing place to visit. Great amount of knowledge and new things to learn. Some bits are old school but it adds to the feeling of the place. I didn’t see a lift for the upstairs? Price is very reasonable and you are able to go back again within 12 months. Highly recommend!!

Great place to visit, amazing to see the old machinery in action in the building. Lovely tea shop. We did the self guided tour and felt it would have been useful to have a bit more information (worth going on a guided tour I guess!). Exhibition upstairs was thought provoking.

Great, informative museum. Lovely to see the cotton looms working. Nice cafe and shop. Allow at least 2 hours to fully appreciate the museum. QR codes provide extra info as you go round.

This was a fascinating tour by Kevin, taking us back 250 years to the hard life of the mill workers. It was brilliant to see the looms, carding and spinning machines still in operation. Plus a marvellous stream engine that took over from the original water wheel. Good inexpensive food in the café as well.

Brilliant place ! Absolutely amazing to see the scale of all the original machinery _and hear some of it working still. And millions of bobbins and reels of all types and sizes ...Still using the hydro electric power from tge river. Well worth a visit and supporting this amazing Museum

The birth of the factory and industrial revolution happened here, this a UNESCO world heritage site. The museum shows some insight into the working conditions of the early industrial age. So much more could be shown regarding working conditions and exploitation of those times.

Absolutely fantastic! Great industrial museum that's also still working as a cotton mill. Working for nearly 250 years. The explanation of the looms from Kevin was particularly good 😀

The tour was very interesting & informative wish l lived near. I found it difficult to but an item in the cafe, and was asked if l could call back. However living in Kent was not an option so had to leave empty handed disappointed as l would have loved to have taken some thing home to remind me of a great visit.

My son did the steam railway experience for his 30th. He has autism and a learning disability. He loved it. All the staff were amazing, especially Roger, Colin and Michelle. Such a lovely, friendly railway. The smile on his face was priceless. Thank you.

Buy tickets on the spot, went on the stream service. Loved it. You go for 2 stops and it takes about 25 minutes one way, and a bit more back sir to the train going to pull instead of push back. Am amazing day out. The train is £15 day ticket and you can get a discount if you come come on a bus or possible a ticket from another local attraction.

I was visiting Matlock today and was lucky enough to see their green steam train. There were a few rail enthusiasts taking photos and here are mine 🙂 Ps I have added a couple of photos taken on 10th March 2023!.... On 15th October 2023 we were delighted to see 'Cathryn' the red engine. I have posted the photos she looked fabulous! Visited Matlock today 4th August and will add a couple of photos!

Having visited most preserved railways in the UK, ive rated Peak Rail by comparison. Entry fee is reasonable and nice scenery too. Cafe very over priced. Carriages not that well looked after and dirty. Pleasant enough for half day out but probably wouldn't return to be fair. There's other railways that are worse but more that better than Peak Rail. These views are my own.

Treated my dad for his 80th birthday to afternoon tea on The Palantine. What a superb afternoon. The station was really well kept with very friendly staff. Run by volunteers it was brilliant. Excellent communication when booking and the food - what can I say, it was delicious. We had a great time and I would definitely recommend it.

We were staying in a nearby hotel and heard the chuff chuff chuff of a steam train which drew us like a magnet. Run by knowledgeable, helpful volunteers this is a chance to visit a bygone era. Please go and take a trip and support these volunteers who do such a wonderful job preserving these iconic steam trains of our heritage.

Arrived in Matlock on the x17 bus from Sheffield, a bridge was out so took another bus to Darley Dale to meet the train there. Steam on one end, the ever reliable D8 on the other. Slow and steady for 2 and a half round trips. Photos taken, a look around Rowsley and left 3 hours later. Fine trip.

Lovely park and the only green space in town. Park is attracting all age people. Good for wheel chair users, mobility scooters, prams. Toilet facilities available. The cafe is a great place to relax have a bite to eat and watch the world go by. River view very cool flowing next to park.

It is a lovely park for kids and adult mental health and well-being. Especially the blue skies and green grass in the springtime. I would love to give it a higher rate, but I found dog poos everywhere, broken glasses everywhere, which is not very impressed with the people involved.

Hall Leys Park, Matlock – Review Hall Leys Park is a delightful green oasis in the heart of Matlock, offering a perfect spot for relaxation and family fun. With its well-maintained lawns, colorful floral displays, and scenic river views, the park exudes a welcoming and tranquil atmosphere. Highlights: Beautiful Gardens & Landscaping:** The park features beautifully manicured gardens, vibrant flower beds, and lush lawns, making it a lovely setting for picnics or leisurely strolls. River Derwent:** The park borders the River Derwent, providing picturesque views and a peaceful environment. You can enjoy watching boats passing by or simply sit and soak in the scenery. Play Areas & Facilities:** There are excellent play areas for children, along with tennis courts, a bandstand hosting occasional events, and plenty of benches for relaxing or people-watching. Accessibility & Location:** Situated centrally in Matlock, Hall Leys Park is easily accessible and serves as a hub for community events, markets, and outdoor performances. Overall Impression: Hall Leys Park is a charming and well-loved part of Matlock that offers something for everyone—whether you're seeking quiet reflection, family activities, or a scenic spot for a picnic. It’s a true highlight of the town and a must-visit for visitors exploring the area.

Adorable park, nice walk around, cheeky ice cream, good vibes. Quintessential English, with the bowling green, the pavilion etc.

A traditional park with lots to do, play area, water play pad, tiny train, small boating lake, ducks, band stand, half pipes for skaters and scooters, tennis courts. There was a market when we visited and there are frequent events too. The cafe is small but very nice with eat in or take out options. Lovely for picnics and playing on the grass. Near to chip shops bakeries and other shops in old Matlock.

Matlock (DE4 3SX), located in the picturesque Derbyshire Dales, is a charming market town that offers a blend of natural beauty and historical appeal. Known for its stunning landscapes, it’s a great base for exploring the Peak District National Park. The town itself boasts lovely Georgian architecture, quaint shops, and cozy cafés. Visitors can explore the nearby Heights of Abraham, a hilltop park with spectacular views and caverns to explore, as well as enjoy scenic walks along the River Derwent. With a peaceful atmosphere and a rich history, Matlock is perfect for those looking to escape city life and enjoy some countryside charm. The nearby Matlock Bath is a must-see, with its Victorian spa heritage and range of outdoor activities.

We visited this park during our holiday to the Peak District. We wanted to visit originally for the boats on the lake but the park was a really nice surprise. It also has a miniature railway, a large play area for the kids and also had a mini fair on at the time of our trip. We really enjoyed it and will come back again next time we are in the area.

Take my kids swimming here every weekend. Great staff. Friendly cafe with good food and drinks. Often take the kids to the soft play after which they love. There are cameras where it's not visible inside the soft play from the tables and the screen in there helps you keep an eye on the kids. There is a car parks, plus disabled parking closer to the main entrance so 3 parking areas in total. Pool has been a bit cooler lately, we originally came here because it was warmer than our local place in Ashbourne. The teaching pool is brilliant though for the lower stages so I would still recommend 👌

Amazing views from the gallery.. love the tiered approach, the pool is deep so fast! Only downside is the car parking and limited manoeuvrability when full

Lovely leisure centre , lovely and warm water temperature in both pools, lots of fun guaranteed as well as different time schedules for lane swimming. Will be looking into joining the gym and aqua fit sessions in the nearest future

Came here for a swimming gala. I'm bitterly disappointed. The car park is the size of a postage stamp, meaning that self-entitled parents just leave cars anywhere. ANYWHERE. Block the car park entrance? Sure, I don't care, my offspring are swimming here, don't you know? After paying for a proper spot in the adjacent Premier Inn, I found my way to the viewing gallery. The seating wasn't too bad, but the temperature in there was like being in a furnace. I thought at one point I would faint. And it seemed that they had sold more tickets than actual seats, and lots of people had to sit on the actual stairs! But that's not the fault of the leisure centre. But, what is the centre's fault is the state of the toilets. Four stalls for ladies (one out of order) three sinks (one out of order) and two asthmatic hand driers (one out of order). The only reason I've given two stars is because the staff were friendly and the coffee was good.

A very beautiful, serene area. Close to Premier inn and less than 7minutes to the town. It is 3 minutes from McDonald’s. There is a cafe in the building and wheee you can get hot meals till 3:30pm everyday. There is WiFi in-house but no charging points

New gym user. So far so good. Looks clean and tidy. Pool looks ok, with pool exercise lessons available. Nice little cafe and cheerful people on the front, main desk. Not explored the whole building yet, but I'm sure they have court halls etc...

Visited on a Sunday. Went for a family swim in the teacher pool. It was over run by older kids throwing watering cans and lobbing balls. Too noisy so a little kids pools where you'd think it be okay to take your two and four old without smacked in the face with flying watercans. The pool was cold both kids lips turned blue quote quickly and the changing rooms were absolutely disgusting

We had visited the museum previously but didn't get chance to go down the mine at the time, so decided to go along just for the mine tour. Called in advance and booked a place, arrived 10 minutes before the allotted time and only waited a few minutes. Our guide Chris was really friendly and full of knowledge. He was great with the kids and made sure everyone was included. We had a great time and would definitely go again!

Brilliant tour of the old mine in Matlock Bath. Our tour guide, Lisa, was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun and informative. We were lucky that we went midweek during term time so we had a private tour. The panning at the end was great fun too and something I’ve never had a go at before. I cannot recommend this highly enough!

We had an excellent tour of the mine with Chris. It was very interesting to see how the miners worked and learn about the various eras of the mine, history of the wider industry, and geology of the area. Our 7yo was just as fascinated and really enjoyed panning for ‘gold’ at the end.

A memorial experience for my son’s 6th Birthday with family. Staff were incredibly accommodating and welcoming to us and a the children, making the experience personal and fun; a day we will always remember.

Luckily we were able to visit the cave on the first Sunday of the month, which was a candlelight tour. We were there with a family whose child was anxious about entering the dark mine. Lisa our guide showed empathy and handled the situation well. The panning for minerals was unexpected and fun. Thank you Lisa

Amazing trip with the family today with full mine tour and the best child friendly interacive museum ever l. The tour guide was very good but too professional as he wouldn't let us leave the children in the mine

Unbelievable experience, best thing i have ever done. I love mining!!

Our favourite day out destination. Very accessible for wheelchair users. The changing places is a game changer for families like ours. Animals all seem very happy and super well cared for. Staff always lovely. Given our own side room as several of us were wheelchair users. Nothing too much trouble. Second visit this year but been lots and will continue to :)

We have organised our child’s Birthday Party at Matlock Farm and it was fantastic. Overall service and support on the day were brilliant. We had an access to a cosy party room and a selection of hot and cold food was served. Please bring your own birthday cake. If you are staying for the day, I highly recommend planning out what are you going to do step by step as there is so much to explore! Pony rides were definitely a highlight of the day. All children received a free entry pass and £12 voucher for the birthday child was available. This was a nice surprise. You may wish to decorate the party room, although not a must as it was painted beautifully! Best birthday party yet, I highly recommend it!

Visited Matlock Farm Park during our holiday to Matlock. This is a lovely farm with loads of play areas, pony rides and animals to see and feed. The kids loved it and had a brilliant time. The soft play is small but we had coffee while the kids went crazy. It was around £60 for a family of 4, but this is more than a family day out so it's worth the money!

When we were on holiday, we visited l loved it! It was around Halloween time, so they had pumpkins to pick. They had electric go-Karts, ferret races, loads of different animals. The staff were very kind and helpful. They have a big shop with children’s books, stuffed toys, sweets, ice-creams, children’s toys, etc.

Lots for children to do but need clearer signs showing where timed activities are. Tortoise washing was good .. kids get to clean a tortoise with a toothbrush. Two play areas .. one with a sandpit. And you can pay extra to have a pony ride. And there was a baby emu.

Great place to visit. Full day out of activities from feeding the animals. Animal encounters, various indoor nad outdoor play areas. Go Karts, Mini golf and so much more. Lots of different areas to eat and drink.

Lovely place to visit, especially with kids. We have been a few times now and can see lots of improvements. The toilet upgrade was a good choice, but I'm not sure if two cubicles are enough. Entry is fast and at a great price, but I found the animal feed a little small for £1. They also have new food trucks, although they are very expensive (£8 for a bacon cheeseburger). We didn't have time to make a picnic, as it was an off-the-cuff visit. There are plenty of seats and benches. There is a good variety of animals to see and feed, and they also seem well looked after. The shop could maybe be a little bigger and have more choice of products and toys. Overall, we loved our visit, and without a doubt, we will be returning.

Absolutely amazing walk Scenery is incredible and is s lovely place to be with your partner

A little quiet amongst the noise. The riverside walk, and the walks up the cliffs to the tops, are lovely. Some paved paths by the river, and the paths up are rougher and more natural. The viewpoints at the top show over to Gullivers Kingdom, and over bits of Matlock Bath. If you're going to the top, wear good footwear with grip. If you're staying by the river, you're fine to wear whatever It's a nice contrast of experience. You can go from Matlock Bath to the River Derwent to woodland in a few minutes, and have the best of all the worlds

Incredibly scenic and enjoyable walk, a whole host of activities available from boat rowing to the heights of Abraham. Many shops and cafe's providing refreshment and quality food. Would recommend for someone wanting to explore nature but not be overwhelmed by a challenging hike.

Came to Matlock Bath for a look around. The lovers walks start at the main carpark and are well worth the effort. The walk I did takes you up above Matlock Bath where you have beautiful views all around as well as down. There are some very steep steps so not suitable for those with less than full mobility.

Some lovely views, lovely walk.. really nice place for a romantic walk with your partner, a very historical place. The canal was so nice to walk down ☺️ would take the dog there again 🙂

Came at the wrong time... approx 5pm on a Saturday eve, it was shoulder to shoulder and bumper to bumper. Absolutely no movement. Finally managed to get a parking space and we just walked around the river area. It was partially blocked off for an illuminatiom show. Its a very busy part, loads of cafes / fish and chips and such.

Lovely walk around Lovers Lane, we were doing a geocache (the Adventure Lab) and it took us all the way around the hills and the Derwent Gardens

Great for a dip into the heritage of milling. Some independent shops to browse and a cafe. Cross the road for a canal side walk, too. All dog friendly and free to enter. Guided tours available at a cost. Canal boat trips also available.

This is free to look round, but we paid for a tour guide Mike was very informative this is well worth doing because we had a tour guide we got to see part of the building that other people don't see. They is a few shops and toilets also you can't something to eat. I would highly recommend coming here

Sir Richard Arkwright’s first water powered spinning mill, built in 1771 is a classic example of engineering and social genius. Starting out as a penniless apprentice wigmaker Arkwright became a leading figure of the Industrial Revolution by ruthlessly exploiting, refining and scaling other people’s ideas. The site includes Arkwright’s mill, his mansion house, personal church and the mill manager’s house. Five stars is for the historic interest and significance. Strongly recommend the guided tours and the excellent volunteer guides. The site has extensive parking, cafe, craft shops and toilets.

We went here today. A lot to see and do. Some lovely arts and crafts and antiques shops. Good cafe which is reasonably priced. Had a lovely walk, but the weather wasn't the best

Excellent Historical Location. See where the first factory of its type was built, how a very clever and industrious man changed the way we work today... and there's more 😃 Well worth the visit. Take the guided tour, then take the assisted tour around the town

It was my first time here and despite the rain I had a lovely afternoon looking around the shops around the mill. The shops ranged from bookshops, knitting and antiques for sale, I managed to bag a bargain or two before heading to the nearby pub for a carvery.

A great day out. Cromford Mill was built by Richard Arkwright. The Cromford Mill is world's 1st ever Factory Mill and is part of the Industrial Revolution. Cromford Mill is an UNESCO World Heritage site set in the Derwent Valley in Derbyshire Dales. Cromford mill has a cafe, loos, a cheese shop, lots of other shops, The Richard Arkwright Expereince and a free video explaining all about the Mill. The mill also has gift shop as well. They regulary put on events like Comic Con and fairs. Every bit on money given to mill goes towards its up keep. It also has St Marys Church which wad built by the Arkwright family and there is a lovely church walk by the River Derwent for vistors to enjoy.

A nice experience going on a Steam train ride. Lovely cake and scones on board, with tea or coffee. Friendly, welcoming staff. Toilets on site, free car park. Lovely ride. The views were not amazing, but still we enjoyed it. Nice museum with plenty books and interesting things inside.

Lovely heritage railway running through countryside from Wirkworths to Duffield. Wirksworth is main station with several bits n pieces to see, it's just a shame you can't get closer to some of stored rolling stock and engines. Well worth a visit if im the area.

This was a fantastic station to venture to for the end of the steam railway, with long platforms where the trains use the points to change their side of the carriages! Plenty of stock is stationed here and the mini museum/shop is really a hidden gem. Rail tools are shown from olden days alongside maps, timetables and even advertisement posters!

14s @ 60 Gala - 27 July 2024 - spent the Saturday at this special event travelling up and down the line behind these wonderful diesel locomotives. Had a fantastic day, which began with a good full English breakfast on the first train out of Wirksworth at 7.50am, and culminating ìn a trip behind all 7 class 14s from Duffield to Wirksworth in the afternoon - a great day out for an old enthusiast.

Awesome Santa experience for the children!! Rang a week before hand to alter tickets super helpful and friendly on The phone altered them nonissues whatsoever. On the day it’s self they couldn’t of been more welcoming the kids loved it the staff were awesome and Santa and all the elves were great by far the best Santa experience I’ve done with my kids. The Santa gift was also lovely and the hot chocolate was yummy. Couldn’t of asked for a better experience for the kids Will return again many thanks to all the staff

Excellent heritage railway that is a very good price has helpful knowledgeable staff and a nice view through the river valley between Wirksworth and Duffield.

Great little railway, we visited for the first time and it was a Dinosaur special event which was good. As a heritage railway enthusiast, I loved the little detail of it, little lollipop tokens with the logo on for the kids at the ticket office, pencils with the railway title on and even the bags in the cafe had stickers on too. Fab little railway it's definitely worth a visit.

We’ve been wanting to go to Matlock Meadows for so long, we’ve eaten their ice cream elsewhere so always best to head to the source. No entry free, which makes this place a great afternoon out for the family. There is a park for the kids to play on and a sit on bike which costs £1. There are some animals to look at including goats and calf’s. There is a shop and a cafe, and of course the Ice Cream. We also had a slice of Bakewell which was lovely and purchased some jam and chutney for home. Highly recommend a visit if you are in the area!

We dropped in on our way back from Chatsworth House today at closing time. It’s by far the best ice cream we have had in a while. Their Salted caramel coconut flavour is a must try. The others are equally good. There is a playground for the kids and a shed with calves; these were a big hit with the kids. Will definitely be visiting if we are in this part of the country again.

By labelling your ice cream as “REAL dairy ice cream”, it’s giving the impression that it’s natural or healthy, which is misleading to the target audience. What’s natural about adding dextrose and artificial chemicals to your ice cream? Do better. Also tasted like freezer burn.

Lovely, homely farm with some animals, nice cafe and great play facilities. Even some vegan sorbet ice cream on the menu, so we all got to have some ice cream. Staff very friendly.

Would be a great place for kids. You get animals and a decent café, which is very good for free entry. Milkshake was top but we had to move from the limited seating area due to flies! Something decent to do in Matlock!

Great afternoon out, kids enjoyed the play area and visiting the cows, and the ice cream was good too and then while we had a coffee the kids had a good time playing with the train set in the centre of the room!

Been a while since last came but new play area for children . Food still lovely . Nice place not too busy. Animals to feed, bit of play, and nice food, little children love it .

Great soft play - lots for the kids to do and explore. Probably the cleanest play centre I've visited, the tables and surrounding area always tend to be a bit grubby, but not the case here. We bought a snack and lunch here. Food was good and reasonably priced. Kids had a great time.

Great soft play for little ones, prices are decent and it's very clean inside ,actually one of the cleanest I've seen in UK. We already came here twice in 3 weeks although we live about 40 minutes away.

Had a great time at this play area. Or little one loved exploring. Could do with a warning sign I think for the big swirly slides as he bumped his head going down them, they are rather fast.

Amazing play centre and very reasonably priced for park guests. So much to do and play on, our child loved it!

Great play area at a reasonable price. Good toddler area. Plenty of space in the car park.

Great play centre, clean and safe. Lovely cafe area.

Great location, kids loved it, staff lovely and helpful. Highly recommended

Visited as a family treat, for a birthday. The staff are absolutely lovely, very friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the escape rooms are the most boring I've ever done. Absolutely nothing happens, no in-between fun bits. We did two, just to check it wasn't us! Sadly, we were all so bored in the end, we didn't even try to escape, we just stood talking until we were let out. Update, we did Olivia, with the scratching imp in the wardrobe and the "Narnia" bit and the Rumpelstiltskin one, I found the book, which contained an important clue, but I put it back and didn't use it! Sorry, but I was bored. Take care, all the best.

Honestly the best (and probably scariest) escape rooms I’ve done! You can ask for the room without the scare, but it really did add such a fun twist. The staff that helped us was absolutely amazing, I already can’t wait to go back!

Came today with my partner and our 2 daughters (8+10) we did the scary fairy tale and omg! It was amazing! The staff are next level, the puzzles are awesome, the waiting room is full of incredible games and puzzles to get you in the mood! They also offer a locker for any bags for your phones/bags etc! Amazing place and we'll definitely be back! Can't wait!

Fantastic escape room, great puzzle and the host was amazing. We did it as a family with a 6 year old and it was really great fun, he had several things to do and help. I would recommend following the host advice on choosing the jump scares or not.

Amazing place! Whole experience was amazing. The lady who welcomed us and explained it all was such good fun throughout, made the experience even better! Well worth the money. We’ve done a couple of escape rooms and this one was the best yet and the only one we’ve escaped lol. Highly recommend and we will be back again! Thanks so much.

One of the best escape rooms we’ve done. The puzzles are tricky but really cleverly set up. We did Jilted, and we just made it out (with a few hints). The host monitors the room well and gives you hints when needed. The theming is very good too - every puzzle is connected to the room’s theme, which doesn’t happen in every escape room. You really have to be careful to look at everything or you will miss a key piece of the puzzle! We will be back to try the other rooms.

Came here with friends to do my first escape room experience this week and it was great! We didn’t escape in the end as it was quite tricky but had a good time and a good scare. The staff member we spoke to was funny and was very helpful with our clues!

We recently visited for a few hours out. Had quite a bit of trouble parking so be prepared for that! The walk was lovely we went up the steps and higher up onto the cliffs? Not sure what you would call them 🙈🙈 was quite steep in a few places. We took our little puppy with us though and she managed it. An enjoyable but strenuous at times so wouldn’t advise for young children. We definitely would give it a thumbs up. Lovely scenery and photo opportunities 👍📸

Parked at the train station to explore the area Hard standing car park, a few amenities nearby, Pay and display even for Blue badge holders High Tor dominates the area, an area full of geological features, old mining works are evident through out the area Plenty of paths throughout the area to explore the woods some easier than others Superb views from the top

What a hidden gem of a spot. I’ve lived locally my whole life (42 years so far) and never been here before. Giddy edge alone makes it worth the walk up the hill nevermind the land slip and caves.

Went here a few weeks ago, quite a nice easy walk to the top. It's a known area from the locals with a bit of history. Beautiful views at the top (don't look down if your scared of heights)

Great little trek for anyone. Perfect for families as they have picnic benches etc. also have a pretty steep section with handles and that was great fun.

It's a nice walk. A little steep but nothing too strenuous. The views up top are certainly worth it. It also gives you an opportunity to escape from the town, especially in peak season. It's a circular walk - ish. So you walk from one side, come down the other, both points connected by a path along the river.

Great views, top leg work out.

Gorgeous walks

What a find - stunning little valley with industrial history/archeology and waterfalls. Lovely walk and then discovered a brewery tap house was further down the valley. Perfect finish to a lovely walk.

A Hidden Gem in Matlock Bath! Derwent Gardens is absolutely stunning — beautifully maintained with a peaceful atmosphere that makes it perfect for a relaxing stroll or a quiet picnic. The riverside views are breathtaking, especially with the sound of the water flowing by and the ducks gliding past. There’s a magical charm here, especially in the evening when the lights start to reflect on the river. It's clean, safe, and family-friendly, with plenty of benches to sit and take in the scenery. Whether you're here for the illuminations, a romantic walk, or just some time in nature, Derwent Gardens never disappoints. A must-visit if you're in the area!

Good place food was a little on the expensive side light up toys were cheap really Gardens were very clean kids had a great time on the 5 rides they had went on and the price was reasonable would definitely go again

A lovely area to walk around. There are benches to sit at and grassy areas for pic nics. There is a park area for the children. There are nice walks for couples. I will be returning for the Matlock illuminations. A beautiful area. There are plenty of take aways near by.

Visited here during the illuminations om a none fire work night (had dog). So booking in advance is definitely recommended if on one of these events. Was a lovely evening nice walk around matlockbath before entering the Gardens where the boats where along with food stalls and small fair for the kids including hook a duck. All in all was a great time nice and relaxed. Can get extremely busy and was on our Visit. Recommend arrival early for parking and a decent spot on the river to view the boats. All in all a nice evening would go back but in a couple of years time. Things can b a little pricey food stall wise.

We visited here recently to see the Matlock illuminations, which is an organised event including; paid entry to see boats row up & down the river, where people have made various decorated boats (ferris wheel, helicopter, RNLI boat, Red Arrows Planes, Florence Nightingale, Tea cups & Squid games). There was also superhero character meets, food & drink vendors, circus skills, along with a kids traditional fairground. Other nights do include fireworks, but they are on Saturdays & the last Sunday.

Beautiful gardens. The lights at night are magical. Went to the boat illuminations. Lovely evening

Lovely park, it has 2 sets of swings. We'll lit footpaths along the river bank. Suitable for wheelchairs and prams. Alot of waterfalls and fountains. Lovely in the evening to walk, very peaceful.